Robust step detection using low cost mems accelerometer in mobile applications, and processing methods, apparatus and systems

Abstract

A system for pedestrian use includes an accelerometer having multiple electronic sensors; an electronic circuit operable to generate a signal stream representing magnitude of overall acceleration sensed by the accelerometer, and to electronically correlate a sliding window of the signal stream with itself to produce peaks at least some of which represent walking steps, and further operable to electronically execute a periodicity check to compare different step periods for similarity, and if sufficiently similar then to update a portion of the circuit substantially representing a walking-step count; and an electronic display responsive to the electronic circuit to display information at least in part based on the step count. Other systems, electronic circuits and processes are disclosed.