A position detection device detects a current positon of a operation member among positions including a predetermined position and includes a detection system that includes a part to be detected and 3N magnetic sensors S. The operation member can move to the positions in N (≥3) different directions from the predetermined position. Movement of the operation member between the predetermined position and another position cause outputs from three of the magnetic sensors to be switched. The magnetic sensors of which outputs are switched by a movement of the operation member between the predetermined position and a first position are all different from the magnetic sensors of which outputs are switched by a movement of the operation member between the predetermined position and a second position.

Head-mounted augmented reality (AR) devices can track pose of a wearer's head or pose of a hand-held user input device to enable wearer interaction in a three-dimensional AR environment. A pose sensor (e.g., an inertial measurement unit) in the user input device can provide data on pose (e.g., position or orientation) of the user input device. An electromagnetic (EM) tracking system can also provide pose data. For example, the handheld user input device can include an EM emitter that generates an EM field, and the head-mounted AR device can include an EM sensor that senses the EM field. The AR device can combine the output of the pose sensor and the EM tracking system to reduce drift in the estimated pose of the user input device or to transform the pose into a world coordinate system used by the AR device. The AR device can utilize a Kalman filter to combine the output of the pose sensor and the EM tracking system.

Head-mounted augmented reality (AR) devices can track pose of a wearer's head or pose of a hand-held user input device to enable wearer interaction in a three-dimensional AR environment. A pose sensor (e.g., an inertial measurement unit) in the user input device can provide data on pose (e.g., position or orientation) of the user input device. An electromagnetic (EM) tracking system can also provide pose data. For example, the handheld user input device can include an EM emitter that generates an EM field, and the head-mounted AR device can include an EM sensor that senses the EM field. The AR device can combine the output of the pose sensor and the EM tracking system to reduce drift in the estimated pose of the user input device or to transform the pose into a world coordinate system used by the AR device. The AR device can utilize a Kalman filter to combine the output of the pose sensor and the EM tracking system.

A wearable device includes a plurality of magnetic field generators positioned at different points to be tracked. The magnetic field generators emit magnetic fields that are sensed by a plurality of magnetic field sensors having known positions relative to each other. The wearable device may have magnetic field generators placed at tracked points corresponding to portions of the fingers and the palm of the device, and magnetic field sensors located at predetermined positions. A position analyzer determines the spatial position of the tracked points on the palm as well as the tracked points on the fingers from the output signals of the magnetic field sensors. From the determined spatial positions of the tracked points, a gesture identification system determines a gesture corresponding to the spatial positions of the points of the wearable device where the magnetic field generators are positioned.

A wearable device includes a plurality of magnetic field generators positioned at different points to be tracked. The magnetic field generators emit magnetic fields that are sensed by a plurality of magnetic field sensors having known positions relative to each other. The wearable device may have magnetic field generators placed at tracked points corresponding to portions of the fingers and the palm of the device, and magnetic field sensors located at predetermined positions. A position analyzer determines the spatial position of the tracked points on the palm as well as the tracked points on the fingers from the output signals of the magnetic field sensors. From the determined spatial positions of the tracked points, a gesture identification system determines a gesture corresponding to the spatial positions of the points of the wearable device where the magnetic field generators are positioned.

A method for estimating the harmonization values of a magnetometer installed in a mobile machine, said magnetometer being associated with its reference coordinate system XM, YM, ZM, said method, implemented by an electronic device, comprising acquiring magnetic field values measured by the magnetometer and determining the horizontal harmonization (hx, hy) by: estimating a first angle equal to the angle between XM and the large axis of an ellipse, defined in the plane comprising the two axes XM, ZM, by said acquired field values; determining hy as being equal to said first estimated angle, estimating a second angle equal to the angle between YM and the large axis of an ellipse defined, in the plane comprising the two axes Y.sub.M, Z.sub.M, by said acquired field vector values; and determining—hx as being equal to said second estimated angle.

A method for estimating the harmonization values of a magnetometer installed in a mobile machine, said magnetometer being associated with its reference coordinate system XM, YM, ZM, said method, implemented by an electronic device, comprising acquiring magnetic field values measured by the magnetometer and determining the horizontal harmonization (hx, hy) by: estimating a first angle equal to the angle between XM and the large axis of an ellipse, defined in the plane comprising the two axes XM, ZM, by said acquired field values; determining hy as being equal to said first estimated angle, estimating a second angle equal to the angle between YM and the large axis of an ellipse defined, in the plane comprising the two axes Y.sub.M, Z.sub.M, by said acquired field vector values; and determining—hx as being equal to said second estimated angle.

A magnetic sensor system includes a magnetic sensor device and a signal processing circuit. The magnetic sensor device generates first to third detection signals corresponding to components in three directions a field generated by a magnetic field generator that is able to change its relative position with respect to the magnetic sensor device. The signal processing circuit includes first and second processors. The second processor generates sphere information and transmits it to the first processor. When coordinates representing a set of values of the first to third detection signals in an orthogonal coordinate system are taken as a measurement point, the sphere information includes data on center coordinates of a virtual sphere having a spherical surface approximating a distribution of a plurality of measurement points. The first processor detects a change in offsets of the first to third detection signals by using the sphere information transmitted from the second processor.

A magnetic sensor system includes a magnetic sensor device and a signal processing circuit. The magnetic sensor device generates first to third detection signals corresponding to components in three directions a field generated by a magnetic field generator that is able to change its relative position with respect to the magnetic sensor device. The signal processing circuit includes first and second processors. The second processor generates sphere information and transmits it to the first processor. When coordinates representing a set of values of the first to third detection signals in an orthogonal coordinate system are taken as a measurement point, the sphere information includes data on center coordinates of a virtual sphere having a spherical surface approximating a distribution of a plurality of measurement points. The first processor detects a change in offsets of the first to third detection signals by using the sphere information transmitted from the second processor.

It includes an intensity pattern determination section to determine an intensity pattern indicating a distribution of a magnitude of a target quantity in at least a part of a moving path of the moving object, a subarea determination section to determine, among a plurality of subareas, one or more subareas having an intensity pattern which matches or is similar to an intensity pattern determined by the intensity pattern determination section based on map information which associates area identification information which identifies each of a plurality of subareas included in a target region having a predetermined geographic range and an intensity parameter indicating a magnitude of a target quantity premeasured in the subarea, and an output section to output, as a location of the moving object, one or more subareas determined by the subarea determination section.