Don't you know it surprisingly?The role of the sensor in the smartphone

We are protected by the sensor!

The smartphone that I usually use casually is really a lump of cutting -edge technology.About six such small boxes are packed with smaller machines.What is particularly amazing is the diverse "sensor".However, do you know what kind of sensors are installed in the smartphone in the first place and what role each plays?

How do smartphones measure our steps like fitness trackers?Does GPS use Internet data?Which sensor should be included in the next terminal to buy?

Let's answer!

Accelerometer

The accelerator uses a coordinate shaft motion sensor that is also mounted on fitness trackers.So, without having a dedicated separate device, smartphones can measure our steps.

At the same time, this sensor will tell you which direction the terminal is facing, so it can be said that it will become more and more important as the increase in AR apps in the future.

By the way, acceleration meter can also observe the speed during driving, like a car emoji like a toy that appears on the map in the Snapchat while driving?

Of course, it is also an application other than Snapchat.Well, it's natural because it's about "acceleration meter".

This sensor itself is also made from other sensors that include a small crystal structure that can feel pressure depending on the speed.The acceleration meter changes the voltage sent from the crystal, and it captures how fast it is and which direction of our smartphone is moving.

Gyroscope

The gyroscope will further improve the acceleration of the accelerometer by detecting what posture (angle) the smartphone maintains (angle).This means that you can shoot 360 -degree photos and videos with higher quality.

Also, when playing a racing game with a smartphone, you tilt the screen, right?In this case, the gyroscope is more aware of this movement, not the accelerometer, not the accelerator, because the coordinate space is not moving, but the angle at hand is not moving.

Of course, gyroscope is not limited to smartphones.For example, it is also used for an altitude and an altitude of an airplane that recognizes the altitude and the aircraft's posture, and the function of the camera stabilizer.

The gyroscope in the smartphone does not use wheels and gimbals, unlike the conventional mechanisms that can be seen on old airplanes.Instead, it is a new gyroscope "MEMS (Micro-ELECTRO-MECHANICHANICHANICHANICHANICHANICHANICHANICHANICHANICAL SYSTEM)" designed to fit on the electronic plate of the smartphone.

The first MEMS Gyroscope made a great success was when the iPhone 4 came out in 2010.At that time, it was very rare to be a mobile phone that can recognize the subtle movements and angles of the body.Well, it's natural now.

磁力計（コンパス)

The last character of the "sensor 3 martial artist" required to observe the location information of the smartphone is the magnetic force gauge.The magnetic meter observes the magnetic field and changes the voltage to the smartphone to tell which is the north.For example, a compass is displayed in a map application, etc., right?That is the compass mode, and you can see which direction to go.

The magnetic meter is also used for metal detectors.That's why sometimes there are smartphone metal detector apps.

However, in fact, this sensor alone does not work in the map application.At last, with the accelerator of the smartphone and the data sent from the GPS, it will finally tell you where you are on the earth and which direction you are facing.

GPS

GPS.Another name is "GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM".It doesn't start without GPS anymore.I get lost everywhere.

The GPS machine in the smartphone points to the point where we are now standing on the earth from the artificial satellite in space.Did you know that you didn't use smartphone Internet data?So, sometimes you can check your current location even if there is no radio wave, right?(Well, I can't see anything because the map image is not read...)

This GPS machine is connected to multiple satellites, and based on the data obtained from the angle of these multiple satellites, we calculate our accurate place.If you are indoors or hidden in thick clouds, this accuracy will decrease.

Certainly GPS does not use data,

I use a lot of batteries for communication and calculation to connect with satellites...。That's why the power saving mode of the smartphone recommends to turn off the GPS.Also, this is the reason that there are many smart watches that do not have GPS.

スマホに電波を飛ばしてくれている電波塔からの距離でもざっくりは計測することができるため、このGPSだけが、位置情報を認識するための唯一の方法というわけではありません。ただ、本気でナビが必要な時には話にならないでしょうね。あと、現在のスマホの中のGPS機はGPS信号を他のデータ情報（電波強度など)と連携して、より精度の高い位置情報を得ることができるようにまでなっているんですよ。

In addition, selected sensors

The importance may be lower than these four sensors, but there are still many other sensors in the smartphone.For example, most smartphones, including the iPhone, have a pressure gauge to measure air pressure, and when a phone calls and approaches the ears, the melee sensor that automatically erases the liquid crystal is recognized and dark.A permanent light sensor that adjusts the brightness of the screen.

Like other parts of the smartphone, these sensors are becoming smaller every day, getting smart, and reduced power consumption.Just because both smartphones and smartphones five years ago are equipped with GPS, I don't know if they are as accurate.The adjustment and optimization of software will be added there.

The information of these sensors is not listed in the specifications of the usual terminal, but the difference in accuracy is a reasonable reason to replace it with a new model.Because you didn't know if you got lost and you didn't know well, right?

Image: Ivashstudio/Shutterstock.com

David NIELD --Gizmodo US [Original]

（Doga)