iPhone 5s accelerometer/gyroscope/compass values incorrect

[Bloodlustt]

Lol that was a good one at the car joke. I've been watching/reading this thread and I'd like to throw in my numbers on my faulty 5s 🙂. On its face -2 on its long side 0 mostly but it will go to -1 depending on angle week 38 factory DN. Phone is good
Other than the sensors not working lol.

As a side note one odd behavior i noticed is if i lay the phone flat with the home button towards me i get -2, if i flip it 180 degrees i get-3? That doesn't
make sense.

 

[benfranke]

Here's why I think this is either M7 (firmware) and/or iOS 7 related:

The iPhons 5S has three sensors: the magnetometer for the compass functionality, the gyroscope for pitch/yaw/roll positioning and the accelerometer for motion and orientation detection.

Now on my iPhone 5S, the compass is way off, the gyroscope shows negative values on a flat surface, and on a Gizmodo screenshot the accelerometer shows weird values while resting as well.

Three faulty sensors from three different manufacturers in a tremendous amount of phones? Very, very unlikely. However all sensor data is processed my the new M7.

My guess is that the M7 is that
... either doing some of the math wrong.
... or it is calibrated to a "standard" sensor (sensors aren't perfect and they tend to show slightly different output values, every M7 has to know what "its" sensors output when they're considered to be, for example, at a zero level.) That would also explain why there are some good units: their sensors just ouput data that is very close that one "standard" sensor. Maybe putting it into DND for 90 minutes is actually supposed to recalibrate the M7, but for whatever reason it's not working right now. People have reported weird usage times shown in their settings, maybe the iPhone never really enters DND right now due to some iOS 7 bug. Maybe that's why battery life is crap at the moment. MAYBE THE PLOT THICKENS.
... or there is a very serious manufacturing error in the M7, see Pentium FDIV bug.

 

[AppleB]

iPhone 5s accelerometer/gyroscope/compass values incorrect

The M7 isn't working at the moment. As well as the tilt and compass problems in this thread, other people have reported the "background step counts" are nonsense (steps when motionless and sleeping etc.). The BMA180 specifically mentions suitability for navigation, dead reckoning, compass tilt, and step counting. All these features are absent from the BMA220 specification.

Since this is the first time a Bosch MEMS chip has been used in an iPhone I'm hoping there is still just some quirk of integrating its data that can be improved in a new software update, but even in that case it remains to be seen what limitations the BMA220 will still have compared to the iPhone 5's different chip.

I did a compass comparison with the compass in my car and they were both the same. If the car said NW the 5S said NW. So I guess my car compass and the 5S have a conspiracy to be wrong together. Here's the 5S compass chip data sheet. The chip is the AK8863

http://www.akm.com/akm/en/file/datasheet/AK8963.pdf



You keep saying the M7 isn't working how do know you this?

Look at size of the 180 chip it's too big for this application. The 220 chip senses tilt.

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Stand your car up on it's long and short sides and post the pictures please

Don't have to bro. It works the normal way lol
The phone and the car

 

[NavyDude065]

Patrek, it's really up to you. I took a chance and bought a 5S yesterday with knowledge I could take it back in 14 days. My house is too old--1954--and we have a lot of unlevel areas from so many decades of settling, so I didn't bother doing the tests by Gizmodo and people here. I did, however, download Temple Run for a "test"....I laid it flat on the table and my guy stayed in the center and turned properly when I swiped to go around corners. I then picked up the phone and he still stayed centered and moved left or right when I tilted without going off the edge. I also tested the map program from the mall to my house and it was spot on.

IMO, and for my needs, my phone works. I'm happy with the purchase. White/Gray 16GB...week 38

For most if not all who tried "Temple Run", they had no problems. I never tried it yet, will shortly. Don't assume everything is ok because you live in an old house and that Temple Run works correctly. Try something like Asphalt 7. Cheers!!

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I have a solution!!! Buy both items below while you wait for a fix. And once the fix is in place repackage the items as gifts or use Walmart's 90 day return policy. Next month is holiday shopping season people.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Johnson-Level-Model-1813-0000-Keychain-Level/25483796

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stansport...6be065ee4ab4&bucket_id=000&findingMethod=p13n


This makes more sense than swapping your phone out with another that has the same issue. 😎

Wow, not helpful at all. Will these two Walmart items help you when playing a game or taking photos? I don't think so.

 

[Sir Ruben]

A mate of mine just checked a few at the Apple Store and they were all off.

I reckon this is a software issue to be honest, and even if it IS a hardware issue it could still be fixed via software calibration.

Imagine laying the phone on a level surface and it reads -3 with a calibrating button that you could then tap to zero it. So even if the chip is out, it could still be corrected via a software calibration which would record where the zero point is and save the settings.

So even if every phone was off by different amounts, a manual calibration in this way would resolve the issue.

