Method for correcting azimuth angle data of a navigational device and the navigational device used therein

• US 6,956,525 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2004
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wintecronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Wintecronics Limited
• Inventors: Chang, Apin
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US10/989,256
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.01, 342/357.02, 342/357.06, 342/357.14, 701/208, 701/213, 701/216
• US Class Current: 342/357.36
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/38 Testing, calibrating, or compensating of compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/53 Determining attitude

Abstract

A method for correcting azimuth angle data of a navigational device, which is installed in a vehicle, includes the steps of enabling the navigational device to periodically receive a position information signal that is transmitted from a global positioning system (GPS) service provider and that contains an azimuth angle of the vehicle, obtaining velocity data of the vehicle, obtaining magnetic north data by means of an electronic compass, and enabling the navigational device to correct the azimuth angle contained in the position information based on the magnetic north data when the velocity data is lower than a reference value. A navigational device that implements the aforesaid method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for correcting azimuth angle data of a navigational device that is installed in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

(A) enabling the navigational device to periodically receive a position information signal that is transmitted from a global positioning system (GPS) service provider and that contains an azimuth angle of the vehicle;

(B) obtaining velocity data of the vehicle;

(C) obtaining magnetic north data by means of an electronic compass; and

(D) enabling the navigational device to correct the azimuth angle contained in the position information signal received by the navigational device in step (A) based on the magnetic north data obtained in step (C) when the velocity data obtained in step (B) is lower than a reference value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step (B), the velocity data is obtained from the position information signal received in step (A).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(E) enabling the navigational device to correct the magnetic north data of the electronic compass based on the azimuth angle contained in the position information signal received in step (A) when the velocity data obtained in step (B) is higher than the reference value.

4. A navigational device adapted to be installed in a vehicle, said navigational device comprising:

an electronic compass including

a sensor that detects a magnetic field, and

a compass processor coupled to said sensor, and operable so as to generate magnetic north data corresponding to the magnetic field detected by said sensor; and

a GPS module including

a signal receiver operable so as to periodically receive a position information signal that is transmitted from a global positioning system (GPS) service provider and that contains an azimuth angle of the vehicle, and

a GPS processor coupled to said compass processor of said electronic compass and said signal receiver, said GPS processor being operable so as to obtain velocity data of the vehicle, so as to receive the magnetic north data generated by said compass processor of said electronic compass, and so as to correct the azimuth angle contained in the position information signal received by said signal receiver based on the magnetic north data from said compass processor when the velocity data obtained by said GPS processor is lower than a reference value.

5. The navigational device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said GPS processor obtains the velocity data from the position information signal received by said signal receiver.

6. The navigational device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said GPS processor is further operable so as to correct the magnetic north data generated by said compass processor of said electronic compass based on the azimuth angle contained in the position information signal received by said signal receiver when the velocity data obtained by said GPS processor is higher than the reference value.

7. The navigational device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said GPS processor of said GPS module is further operable so as to convert the position information signal received by said signal receiver into a message that conforms to one of a recommended minimum specific GPS/transit data (RMC) and a vector track and speed over ground (VTG) of a national marine electronics association (NMEA) protocol.