Method of determining heading by turning an inertial device
US8701297B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 2010 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 6, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C21/183
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of determining a heading by means of an inertial device (1) comprising at least one vibratory angle sensor (3) having a resonator associated with detector means and means for setting the resonator into vibration connected to a control unit to have a first mode of operation in which the vibration is left free to move in an angular frame of reference of the resonator, and a second mode of operation in which the vibration is maintained at a predetermined angle in the frame of reference of the resonator, and the method comprising the steps of: controlling the sensor in the second mode of operation to maintain the vibration on a predetermined electric angle corresponding to a least-error value of the sensor; and controlling the sensor in the first mode of operation to take a heading measurement, and controlling the sensor in the second mode of operation once the measurement has been taken and until the next measurement in order to maintain the vibration on the predetermined electric angle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.