Magnetic azimuth measurement apparatus
First Claim
1. A magnetic azimuth measurement apparatus comprising:
- a magnetic detection unit having three or more magnetic detection devices with directionality, the magnetic detection devices being disposed at equal angnlar intervals based on a predetermined rule in such a way that directionalities thereof are different from each another;
a sampling unit for sequentially switching and sampling electromagnetic conversion outputs of magnetic detection devices of the magnetic detection unit;
a condition determining unit for determining whether or not the electromagnetic conversion output being sequentially switched and sampled by the sampling unit meets a predetermined condition; and
an azimuth information output unit for outputting magnetic azimuth information based on a result of the determination of the condition determining unit,wherein,each of the three or more magnetic detection devices of the magnetic detection unit comprises a thin film magnetic core, a thin film excitation coil and a thin film detection coil around the magnetic core,the three or more magnetic detection devices disposed in a wheel-spoke arrangement with their cores positioned to point along their respective axes from a common point, andthe sampling unit sequentially operates switches in response to a signal from a binary counter if the number of detection coils of the magnetic detection devices is set to be 2n, the number of the switches being the same as that of the detection coils.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic azimuth measurement apparatus without arithmetic means nor any mechanical motion such as rotation, not affecting its mass production ability because of a simple configuration, and making it possible to measure a azimuth in higher precision, is provided. A trigger signal generates if a condition determining circuit detects that a switched output signal reaches a maximum (positive peak), and this trigger signal enables an output interface circuit to hold a switching signal. The switching signal held by the output interface circuit is a digital representation of a detection coil position parallel to an external magnetic field. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain the azimuth of the external magnetic field with respect to the sensor device.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A magnetic azimuth measurement apparatus comprising:
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a magnetic detection unit having three or more magnetic detection devices with directionality, the magnetic detection devices being disposed at equal angnlar intervals based on a predetermined rule in such a way that directionalities thereof are different from each another; a sampling unit for sequentially switching and sampling electromagnetic conversion outputs of magnetic detection devices of the magnetic detection unit; a condition determining unit for determining whether or not the electromagnetic conversion output being sequentially switched and sampled by the sampling unit meets a predetermined condition; and an azimuth information output unit for outputting magnetic azimuth information based on a result of the determination of the condition determining unit, wherein, each of the three or more magnetic detection devices of the magnetic detection unit comprises a thin film magnetic core, a thin film excitation coil and a thin film detection coil around the magnetic core, the three or more magnetic detection devices disposed in a wheel-spoke arrangement with their cores positioned to point along their respective axes from a common point, and the sampling unit sequentially operates switches in response to a signal from a binary counter if the number of detection coils of the magnetic detection devices is set to be 2n, the number of the switches being the same as that of the detection coils. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A magnetic azimuth measurement apparatus comprising:
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a magnetic detection unit having three or more magnetic detection devices with directionality, the magnetic detection devices being disposed at equal angular intervals based on a predetermined rule in such a way that directionalities thereof are different from each another; a sampling unit for sequentially switching and sampling electromagnetic conversion outputs of magnetic detection devices of the magnetic detection unit; a condition determining unit for determining whether or not the electromagnetic conversion output being sequentially switched and sampled by the sampling unit meets a predetermined condition; and an azimuth information output unit for outputting magnetic azimuth information based on a result of the determination of the condition determining unit, wherein, each of the three or more magnetic azimuth devices of the magnetic detection unit comprises a thin film radial magnetic core, said magnetic core insulated by an insulating layer and made of a soft magnetic material, a thin film excitation coil, and a thin film detection coil around the magnetic core, the three or more magnetic detection devices disposed in a wheel-spoke arrangement with their cores positioned to point along their respective axes from a common point, and the sampling unit sequentially operates switches in response to a signal from a binary counter if the number of detection coils of the magnetic detection devices is set to be 2n, the number of the switches being the same as that of the detection coils.
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Specification