Method of adjusting drive current of magnetism sensor and electronic azimuth meter

• US 6,523,271 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kato, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Madeline
• Application Number:
  US09/910,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20020014016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 333/55.R, 333/61, 333/63.Q, 333/56, 333/57, 324/352, 324/247, 702/150, 702/152, 702/92, 73/17.5, 73/17.6
• US Class Current: 33/355.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/38 Testing, calibrating, or compensating of compasses

Abstract

To reduce a dispersion in a sensitivity of a magnetism detecting circuit driving, by current, a magnetism sensor comprising magnetism resistance elements in a bridge constitution to a dispersion in a sensitivity of a magnetism sensor. An electronic azimuth meter is provided with EEPROM and drive current set values are previously stored to EEPROM. The drive current set values are calculated by a predetermined calculation by measuring bridge resistance of a magnetism sensor of the electronic azimuth meter. In detecting magnetism by the magnetism sensor, CPU controls a sensor drive circuit based on the drive current set values stored to EEPROM. Thereby, the sensor drive circuit supplies a magnetism sensor with optimum drive current in accordance with a bridge resistance value thereof.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting drive current of a magnetism sensor which is a method of adjusting drive current of a magnetism sensor of a magnetism detecting circuit in which sensor driving means having a drive current source capable of supplying drive current adjustable in a range of N steps, respectively drives an X-axis magnetism sensor and a Y-axis magnetism sensor in a bridge constitution by drive current having a magnitude in correspondence with drive current set values stored to drive current set value storing means, said method of adjusting drive current of a magnetism sensor is characterized in comprising the following steps of:

(1) a step of respectively measuring bridge resistance of the X-axis magnetism sensor and bridge resistance of the Y-axis magnetism sensor;

(2) a step of respectively calculating the drive current set value of the X-axis magnetism sensor and the drive current set value of the Y-axis magnetism sensor from measured values of the bridge resistance of the X-axis magnetism sensor and the bridge resistance of the Y-axis magnetism sensor; and

(3) a step of respectively storing the drive current set value of the X-axis magnetism sensor and the drive current set value of the Y-axis magnetism sensor to the drive current storing means.

2. The method of adjusting drive current of a magnetism sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that a number of the drive current set values is N and is represented by an integer provided by equally dividing a certain range by N.

3. The method of adjusting drive current of a magnetism sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that N is 16.

4. An electronic azimuth meter comprising:

magnetism sensor means comprising an X-axis magnetism sensor and a Y-axis magnetism sensor;

drive current set value storing means for storing drive current set values;

sensor driving means having a drive current source capable of supplying drive current adjustable in a range of N steps for storing drive current in correspondence with the drive current set values stored to the drive current set value storing means to the magnetism sensor means;

A/D conversion means for converting an analog output of the magnetism sensor means into a digital output;

azimuth calculating means for outputting an azimuth signal by subjecting the digital output of the A/D conversion means to predetermined calculation;

displaying means for displaying an azimuth based on the azimuth signal of the azimuth calculating means; and

sensor controlling means for controlling the means.

5. The electronic azimuth meter according to claim 4, characterized in that a number of the drive current set values is N and is represented by an integer provided by equally dividing a certain range by N.

6. The electronic azimuth meter according to claim 5, characterized in that N is 16.

7. The electronic azimuth meter according to claim 5, characterized in that N is 12.

8. The electronic azimuth meter according to claim 5, characterized in that N is 13.

9. An electronic azimuth meter comprising magnetism sensor means comprising an X-axis magnetism sensor and Y-axis magnetism sensor;

drive current set value storing means for storing drive current set values, sensor driving means having a drive current source capable of supplying drive current adjustable in a range of N steps for storing drive current in correspondence with the drive current set values stored to the drive current set value storing means to the magnetism sensor means, A/D conversion means for converting an analog output of the magnetism sensor means into a digital output, azimuth calculating means for outputting an azimuth signal by subjecting the digital output of the A/D conversion means to predetermined calculation, displaying means for displaying an azimuth based on the azimuth signal of the azimuth calculating means, and sensor controlling means for controlling the means, said electronic azimuth meter is characterized in that the drive current set values are stored to the drive current set value storing means by the following steps of;

(1) a step of respectively measuring bridge resistance of the X-axis magnetism sensor and bridge resistance of the Y-axis magnetism sensor; and

(2) a step of respectively calculating the drive current set value of the X-axis magnetism sensor and the drive current set value of the Y-axis magnetism sensor from measured values of the bridge resistance of the X-axis magnetism sensor and the bridge resistance of the Y-axis magnetism sensor.

10. The electronic azimuth meter according to claim 9, characterized in that a number of the drive current set values is N and is represented by an integer provided by equally dividing a certain range by N.

11. The electronic azimuth meter according to claim 10, characertized in that N is 16.

12. An electronic azimuth meter comprising:

a magnetism sensor comprising an X-axis magnetism sensor and a Y-axis magnetism sensor;

a drive current set value storing circuit to store drive current set values;

a sensor driving circuit having a drive current source capable of supplying drive current adjustable in a range of N steps for storing drive current in correspondence with the drive current set values stored to the drive current set value storing circuit to the magnetism sensor;

an A/D converter to converte an analog output of the magnetism sensor into a digital output;

an azimuth calculator to output an azimuth signal by subjecting the digital output of the A/D converter to predetermined calculation;

a display to display an azimuth based on the azimuth signal of the azimuth calculator; and

a sensor controller to control the devices.

13. The electronic azimuth meter according to claim 12, characterized in that a number of the drive current set values is N and is represented by an integer provided by equally dividing a certain range by N.

14. An electronic azimuth meter comprising:

a magnetism sensor comprising an X-axis magnetism sensor and Y-axis magnetism sensor;

a drive current set value storing circuit to store drive current set values;

a sensor driving circuit having a drive current source capable of supplying drive current adjustable in a range of N steps for storing drive current in correspondence with the drive current set values stored to the drive current set value storing circuit to the magnetism sensor;

an A/D converter to convert an analog output of the magnetism sensor into a digital output;

an azimuth calculator to output an azimuth signal by subjecting the digital output of the A/D converter to predetermined calculation;

a display to display an azimuth based on the azimuth signal of the azimuth calculator; and

a sensor controller to control the device;

wherein the drive current set values are stored to the drive current set value storing cirtcuit by the following steps of;

(1) a step of respectively measuring bridge resistance of the X-axis magnetism sensor and bridge resistance of the Y-axis magnetism sensor; and

(2) a step of respectively calculating the drive current set value of the X-axis magnetism sensor and the drive current set value of the Y-axis magnetism sensor from measured values of the bridge resistance of the X-axis magnetism sensor and the bridge resistance of the Y-axis magnetism sensor.

15. The electronic azimuth meter according to claim 14, characterized in that a number of the drive current set values is N and is represented by an integer provided by equally dividing a certain range by N.