Accelerometer augmented precision compass
First Claim
1. A compass system comprising:
- a platform defining an x-axis, a y-axis and an xy-plane, wherein a z-axis is orthogonal to said xy-plane;
a beam rotatably coupled to said platform such that said beam rotates about said y-axis;
an accelerometer comprising a flexure plate perpendicular to said y-axis, said accelerometer coupled to said beam a distance from said y-axis, said accelerometer generating an accelerometer signal in response to movement of said flexure plate;
an angular position sensor sensing angular position of said beam relative to said x-axis and said y-axis within said xy-plane, said angular position sensor generating an angular position signal therefrom; and
a processor receiving said accelerometer signal and said angular position signal, said processor generating an East-West signal therefrom.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compass system includes a platform defining an x-axis, a y-axis and an xy-plane, wherein a z-axis is orthogonal to the xz-plane. A beam is rotatably coupled to the platform such that the beam rotates about the y-axis. An accelerometer including a flexure plate perpendicular to the y-axis is coupled to the beam a distance from the y-axis. The accelerometer generates an accelerometer signal in response to movement of the flexure plate. An angular position sensor senses angular position of the beam relative to the x-axis and y-axis, the angular position sensor generating an angular position signal therefrom. A processor receives the accelerometer signal and the angular position signal and generates an East-West signal therefrom.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A compass system comprising:
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a platform defining an x-axis, a y-axis and an xy-plane, wherein a z-axis is orthogonal to said xy-plane;
a beam rotatably coupled to said platform such that said beam rotates about said y-axis;
an accelerometer comprising a flexure plate perpendicular to said y-axis, said accelerometer coupled to said beam a distance from said y-axis, said accelerometer generating an accelerometer signal in response to movement of said flexure plate;
an angular position sensor sensing angular position of said beam relative to said x-axis and said y-axis within said xy-plane, said angular position sensor generating an angular position signal therefrom; and
a processor receiving said accelerometer signal and said angular position signal, said processor generating an East-West signal therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for operating a compass system on the earth comprising:
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leveling a platform with respect to local earth gravity;
rotating a flexure plate bridge accelerometer perpendicular to said platform such that said flexure plate bridge accelerometer reads a sum of a velocity of said accelerometer and a rotation of the earth as said flexure plate bridge accelerometer is rotated about a y-axis and said platform is rotated about a z-axis;
generating a sinusoidal signal of a rotating acceleration of said flexure plate bridge accelerometer due to said sum of said velocity of said accelerometer and said rotation of the earth;
reading a positive peak and a negative peak within said sinusoidal signal; and
generating an earth rate direction signal in response to said positive peak and said negative peak. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A compass system for a missile system comprising:
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a inertial measurement unit;
a platform coupled to said inertial measurement unit defining an x-axis, a y-axis and an xy-plane, wherein a z-axis is orthogonal to said xy-plane;
a beam rotatably coupled to said platform such that said beam rotates about said y-axis while said platform rotates about said z-axis;
an accelerometer comprising a flexure plate perpendicular to said y-axis, said accelerometer coupled to said beam a distance from said y-axis, said accelerometer generating an accelerometer signal in response to movement of said flexure plate;
an angular position sensor sensing angular position of said beam relative to said x-axis and said y-axis of said xy-plane, said angular position sensor generating an angular position signal therefrom; and
a processor receiving said accelerometer signal and said angular position signal, said processor leveling said platform with respect to local earth gravity, said processor further rotating said beam such that said accelerometer reads a sum of a velocity of said accelerometer and a rotation of the earth, said processor generating a sinusoidal signal of a rotating acceleration of said accelerometer due to said sum of said velocity of said accelerometer and said rotation of the earth, said processor reading a positive peak and a negative peak within said sinusoidal signal, and said processor generating an earth rate direction signal in response to said positive peak and said negative peak, said processor generating an East-West signal in response to said earth rate direction signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification