Wireless compass for vehicles

• US 5,995,000 A
• Filed: 06/09/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation Eeds & Interiors (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: King, Joseph David
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US09/093,761
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/457, 340/459, 340/461, 340/462
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/30 Earth-inductor compasses

Abstract

A wireless compass for vehicles includes a compass sensor installed in a first location of a vehicle. The compass sensor sends information regarding the heading of the vehicle via a wireless transmitter. A compass display includes a complementary wireless receiver which receives the data from the compass sensor. The compass display and receiver are located at a second location convenient for the driver. The display displays the heading of the vehicle based upon the data received from the compass sensor.

Claims

1. A wireless compass comprising:

a sensor determining a geographic orientation;

a wireless transmitter transmitting a wireless signal indicating said geographic orientation as determined by said sensor;

a receiver receiving said wireless signal; and

a display connected to said receiver displaying said geographic orientation.

2. The wireless compass of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is an RF transmitter.

3. The wireless compass of claim 1, wherein said transmitter includes an encoder and said receiver includes a decoder.

4. The wireless compass of claim 1, wherein said compass sensor includes a fluxgate.

5. A wireless compass system in a vehicle comprising:

a compass sensor installed in a first location of relatively low magnetic influence, said compass sensor determining a geographic direction;

a wireless transmitter connected to said compass sensor and transmitting a wireless signal indicating said geographic direction as determined by said compass sensor;

a receiver installed at a second location, different from said first location, said receiver receiving said wireless signal; and

a display connected to said receiver and displaying said geographic direction based upon said wireless signal.

6. The wireless compass system of claim 5, wherein said second location has substantially more magnetic influences.

7. The wireless compass system of claim 5, wherein said transmitter is an RF transmitter.

8. The wireless compass system of claim 5, wherein said transmitter includes an encoder and said receiver includes a decoder.

9. The wireless compass system of claim 5, wherein said compass sensor includes a fluxgate.

10. A method for indicating a heading of a vehicle including the steps of:

a) determining a geographic orientation of the vehicle;

b) generating a signal indicative of the geographic direction;

c) transmitting the signal via a wireless link;

d) receiving the signal; and

e) displaying the geographic direction based upon receiving the signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal is sent from a first location to a second location adjacent a display.

12. The method of claim 10, further including the step of installing a sensor in a first location in a vehicle of relatively low magnetic influences.

13. The method of claim 12, further including the step of:

installing a display in a second location in the vehicle, different from the first location, said step e) displaying on the display.

14. The method of claim 13, further including the step of:

sending a wireless signal from the first location to the second location in said step c).