Direction detection apparatus

• US 4,393,709 A
• Filed: 11/12/1981
• Issued: 07/19/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tsushima, Noboru, Tomoyori, Makoto, Harumatsu, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gill, James J.
• Application Number:
  US06/320,519
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 73/505, 73/509, 73/510, 73/511, 73/517 A, 364/424, 364/559, 33/300
• US Class Current: 73/504.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/10 by using measurements of speed or acceleration G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/02 Indicating direction only, e.g. by weather vane

Abstract

A direction detection apparatus which detects the traveling direction of a moving object on the basis of the movement of a weight. It comprises a centrifugal force detector, a clock signal generator, and a velocity detector, and also a detection device which receives signals from the detectors and the generator to provide a directional angle.

Claims

1. A direction detection apparatus comprising a centrifugal force detector including a weight and a detecting means for detecting a movement of said weight and generating a centrifugal force signal, a clock signal generator generating a time signal, a velocity detector generating a velocity signal, and a computation means connected to said force detector, clock signal generator and velocity generator to compute a directional angle on the basis of said centrifugal force signal, said time signal and said velocity signal.

2. A direction detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means of said centrifugal force detector is constructed of thread resistors which are expanded and contracted by the movement of said weight.

3. A direction detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means of said centrifugal force detector is constructed of pressure-sensitive resistance elements whose resistances are changed by the movement of said weight.

4. A direction detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means of said centrifugal force detector is constructed of a piezoelectric transducer in the form of a cantilever and said weight is mounted on said cantilever.

5. A direction detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means of said centrifugal force detector is constructed of an electrostriction transducer on which said weight is mounted.

6. A direction detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means of said centrifugal force detector is constructed of a diaphragm which allows a surface elastic wave to pass therethrough and on which said weight is mounted.