Gyro-sensor

• US 6,425,187 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Gebert, Klaus, Riegler, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): BENNETT, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US09/659,515
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 333/16, 333/18, 333/19, 333/35, 333/44, 333/45, 333/47, 333/55.R, 333/56, 333/57, 333/58, 333/59
• US Class Current: 33/316
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A locating device for vehicles with a carrier to be mounted in the vehicle in which a gyro-sensor is located to detect the movement of moving components for the purpose of determining the location. As gyro-sensors must be oriented a certain way in order to fulfill their function, and as this orientation is not possible in all installation locations, the invention is the result of the task of specifying a gyro-sensor that can be used regardless of the corresponding mounting situation, where the corresponding sensor (gyro-sensor) can be oriented at the installation location and manufactured using automated manufacturing processes and where special securing devices are not required to secure the unit in the aligned position. This task is accomplished in that there are complementary tabs and notches located on the gyro-sensor and on the housing in which the gyro-sensor is inserted that permit the gyro-sensor to be mounted in the housing in at least two different positions, and/or that the housing with its casing shell surface is installed in a holding device, where the housing can be installed in the holding device in at least one prescribed position.

Claims

1. A gyro-sensor apparatus, comprising:

a gyro-sensor having a preferred axis that points towards the center of the earth; and

a housing enclosing said gyro-sensor,

wherein said housing includes at least one casing shell surface,

wherein said housing and said gyro-sensor contain complementary tabs and notches that allow for at least two different mounting positions of said gyro-sensor in said housing,

wherein said housing with said casing shell surface is inserted in a holding device, and

wherein said housing can be inserted in said holding device in at least one predefined mounting position.

2. A gyro-sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said casing shell surface has a primarily cylindrical cross-section.

3. A gyro-sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said casing shell surface has a cross-section with at least three edges connected to each other by sections of said casing shell surface.

4. A gyro-sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said tabs on said housing is positioned so that an imaginary line through said one tab and a center point of said housing intersects one section of a plurality of sections of said casing shell surface so that distances from said center point to two edges of said one section of said casing shell surface are different.

5. A gyro-sensor apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit board on which said gyro-sensor is placed,

wherein said gyro-sensor is held in said housing by said circuit board.

6. A gyro-sensor apparatus according to claim 5 wherein contact paths are provided on said gyro-sensor and/or said circuit board concentric to a center point of said housing when said gyro-sensor is inserted into said housing.

7. A gyro-sensor apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit board on which said gyro-sensor is placed,

wherein said gyro-sensor is held in said housing by said circuit board.

8. A gyro-sensor apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a circuit board on which said gyro-sensor is placed,

wherein said gyro-sensor is held in said housing by said circuit board.

9. A gyro-sensor apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a circuit board on which said gyro-sensor is placed,

wherein said gyro-sensor is held in said housing by said circuit board.