Dual-calibrated compass
US6192315A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 27, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 27, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C17/38
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electronic compass system of the present invention includes a sensor for detecting the earth's magnetic field and for providing electrical signals representing the direction of the vehicle, a heading indicator for indicating vehicle headings in response to received vehicle heading signals, and a processor coupled to the sensor for receiving the electrical signals and coupled to the heading indicator for supplying the vehicle heading signals to the heading indicator. The processor preferably includes a first compass controller for calculating vehicle headings in response to the received electrical signals using precalibration data to compensate for expected vehicular magnetism, a second compass controller for calculating vehicle headings in response to the received electrical signals using an automatic calibration routine to compensate for actual vehicular magnetism, and a control transferring mechanism for initially selecting the vehicle headings calculated by the first compass controller to be represented by the vehicle heading signal supplied to the heading indicator, and for selecting the vehicle headings calculated by the second compass controller after the automatic calibra…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.