Vehicle compass correction circuit

• US 5,511,319 A
• Filed: 08/29/1994
• Issued: 04/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bussis, Mark J., Geerlings, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BENNETT, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US08/297,699
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 33/356, 33/357, 33/361, 33/355 R, 364/559, 364/571.01, 364/571.02, 364/571.04, 364/571.05
• US Class Current: 33/356
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/38 Testing, calibrating, or compensating of compasses

Abstract

A compass circuit has a magnetic field sensor adapted to be positioned in a vehicle near a source of varying magnetic fields. A source of correction signals is coupled to the compass circuit for providing correction signals applied to the compass circuit for correcting the heading display of the compass circuit when differing levels of magnetic field disturbance occurs to provide accurate heading information. In a preferred embodiment the source of correction signals includes a detector circuit coupled to the vehicle accessory for providing signals directly corresponding to the source of magnetic field interference.

Claims

1. A vehicle compass correction circuit for correcting for vehicle generated varying interfering magnetic fields comprising:

a vehicle accessory providing a varying magnetic field of an intensity sufficient to cause a compass display error;

a compass circuit including a magnetic field sensor and display for displaying direction indicating information detected by said magnetic field sensor; and

a source of correction signals coupled to said compass circuit to provide correction signal information corresponding to vehicle generated magnetic field disturbances from said vehicle accessory, wherein said compass circuit responds to said correction signals to display a corrected heading corresponding to a heading unaffected by the vehicle accessory generated magnetic field disturbance.

2. The electrical circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said source of correction signals comprises a detector circuit having an input terminal for coupling to a vehicle accessory providing internal magnetic field disturbances and an output terminal.

3. The electrical circuit as defined in claim 2 wherein said compass circuit includes a microcontroller having a data input terminal coupled to said output terminal of said detector for receiving correction signals therefrom.

4. A vehicle compass correction circuit for correcting for vehicle generated varying interfering magnetic fields comprising:

a compass circuit including a magnetic field sensor and display for displaying direction indicating information detected by said magnetic field sensor;

a source of correction signals coupled to said compass circuit to provide correction signal information corresponding to vehicle generated magnetic field disturbances, said source of correction signals comprises a detector circuit having an input terminal for coupling to a vehicle accessory providing internal magnetic field disturbances and an output terminal, wherein said compass circuit includes a microcontroller having a data input terminal coupled to said output terminal of said detector for receiving correction signals therefrom and responds to said correction signals to display a corrected heading corresponding to a heading unaffected by the vehicle generated magnetic field disturbance; and

a fan motor for a vehicle HVAC system and an electrical control for varying the current through said fan motor and wherein said input terminal of said detector circuit is coupled to said fan motor.

5. The electrical circuit as defined in claim 4 wherein said detector circuit includes a voltage divider coupled from said input terminal to said output terminal for scaling the voltage applied to said input terminal.

6. The electrical circuit as defined in claim 5 wherein said detector circuit further includes a clamping circuit coupled to said output terminal for limiting the voltage applied to said microcontroller from said detector circuit.

7. A vehicle compass circuit for correcting for varying interfering magnetic fields generated by the use of vehicle accessories, said circuit comprising:

a vehicle accessory which generates a varying magnetic field which interferes with the compass display accuracy;

a magnetic field sensor for providing signals representative of the vehicle heading;

a microcontroller coupled to said sensor and to a display for displaying direction indicating information detected by said magnetic field sensor; and

a source of correction signals coupled to said microcontroller to provide correction signal information corresponding to vehicle generated magnetic field disturbances caused by said accessory, wherein said microcontroller responds to said correction signals to display the correct heading.

8. The electrical circuit as defined in claim 7 wherein said source of correction signals comprises a detector circuit having an input terminal for coupling to said vehicle accessory which generates magnetic field disturbances.

9. A vehicle compass circuit for correcting for varying interfering magnetic fields generated by the use of vehicle accessories, said circuit comprising:

a magnetic field sensor for providing signals representative of the vehicle heading;

a microcontroller coupled to said sensor and to a display for displaying direction indicating information detected by said magnetic field sensor; and

a source of correction signals coupled to said microcontroller to provide correction signal information corresponding to vehicle generated magnetic field disturbances, wherein said source of correction signals comprises a detector circuit having an input terminal for coupling to a vehicle accessory providing internal magnetic field disturbance, and wherein said microcontroller responds to said correction signals to display the correct heading, and wherein the vehicle accessory comprises a fan motor for a vehicle HVAC system and an electrical control for varying the current through said fan motor and wherein said input terminal of said detector circuit is coupled to said fan motor.

