Digital solid state compass
First Claim
1. A solid state compass comprising:
- clock means for generating a series of clock signals at a first predetermined frequency;
Hall effect generating means;
timing signal generating means connected to said clock means, said timing signal generating means being responsive to said clock signals for providing a reference signal and a series of timing signals;
driving means connecting said timing signal generating means, said driving means being responsive to said timing signals for providing driving signals for driving said Hall effect generating means, said Hall effect generating means being operative for providing a heading signal representative of an orientation angle between a direction of orientation of said Hall effect generating means and magnetic north;
start signal generating means connected to said clock means, and said timing signal generating means, said start signal generating means being responsive to said clock signals and said reference signals for providing a series of start signals at a second predetermined frequency;
counter means; and
control means connecting said Hall effect generating means and said clock means with said counter means, said control means being responsive to said start signal for enabling said counter means to begin counting said clock signals, said counter means being operable to provide a count signal representative of the number of clock signals counted, said control means being further responsive to said heading signal to disable said counter means when said count signal is representative of said orientation angle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A timing circuit receives substantially square wave clock signals and generates Sine and Cosine driving signals therefrom at a predetermined frequency for application to first and second mutually perpendicular Hall effect generators. The output signals from the Hall effect generators are algebraically summed to provide a heading signal, the phase displacement of which with respect to the driving signals, is representative of the orientation angle between one of the Hall effect generators and magnetic north. A counter is synchronized to begin to count clock pulses at the beginning of each period of the driving signals. A logic circuit is effective to disable the counter when the count therein is representative of the orientation angle. The count is stored in a memory and displayed on a readout device which is, in turn, updated at the end of each period of the driving signals'"'"' frequency.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A solid state compass comprising:
-
clock means for generating a series of clock signals at a first predetermined frequency; Hall effect generating means; timing signal generating means connected to said clock means, said timing signal generating means being responsive to said clock signals for providing a reference signal and a series of timing signals; driving means connecting said timing signal generating means, said driving means being responsive to said timing signals for providing driving signals for driving said Hall effect generating means, said Hall effect generating means being operative for providing a heading signal representative of an orientation angle between a direction of orientation of said Hall effect generating means and magnetic north; start signal generating means connected to said clock means, and said timing signal generating means, said start signal generating means being responsive to said clock signals and said reference signals for providing a series of start signals at a second predetermined frequency; counter means; and control means connecting said Hall effect generating means and said clock means with said counter means, said control means being responsive to said start signal for enabling said counter means to begin counting said clock signals, said counter means being operable to provide a count signal representative of the number of clock signals counted, said control means being further responsive to said heading signal to disable said counter means when said count signal is representative of said orientation angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A solid state compass comprising:
-
clock means for providing substantially a square wave signal; Hall effect generating means; and means connecting said clock means with said Hall effect generating means, said Hall effect generating means being stationary with respect to said clock means and said connecting means, said connecting means being responsive to said square wave signal for providing substantially sinusoidal driving signals to drive said Hall effect generating means, said Hall effect generating means being operable in response to said driving signals for providing a heading signal representative of an orientation angle between a direction of orientation of said Hall effect generating means and magnetic north.
-
Specification