SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAGNETOMETER INSTALLATION

• US 20110248854A1
• Filed: 04/07/2011
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L3Harris Aviation Products, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: L-3 Communications Avionics Systems Incorporated (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tramper, William D., DeRosia, Andrew L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,629,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/600
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/38 Testing, calibrating, or compensating of compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/007 Environmental aspects, e.g. temperature variations, radiation, stray fields G01R33/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/022 Measuring gradient

Abstract

A method and system for determining the suitability of a particular location on a mobile craft for mounting a magnetometer includes positioning a magnetometer in a particular location. The magnetometer including at least one output indicating magnetic measurements made by the magnetometer. A computer is connected to the magnetometer and programmed to monitor the output(s) of the magnetometer. An attempt is made to detect magnetic interference at the mobile craft and a human-perceptible indication is provided if the output(s) of said magnetometer changes by more than a specified amount while attempting to detect magnetic interference.

Claims

1. A method of determining the suitability of a particular location on a mobile craft for mounting a magnetometer, said method comprising:

positioning a magnetometer in a particular location, said magnetometer including at least one output indicating magnetic measurements made by said magnetometer;

connecting a computer to said magnetometer, said computer programmed to monitor said at least one output;

attempting to detect magnetic interference at the mobile craft; and

providing a human perceptible indication if said at least one output of said magnetometer changes by more than a specified amount while attempting to create magnetic interference.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said attempting to detect magnetic interference includes operating at least one powered component of the mobile craft while said computer monitors said at least one output and while said craft remains substantially stationary.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said computer monitors said at least one output by calculating a heading corresponding to said magnetic measurements made by said magnetometer and provides the human-perceptible indication if the heading changes by more than a particular amount.

4. The method of claim 2 including operating a plurality of powered components of the mobile craft while said computer monitors said at least one output and while said craft remains stationary;

and

providing the human-perceptible indication if said at least one output of said magnetometer changes by more than the specified amount while any of said multiple powered components are operated.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said attempting to detect magnetic interference includes moving said magnetometer around to a plurality of different locations while said computer monitors said at least one output while said craft remains substantially stationary.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said computer monitors said at least one output by measuring field strength.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said computer compares the measured field strength with a baseline field strength measured prior to said moving.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said human-perceptible indication comprises at least one chosen from a visual indication and an audio indication.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said mobile craft is an airplane.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said mounting of said magnetometer in said mobile craft is performed as part of an aftermarket installation.

11. A method of determining the suitability of a particular location on a mobile craft for mounting a magnetometer, said method comprising:

mounting a magnetometer in said particular location, said magnetometer including at least one output indicating magnetic measurements made by said magnetometer;

connecting a computer to said magnetometer, said computer programmed to monitor said at least one output and calculate a heading corresponding to said magnetic measurements made by said magnetometer;

operating at least one powered component of the mobile craft while said computer monitors said at least one output and while said craft remains substantially stationary; and

providing a human-perceptible indication if said at least one output of said magnetometer changes by more than a specified amount while said powered component is operated.

12. The method of claim 11 further including:

inputting said specified amount into said computer.

13. The method of claim 11 further including:

operating a plurality of powered components of the mobile craft while said computer monitors said at least one output and while said craft remains stationary; and

providing the human-perceptible indication if said at least one output of said magnetometer changes by more than the specified amount while any of said multiple powered components are operated.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said human perceptible indication comprises at least one chosen from a visual indication and an audio indication.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said mobile craft is an airplane.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said mounting of said magnetometer in said mobile craft is performed as part of an aftermarket installation.

17. A system for determining the suitability of a particular location on a mobile craft for mounting a magnetometer, said system comprising:

a magnetometer positioned on the mobile craft, said magnetometer including at least one output indicating magnetic measurements made by said magnetometer;

a computer in communication with said magnetometer, said computer programmed to monitor changes in said at least one output in order to attempt to detect magnetic interference at the mobile craft and to provide a human-perceptible indication if said output changes by more than a specified amount while attempting to detect magnetic interference.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said computer is programmed to monitor said at least one output by calculating a heading corresponding to said magnetic measurements made by said magnetometer and provides the human-perceptible indication if the heading changes by more than a particular amount.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said computer is programmed to monitor said at least one output by measuring field strength.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said computer is programmed to compare the measured field strength with a baseline field strength measured prior to said moving.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein said human-perceptible indication comprises at least one chosen from a visual indication and an audio indication.

22. A system for determining the suitability of a particular location on a mobile craft for mounting a magnetometer, said system comprising:

a magnetometer mounted in said particular location, said magnetometer including at least one output indicating magnetic measurements made by said magnetometer;

a computer in communication with said magnetometer, said computer programmed to display a heading based upon said magnetic measurements made by said magnetometer, said computer further programmed to monitor changes in said heading while at least one powered component of said mobile craft is operated and to provide a human-perceptible indication if said heading changes by more than a specified amount while said powered component is operated.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said computer is programmed to receive said specified amount from an operator.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said computer is programmed to display a change in color of a portion of a screen on the computer or to produce an audio signal if said heading changes by more than the specified amount.

25. The system of claim 22 further including a magnetometer attitude transmitter that communicates with said computer prior to said magnetometer being mounted in said particular location, said magnetometer attitude transmitter communicating roll and pitch information to said computer.