 

[Valkyre]

Here's why I think this is either M7 (firmware) and/or iOS 7 related:

The iPhons 5S has three sensors: the magnetometer for the compass functionality, the gyroscope for pitch/yaw/roll positioning and the accelerometer for motion and orientation detection.

Now on my iPhone 5S, the compass is way off, the gyroscope shows negative values on a flat surface, and on a Gizmodo screenshot the accelerometer shows weird values while resting as well.

Three faulty sensors from three different manufacturers in a tremendous amount of phones? Very, very unlikely. However all sensor data is processed my the new M7.

My guess is that the M7 is that
... either doing some of the math wrong.
... or it is calibrated to a "standard" sensor (sensors aren't perfect and they tend to show slightly different output values, every M7 has to know what "its" sensors output when they're considered to be, for example, at a zero level.) That would also explain why there are some good units: their sensors just ouput data that is very close that one "standard" sensor. Maybe putting it into DND for 90 minutes is actually supposed to recalibrate the M7, but for whatever reason it's not working right now. People have reported weird usage times shown in their settings, maybe the iPhone never really enters DND right now due to some iOS 7 bug. Maybe that's why battery life is crap at the moment. MAYBE THE PLOT THICKENS.
... or there is a very serious manufacturing error in the M7, see Pentium FDIV bug.

here we go again... it is NOT the M7 because the same problem exists in iphone 5C as well.

 

[benfranke]

here we go again... it is NOT the M7 because the same problem exists in iphone 5C as well.

Well, on the 5c the A6 performs the tasks that are outsourced to the M7 on the 5S, so ...

Maybe putting it into DND for 90 minutes is actually supposed to recalibrate the A6, but for whatever reason it's not working right now. People have reported weird usage times shown in their settings, maybe the iPhone never really enters DND right now due to some iOS 7 bug. Maybe that's why battery life is crap at the moment. MAYBE THE PLOT THICKENS.

 

[NavyDude065]

Try these Apps

I tried Temple Run 2 and no problems (just like almost everyone else - may calibrate itself at game start, not sure) but do have problems with racing games such as Asphalt 7.

You can download iHandy Level and calibrate the App for testing to see how well your level performs within the app. This does now impact or calibrate the IOS level. Another really cool app for testing is Clinometer 3 in 1 bubble level which cost $1.99 but it gives you more options of calibrating and testing your gyros and stuff within the app.

Just some other ideas for people to try. Cheers!!

 

[Swinn]

For most if not all who tried "Temple Run", they had no problems. I never tried it yet, will shortly. Don't assume everything is ok because you live in an old house and that Temple Run works correctly. Try something like Asphalt 7. Cheers!!

Hiya NavyDude! Off topic, but because of your name I have to say that my husband and I are ex-Navy and our son just joined in May and finished his A School two weeks ago--he's off to Spain. I bought the 5S because my contract was up and you know young sailors don't make a lot of money so I had my 4S unlocked so he could take it to Rota and be able to get a SIM card from a local carrier there to "pay as you go" vs. get into a contract.

Anywho...My house comment wasn't meant to assume everything works correctly, I didn't want to use it for testing because we have visibly unlevel areas in our home so it wouldn't be a good way to prove/disprove anything. I didn't know Temple Run worked for others, glad to hear it. I don't play it, just downloaded it to test to see if the character stayed on course. I don't play any games on my phone aside from Scrabble or Words with Friends. So for my needs, I like the phone. I don't use any of those tools causing trouble so they aren't affecting me in a way that makes me upset. Navigation works, my apps work, camera is great, phone calls work, texting works...those are what's important to me.

That said, I don't blame people for being upset with their phones not working properly--especially since most here have paid full price! Whether they take them back and get another, or get a refund, or wait it out to see if there's a solution via a firmware/software update...it's their choice.

 

[NavyDude065]

DND bug ???

Well, on the 5c the A7 performs the tasks that are outsourced to the M7 on the 5S, so ...

I spoke to an Apple Tech Supervisor who opened a case file for me and I asked him about the 90 DND trick and he told me this it's in there troubleshooting manual and it's suppose to re-calibrate all the sensors. He also told me that recently with the iphone 5s, this trick as not worked for anyone that he's aware of. He stated that IOS 7 may have a bug which prevents this procedure from working and that the iphone's sensors should re-calibrate even when you plug in your iphone for a overnight charge.

 

[skwood]

Apple Support + Engineers confirm it's software

I've just been called by the senior advisor attached to my case regarding the issue and she says that the engineers are aware of the issue and that it will be fixed by a software update shortly 🙂

I'm hoping that is indeed the case. I think I'll adopt a wait-and-see attitude but she said that the engineers have received lots of reports about the issue and that a resolution is forthcoming *shortly*

 

[Khedron]

I spoke to an Apple Tech Supervisor who opened a case file for me and I asked him about the 90 DND trick and he told me this it's in there troubleshooting manual and it's suppose to re-calibrate all the sensors. He also told me that recently with the iphone 5s, this trick as not worked for anyone that he's aware of. He stated that IOS 7 may have a bug which prevents this procedure from working and that the iphone's sensors should re-calibrate even when you plug in your iphone for a overnight charge.

