Apparatus for searching for sensed object

• US 5,612,688 A
• Filed: 08/25/1995
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Masudaya, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/520,232
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/988, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/568, 340/572, 340/573, 364/424.02, 364/443, 364/444, 364/453, 364/449, 342/457, 342/357
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/1654 with electromagnetic compass
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens

Abstract

An apparatus for searching for a sensed object which is capable of immediately finding the direction in which a movable sensed object is present, from the contents displayed on an operation unit at hand. The searching apparatus includes a portable operation unit, an absolute direction sensor contained in the operation unit and generating an absolute direction signal which indicates an absolute direction, a removal sensor for automatically sensing a removal of the operation unit from the sensed object, a displacement sensor for sensing the state of displacement of the operation unit to generate displacement information, a controller generating direction indicating information which indicates the direction in which the sensed object is present, based on the displacement information and the absolute direction signal, a display for displaying contents of the direction indicating information; and a manual operation element for controlling the contents displayed on the display through the controller.

Claims

1. An apparatus for searching for a sensed object comprising;

a portable operation unit;

an absolute direction sensor contained in said operation unit and generating an absolute direction signal which indicates an absolute direction;

a removal sensor for sensing a removal of said operation unit from said sensed object;

a displacement sensor for sensing the state of displacement of said operation unit after said operation unit is removed from said sensed object to generate displacement information;

an arithmetic controller for generating direction indicating information which indicates the direction in which said sensed object is present, based on said displacement information and said absolute direction signal; and

a display for displaying contents of said direction indicating information.

2. An apparatus for searching for a sensed object according to claim 1, wherein said absolute direction sensor comprises a geomagnetic sensor.

3. An apparatus for searching for a sensed object according to claim 1, wherein said displacement sensor comprises a displacement sensing member such as an acceleration sensor or a pendulum.

4. An apparatus for searching for a sensed object comprising:

a portable operation unit;

an absolute direction sensor contained in said operation unit and generating an absolute direction signal indicating an absolute direction;

a removal sensor for automatically sensing a removal of said operation unit from said sensed object;

a displacement sensor for sensing the state of displacement of said operation unit after said operation unit is removed from said sensed object;

an arithmetic controller generating direction indicating information which indicates the direction in which said sensed object is present, based on said displacement information and said absolute direction signal;

a display for displaying contents of said direction indicating information; and

a manual operation element for controlling the contents displayed on said display through said controller.

5. An apparatus for searching for a sensed object comprising:

a portable operation unit;

an absolute direction sensor contained in said operation unit and generating an absolute direction signal indicating an absolute direction;

a charging battery serving as a power source for said operation unit;

a displacement sensor for charging said charging battery when said operation unit is loaded on said sensed object provided with a charging element, and sensing the state of displacement of said operation unit by operating a manual reset to generate displacement information;

an arithmetic controller generating direction indicating information which indicates the direction where said sensed object is present, based on said displacement information and said absolute direction signal; and

a display for displaying the contents of said direction indicating information.

6. An apparatus for searching for a sensed object comprising:

a portable operation unit;

an absolute direction sensor contained in said operation unit and generating an absolute direction signal indicating an absolute direction;

a charging battery serving as a power source for said operation unit and having a terminal;

a displacement sensor for charging said charging battery when said operation unit is loaded on said sensed object provided with a charging element, and sensing the state of displacement of said operation unit by operating a manual reset to generate displacement information;

an arithmetic controller generating direction indicating information which indicates the direction where said sensed object is present, based on said displacement information and said absolute direction signal; and

a display for displaying the contents of said direction indicating information;

wherein when the terminal of said operation unit is removed from the charging element of said sensed object, a voltage supplied from said charging element is cut off, and the coordinate position of said displacement sensor is automatically returned to an initial position.