Launched this year
in Japan as the "WristableGPS*", Epson's newly developed GPS running
monitor is an accumulation of the company's technologies and expertise. By
simply strapping it to their wrists, runners can accurately measure and record
their speed and the distances they have run. This new product combines high GPS
accuracy with a light, compact design and long-battery life.
LOW POWER CONSUMPTION ALLOWS EXTENDED USAGE
With the number of
leisure runners increasing worldwide, many companies have introduced GPS-based
wristwatch-type devices that allow athletes to record their distances, routes,
and speed. However, products that are light and compact often sacrifice GPS
positioning accuracy, and products with accurate GPS often have poor battery
life. It has to date been difficult for manufacturers to come up with a product
that combines all the key factors of GPS positioning accuracy, compact design,
and long battery life.
Epson engineers
began work on designing the new GPS running monitor with the aim of solving all
these issues. The first challenge was to reduce energy consumption to a level
that would allow the battery to operate for 14 hours or more while the GPS
function was in operation. To achieve this, the team used an accurate, energy-efficient
GPS module that Epson had designed for mobile devices.
Generally speaking,
GPS modules use a high proportion of the energy consumed by mobile devices.
This means that an efficient module can contribute significantly to the energy
consumption of the product overall. Epson leveraged its many years of
experience of designing and marketing GPS devices to create a module that
achieved the aims of the design team.
ADJUSTING POSITIONING DATA USING ALGORITHMS
The next step was
to create an algorithm to improve the accuracy of the distance data. GPS
positioning data accuracy can be adversely affected by a wide variety of
factors, including the reflection of electronic waves from high-rise buildings.
The diagram on the left below shows how positioning data recorded in a
high-rise urban environment can be recorded as 60% greater than the actual
distance run. However, Epson managed to greatly reduce discrepancies by
employing a specially-designed algorithm.
INCLUDES SPECIALLY
DESIGNED ANTENNA
The third point was
to make the product light and compact. Diagram 2 below shows the shape and
mounting layout of conventional GPS running devices. The antenna is mounted in
such a way that it points to the sky when you attach the device to your wrist
and start to run. However, the angle of the mounting requires the device to be
a certain thickness. Epson therefore designed an antenna with a new shape and a
wider reception angle, and achieved a thin design by mounting the antenna
alongside the battery (as shown in diagram 3).
Epson also took
care to make the thin design water resistant and minimize the number of
components used. These efforts combined to enable the creation of a running
monitor whose compactness, thinness and lightness makes it possible for runners
to wear unobtrusively.
Diagram 2
Shape and mounting layout of the antenna
receiving signals from GPS satellite
Diagram 3
Shape and mounting layout of the antenna of
the Epson GPS running monitor
By
combining its compact, energy-saving, and high precision technologies, Epson
has been able to develop a unique GPS running monitor capable of meeting the
needs of runners.