Aside from any bug, surely the point of this kind of calibration could only be to provide a long term reading of the direction of gravity. It can't calibrate a level surface because it doesn't know if it's on a level surface in the first place. Is this single axis measurement enough to then ensure the phone is accurate for all directions/tilts? I guess the axis being defined leaves an arbitrary number for rotation about that axis, which is then defined separately according to some fixed point (most sensibly magnetic north as reported by the compass).

 

[Swinn]

I'm happy also with my Space Grey 64GB

I did a compass comparison with the compass in my car and they were both the same. If the car said NW the 5S said NW. So I guess my car compass and the 5S have a conspiracy to wrong together. Lol. I'm keeping my 5S also.

HAHAHAHA, That's funny right there.

I did do a side by side compass check with a 4S and 5S and although varying degrees--each held in a different hand--N, S, E, W, were showing on both. I haven't used a compass for specific degrees since elementary school. As long as the Zombie Apocalypse doesn't happen any time soon I feel pretty certain I have no need for the compass. Then again, in an apocalyptic situation I'd probably use a real compass, plus a real map because electronics wouldn't work. 😀

However, if I were the type of person who enjoyed hikes in the woods or exploring new places, or challenging myself to find my way around using solely a compass, I would be very upset if it weren't working specifically as it should so I think people have a right to hate on their phones they spent their hard earned money on. Same goes for people who would benefit from using convenient tools like the level for projects, or who enjoyed using star/sky type programs for stargazing.

 

[Sir Ruben]

I've just been called by the senior advisor attached to my case regarding the issue and she says that the engineers are aware of the issue and that it will be fixed by a software update shortly 🙂

I'm hoping that is indeed the case. I think I'll adopt a wait-and-see attitude but she said that the engineers have received lots of reports about the issue and that a resolution is forthcoming *shortly*

If it is indeed software then I feel sorry for those people who spent time and effort rushing to get them replaced only to receive replacements with the same issue. Its always best to hang tight, you have a 1 year warranty people.

 

[NavyDude065]

Thanks.

Hiya NavyDude! Off topic, but because of your name I have to say that my husband and I are ex-Navy and our son just joined in May and finished his A School two weeks ago--he's off to Spain. I bought the 5S because my contract was up and you know young sailors don't make a lot of money so I had my 4S unlocked so he could take it to Rota and be able to get a SIM card from a local carrier there to "pay as you go" vs. get into a contract.

Anywho...My house comment wasn't meant to assume everything works correctly, I didn't want to use it for testing because we have visibly unlevel areas in our home so it wouldn't be a good way to prove/disprove anything. I didn't know Temple Run worked for others, glad to hear it. I don't play it, just downloaded it to test to see if the character stayed on course. I don't play any games on my phone aside from Scrabble or Words with Friends. So for my needs, I like the phone. I don't use any of those tools causing trouble so they aren't affecting me in a way that makes me upset. Navigation works, my apps work, camera is great, phone calls work, texting works...those are what's important to me.

That said, I don't blame people for being upset with their phones not working properly--especially since most here have paid full price! Whether they take them back and get another, or get a refund, or wait it out to see if there's a solution via a firmware/software update...it's their choice.

Thanks for the reply. Off topic, I'm retired now. I've just tried Temple Run 2 and things seem ok but when I play games such as Asphalt 7 the car automatically turns to the right, same with slight simulators / games.I really enjoy the iphone too, just like I did with previous iphones. However if Apple states that it suppose to work a certain way and it doesn't, we have a problem and so does Apple. This kind of stuff should have been checked out and corrected before they released the unit. I don't use the compass or level and never did but such things as games and panoramic mode shooting are important and right now it doesn't function as Apple states. We paid way too much money for these devices and I strongly feel this will be corrected soon by a software update. If not, I'll be exchanging mine until I get a good one. Cheers and take care.

 

[Khedron]

I've just been called by the senior advisor attached to my case regarding the issue and she says that the engineers are aware of the issue and that it will be fixed by a software update shortly 🙂

I'm hoping that is indeed the case. I think I'll adopt a wait-and-see attitude but she said that the engineers have received lots of reports about the issue and that a resolution is forthcoming *shortly*

Good

 

[Bazooka-joe]

The problem remains, that this sensor issue does not appear to be gaining any traction in the press. This may materially affect how Apple handles the matter.