10. The electrical circuit as defined in claim 9 wherein said detector circuit includes an output terminal coupled to said microcontroller and a voltage divider coupled from said input terminal to said output terminal for scaling the voltage applied to said input terminal.

11. The electrical circuit as defined in claim 10 wherein said detector circuit further includes a clamping circuit coupled to said output terminal for limiting the voltage applied to said microcontroller from said detector circuit.

12. The electrical circuit as defined in claim 11 wherein said voltage divider includes an integrator circuit.

13. A vehicle compass including a circuit for correcting for different levels of local magnetic field disturbances caused by operation of electrical accessories in the vehicle, said compass comprising:

an electrical accessory which generates a varying magnetic field disturbance;

a magnetic field sensor for positioning in the vehicle in proximity to a source of varying magnetic field disturbance caused by said accessory;

a source of correction signals identifying the magnetic field disturbance;

a display for displaying the detected vehicle heading; and

a microcontroller coupled to said sensor and to said source and display and responsive to said correction signals for accurately displaying the vehicle heading for different magnetic field disturbances.

14. A vehicle compass including a circuit for correcting for different levels of local magnetic field disturbances caused by operation of electrical accessories in the vehicle, said compass comprising:

a magnetic field sensor for positioning in the vehicle in proximity to a source of varying magnetic field disturbance;

a source of correction signals identifying the magnetic field disturbance;

a display for displaying the detected vehicle heading; and

a microcontroller coupled to said sensor and to said source and display and responsive to said correction signals for accurately displaying the vehicle heading for different magnetic field disturbances, wherein the source of magnetic field disturbance is a multi-speed fan motor and wherein said source of correction signals comprises a detector circuit coupled to said fan motor.

15. The compass as defined in claim 14 wherein said detector circuit includes a voltage divider coupled to said fan motor for scaling the voltage applied to said microcontroller.

16. The compass as defined in claim 15 wherein said detector circuit further includes a clamping circuit for limiting the voltage applied to said microcontroller from said detector circuit.

17. The compass as defined in claim 16 wherein said voltage divider includes an integrator circuit.

18. A vehicle compass circuit for correcting for varying interfering magnetic fields generated by the use of vehicle accessories, said circuit comprising:

a vehicle accessory generating a varying magnetic field;

a magnetic field sensor for providing signals representative of the vehicle heading;

a circuit for providing signals representative of the operation of said accessory which causes dynamic field interference;

a speed sensor;

a microcontroller coupled to said magnetic field and speed sensors, to said circuit, and to a display for displaying direction indicating information detected by said magnetic field sensor;

said microcontroller detecting a predetermined vehicle velocity and detecting changes in the sensed magnetic fields due to changes in the operational state of the vehicle accessory to provide correction signal information corresponding to vehicle generated magnetic field disturbances, wherein said microcontroller responds to said correction signals to provide signals to the display for displaying the corrected heading.

19. The electrical circuit as defined in claim 18 wherein said predetermined vehicle velocity is zero.

20. The electrical circuit as defined in claim 19 wherein said source of correction signals comprises a detector circuit having an input terminal for coupling to a vehicle accessory providing internal magnetic field disturbances.

21. A vehicle compass circuit for correcting for varying interfering magnetic fields generated by the use of vehicle accessories, said circuit comprising:

a magnetic field sensor for providing signals representative of the vehicle heading;

a circuit for providing signals representative of the operation of an accessory which causes dynamic field interference, said circuit comprising a detector circuit having an input terminal for coupling to a vehicle accessory providing internal magnetic field disturbances, wherein the vehicle accessory comprises a fan motor for a vehicle HVAC system and an electrical control for varying the current through said fan motor and wherein said input terminal of said detector circuit is coupled to said fan motor;

a speed sensor; and

a microcontroller coupled to said magnetic field and speed sensors, to said circuit, and to a display for displaying direction indicating information detected by said magnetic field sensor;

said microcontroller detecting zero vehicle velocity and detecting changes in the sensed magnetic fields due to changes in the operational state of said fan motor to provide correction signal information corresponding to vehicle generated magnetic field disturbances, wherein said microcontroller responds to said correction signals to provide signals to the display for displaying the corrected heading.

22. The electrical circuit as defined in claim 21 wherein said detector circuit includes an output terminal coupled to said microcontroller and a voltage divider coupled from said input terminal to said output terminal for scaling the voltage applied to said input terminal.

23. The electrical circuit as defined in claim 22 wherein said detector circuit further includes a clamping circuit coupled to said output terminal for limiting the voltage applied to said microcontroller from said detector circuit.