NL1034550C2 - Mecca direction determining device, has microprocessor connected to electronic compass for determining direction of fixed point on earth as magnetic north pole, and display including LEDs to indicate direction calculated by microprocessor - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (10) has a global positioning system (GPS) receiver (12) connected to a microprocessor (14) to determine a position on the earth based on satellite data, where the microprocessor is connected to an electronic compass (16) for determining direction of a fixed point on the earth as the magnetic north pole. A display (18) including LEDs indicates the direction calculated by the microprocessor. An independent claim is also included for a method for determining a direction.

Description

Device and method for indicating a direction

To determine a direction, use is now mainly made of a compass and a map.

5 With a GPS (Global Positioning System) it is possible to determine a position on or above the earth. When moving in a certain direction, direction can also be obtained from this.

When stationary, a combination can be made with an electronic compass and a satellite location determination system. In order to promote user-friendliness, according to the present invention the direction is indicated by a compass rose, for example by means of LEDs in a piece of floor covering or carpet.

The present invention can be used when placing a prayer rug in the correct direction of Mecca, it can furthermore be suitable for an extremely simple form of an autopilot, recovery of the road by children or disabled persons who have little knowledge of electronic equipment and the present invention can also be applied to toys.

The present invention requires no displacement of the device to find the direction, while also little or no operation is required.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will be given with reference to the following preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention; 1034550 2

Figure 2 shows a flow chart of a preferred method in the device according to the present invention; and

Figure 3 is a view of the display of Figure 1.

The device 10 (Fig. 1) according to the present invention preferably comprises a GPS receiver 12 which is connected to a microcomputer 14 which is provided with a microprocessor memory such as a fixed memory and a hard disk etc. in a manner known to those skilled in the art. The microcomputer is further connected to an electronic compass 16. On the basis of the GPS signals, the microcomputer 14 determines a position on earth. With the aid of the signals from the electronic compass 16, the direction, for example towards Mecca, is determined therefrom relative to the direction to the magnetic north as determined by the electronic compass. The desired direction is shown, for example, with light-emitting diodes (LEDs), such as those connected to the microprocessor 14 and which together form the display 18.

As is apparent from, inter alia, Figure 2, the microcomputer 14 first retrieves the GPS position from GPS receiver 12 in step 21, after which it is determined in step 22 whether this is a valid position after which either this position is stored (23) or a previously saved position is retrieved (24). In step 25 the direction is retrieved from the electronic compass 16 from which in step 26 the direction is calculated in the microcomputer 14, while in step 27 the desired LEDs light up.

In the display 18 (Fig. 3) seven LEDs 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, respectively. 37 indicated. In a so-called calibration operation, all LEDs are illuminated one after the other until calibration is complete. If the position is retrieved, all LEDs will flash once upon receipt of a valid position. After receiving a non-valid position, 3 first of all LEDs 31, 33, 35, 37 are illuminated and then LEDs 32, 34 and 36. In a so-called sleeping state, for example, one LED is illuminated each time.

During the loop operation shown in Figure 2, one of the LEDs closest to the calculated direction will light up.

The LEDs can be incorporated in a piece of floor covering or a side or rug that can be turned in relation to the desired direction. By causing the LEDs to flash next to the nearest found direction, which flash can be switched off, for example, when the direction is precisely reached, the correct direction determination of the carpet can be found. The wires for the LEDs can be woven into a floor covering, but can also be glued therein.

1034550

Claims (4)

A device for determining a direction, comprising: position-determining means for determining the position on the earth on the basis of satellite data; microprocessor standard connected to the position determining means and an electronic compass connected to the microprocessor means for determining the direction of a fixed point on the earth, such as the magnetic north pole; and wind rose display means and for displaying the direction calculated by the microprocessor with the aid of light elements. 15 Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display means are arranged in a piece of floor covering such as a rug or carpet. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein light elements comprise a number of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). 4. Method for determining the direction in which a device according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3 is applied. 1034550