Apple will have to treat this as a priority otherwise they will lose a lot of apps developers that want to write applications that make use of the motion sensors.
I can't see developers coding apps to get around the issues

 

[Swinn]

I strongly feel this will be corrected soon by a software update. If not, I'll be exchanging mine until I get a good one. Cheers and take care.

I told the salesperson at Best Buy about all of the problems being reported and that I was almost certain they'd be resolved with a software update, but that it could be hardware--I even helped an unaware, eavesdropping 5S buyer sitting next to me by explaining the sensor issues and making sure he understand that nothing is official on whether it's software, firmware or hardware related, the rattling *he asked why I was shaking the phone*, plus the security problem with fingerprints. LOL, saleswoman gave me the stink eye, but that's okay. He still bought the phone but will stick with using the passcode vs. fingerprints. Like I said, I don't blame anyone for being upset or exchanging their phones or wanting refunds, etc. Who knows, I may end up taking mine back for a refund if it is indeed a hardware issue just for the possibility of resale at a later date.

 

[asleep]

I've just been called by the senior advisor attached to my case regarding the issue and she says that the engineers are aware of the issue and that it will be fixed by a software update shortly 🙂

I sure hope so... getting tired of driving around in circles. And the gas costs are killing me!

 

[cdmoore74]

You armchair engineers are cracking me up. You can try to understand the problem all you want but your still at the mercy of Apple. iOS is locked down like fort Knox. If this was Android then sure; I’ve seen plenty of fixes/improvements implemented in custom roms that dealt with hardware. I was with Android for 4 years plus. If you guys can’t figure out how to add a wifi hotspot toggle to control center (without jailbreaking) you’re fooling everyone here. And I doubt Apple is monitoring this thread for possible fixes from you rocket scientists.
Sometimes people are too smart for their own good. This is the price we pay for picking such a locked down OS. Only remedy is to wait it out or return the device if your able.

 

[richard371]

If 7.0.3 comes out this week like rumored it will most likely hit today. There is a slight chance it could resolve the issue. I sure hope so as I would like to see this thread laid to rest and the issue rectified 🙂. If not I will still give it until the next update before I loose confidence it will be fixed via software.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

Again, my iPhone 5 exhibits the same issue. Are we sure its iphone 5s specific? Also, do you guys actually care?!?! Did it actually affect your usage of the phone? Im serious. 3 degrees seems so minimal

Theres a difference between hardware and software uncalibrated. If apple releases something where laying your phone down on a flat surface recalibrates your phone, this would be fixed.

 

[BalutFX]

DND may have worked for me (a little)

I spoke to an Apple Tech Supervisor who opened a case file for me and I asked him about the 90 DND trick and he told me this it's in there troubleshooting manual and it's suppose to re-calibrate all the sensors. He also told me that recently with the iphone 5s, this trick as not worked for anyone that he's aware of. He stated that IOS 7 may have a bug which prevents this procedure from working and that the iphone's sensors should re-calibrate even when you plug in your iphone for a overnight charge.

When I first got my 5S, I also noticed it was consistently off between 3-4 degrees on all sides and 2 degrees flat. Over the past few weeks, I had been using DND at night with my phone face down on my bed (using sleep app for my alarm so I didn't want beeps and dings in the middle of the night). I tried level a few times in the past 2 days and now I get 0 on long sides on phone pretty consistently, 1-2 degrees on the top and bottom and 2 degrees flat. Not all zeros, but better than before). Haven't tried DND on a known flat surface, but it is interesting to me that it got better.

 

[cdmoore74]

I spoke to an Apple Tech Supervisor who opened a case file for me and I asked him about the 90 DND trick and he told me this it's in there troubleshooting manual and it's suppose to re-calibrate all the sensors. He also told me that recently with the iphone 5s, this trick as not worked for anyone that he's aware of. He stated that IOS 7 may have a bug which prevents this procedure from working and that the iphone's sensors should re-calibrate even when you plug in your iphone for a overnight charge.

I spoke to my fortune teller and she tells me that the problem is either software or hardware. So the odds that she is correct is 50/50. Better advice than what that Apple tech supervisor told you.

 

[bitslap47]

You armchair engineers are cracking me up. You can try to understand the problem all you want but your still at the mercy of Apple. iOS is locked down like fort Knox. If this was Android then sure; I’ve seen plenty of fixes/improvements implemented in custom roms that dealt with hardware. I was with Android for 4 years plus. If you guys can’t figure out how to add a wifi hotspot toggle to control center (without jailbreaking) you’re fooling everyone here. And I doubt Apple is monitoring this thread for possible fixes from you rocket scientists.
Sometimes people are too smart for their own good. This is the price we pay for picking such a locked down OS. Only remedy is to wait it out or return the device if your able.

You do realize some of us are actual engineers... with direct experience in this exact application of hardware and software, right?

Not that we couldn't be wrong, but some of us aren't hobbyists or deriving our experience vicariously via Google.