Reference pointer for a compass display
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A display for an electronic compass comprising:
- display means for displaying heading information, said display means having an array of pointer shapes substantially invisible unless activated; and
control means for selectively activating said pointer shapes, said control means comprising memory means for storing a reference heading measured in response to a user signal, said reference heading being the current heading at the time of said user signal;
said control means configured to selectively activate said pointer shapes to provide a reference pointer pointing in the direction of said reference heading as the compass moves and current heading changes.
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Abstract
An electronic compass has a display including a reference pointer that indicates a reference heading stored in response to an input signal. The reference heading is the current heading at the time of the input signal, and the reference pointer in the display is updated as the orientation of the compass changes.
19 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A display for an electronic compass comprising:
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display means for displaying heading information, said display means having an array of pointer shapes substantially invisible unless activated; and control means for selectively activating said pointer shapes, said control means comprising memory means for storing a reference heading measured in response to a user signal, said reference heading being the current heading at the time of said user signal; said control means configured to selectively activate said pointer shapes to provide a reference pointer pointing in the direction of said reference heading as the compass moves and current heading changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electronic compass comprising:
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display means for displaying heading information; sensing means for determining the orientation of the compass relative to the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field and for providing a signal related to said orientation; input means for a user to supply input signals; and control means coupled to said display means, to said sensing means, and to said input means for receiving said signal related to orientation and said input signals, and for causing said display means to display heading information in response to said signals; wherein said control means is configured to store a currently sensed heading as a reference heading in response to a user input signal, to cause said display means to display said reference heading as a reference pointer pointing the direction of said reference heading, and to adjust the position of said reference pointer in said display means as the position and direction of said compass changes. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for selecting direction of travel comprising steps of:
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measuring and storing a current heading as a reference heading in a control means of an electronic compass; displaying a reference pointer on a display of said compass, said reference pointer indicating the direction of the stored reference heading and being updated to continue to point the direction of the stored reference heading as said compass changes position and heading; and selecting direction of travel based on said displayed reference pointer.
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16. A display for an electronic compass comprising:
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display means for providing heading information, said display means configured to display a direction indicator; control means connected to said display means for managing said display means to display said direction indicator; and memory means connected to said control means for receiving a heading from a direction sensor and for storing said heading as a reference heading in response to a user input; said control means configured to provide said direction indicator on said display means indicating the direction of said reference heading as position and current heading changes.
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17. A compass comprising:
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a display with direction indicia, said display configured to orient to magnetic north as said compass moves; and a direction indicator settable to indicate a direction at a fixed deviation from north as said compass moves, such that said direction indicator maintains said fixed deviation between settings.
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18. An electronic compass comprising:
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display means for displaying direction information; control means coupled to said display means for managing said display means; and input means for a user to supply input signals; said control means configured to display a reference pointer as a direction indicator having a constant offset from north, and wherein said reference pointer may be turned on and turned off in said display by an input signal.
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Specification