INTEGRATED TILT COMPENSATED COMPASS IN A SINGLE PACKAGE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A magnetic compass comprising:
- a magnetic sensor;
a first signal conditioning circuit in signal communication with the magnetic sensor;
an acceleration sensor;
a second signal conditioning circuit in signal communication with the acceleration sensor;
a microprocessor in signal communication with the first and second signal conditioning circuits; and
a single electronic package configured to structurally support and to electrically interconnect, the sensors, the signal conditioning circuits, and the microprocessor in an integrated arrangement, wherein the sensors, the signal conditioning circuits, and the microprocessor interact to provide signal conditioning and compass computations.
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Abstract
A magnetic compass includes a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, respective signal conditioning circuits in electronic communication with the sensors and a microprocessor. These components are arranged and structurally coupled to a single electronic package that supports the sensors, the signal conditioning circuits, and the microprocessor to provide a miniaturized magnetic compass. In addition, a temperature sensor may be coupled to the package to provide temperature compensation for at least some of the above-identified components.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A magnetic compass comprising:
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a magnetic sensor; a first signal conditioning circuit in signal communication with the magnetic sensor; an acceleration sensor; a second signal conditioning circuit in signal communication with the acceleration sensor; a microprocessor in signal communication with the first and second signal conditioning circuits; and a single electronic package configured to structurally support and to electrically interconnect, the sensors, the signal conditioning circuits, and the microprocessor in an integrated arrangement, wherein the sensors, the signal conditioning circuits, and the microprocessor interact to provide signal conditioning and compass computations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of arranging electrical components of a magnetic compass to produce compass-related computations, the method comprising:
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structurally attaching a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, and signal conditioning circuits onto a single electronic package; centrally locating and structurally attaching a microprocessor on the package such that the microprocessor is in electrical communication with at least the signal conditioning circuits; detecting a tilt angle of the compass with the acceleration sensor and providing a signal representative of the tilt angle to the microprocessor; detecting a magnetic field with the magnetic sensor and providing a signal representative of the magnetic heading to the microprocessor; and outputting a tilt angle and magnetic heading based on a detected tilt angle and magnetic heading of the compass. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification