Electronic compass using hall-effect sensors
First Claim
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1. An electronic compass for detecting and remotely displaying directional information with respect to the earth'"'"'s magnetic poles, said compass comprising:
- means, employing at least two direct-current, Hall-effect sensors in an array, for generating a first voltage at a first terminal and a second voltage of opposite polarity at a second terminal;
difference amplifying circuit means for combining said first voltage and said second voltage to produce an amplified difference voltage;
polarity recovery amplifying circuit means for obtaining from said difference voltage a first analog output signal of original polarity and a second analog output signal of opposite polarity;
largest voltage sensing circuit means for processing said first analog output signal and said second analog output signal into a retrievable data form suitable for storage;
buffer means for storage of said data;
logic control circuit means for controlling input and output said data to and from said buffer means and for resetting said largest voltage sensing circuit means;
oscillator and voltage chopper means for generating a periodic direct current square wave signal adaptable as a timing signal during periodic updating, refreshing and readout of said data in said buffer means; and
for powering said array at regular intervals, and,means for remotely transmitting, decoding and displaying said data, whereby the said directional heading is presented to a person in visually recognizable form.
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Abstract
A Hall effect device with appropriate electronic circuits can sense a very weak magnetic field and it is thus useful to be used as a compass. It can also be configured as two or more directional indicators as desired.
32 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An electronic compass for detecting and remotely displaying directional information with respect to the earth'"'"'s magnetic poles, said compass comprising:
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means, employing at least two direct-current, Hall-effect sensors in an array, for generating a first voltage at a first terminal and a second voltage of opposite polarity at a second terminal; difference amplifying circuit means for combining said first voltage and said second voltage to produce an amplified difference voltage; polarity recovery amplifying circuit means for obtaining from said difference voltage a first analog output signal of original polarity and a second analog output signal of opposite polarity; largest voltage sensing circuit means for processing said first analog output signal and said second analog output signal into a retrievable data form suitable for storage;
buffer means for storage of said data;logic control circuit means for controlling input and output said data to and from said buffer means and for resetting said largest voltage sensing circuit means; oscillator and voltage chopper means for generating a periodic direct current square wave signal adaptable as a timing signal during periodic updating, refreshing and readout of said data in said buffer means; and
for powering said array at regular intervals, and,means for remotely transmitting, decoding and displaying said data, whereby the said directional heading is presented to a person in visually recognizable form. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification