JP2001272233A - Electronic compass - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a direction known using a simple operation in an electronic compass which utilizes a general-purpose global positioning system. SOLUTION: The electronic compass utilizes GPS, and data on the latitude, longitude, altitude, etc., of a specific target location is previously stored in the memory of the control part of the electronic compass. Using only a simple operation to turn on the power source of the electronic compass or pressing the key of the start SW once, the direction and distance to the target location from a present location are measured automatically and displayed automatically on a display part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic compass using a general-purpose earth positioning system (GPS) and a simple navigator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general-purpose earth positioning system (GP) is used as a means for obtaining azimuth information about the current position of the user and the north magnetic pole.
Navigation systems using S) are widely used. If this system is used, the direction and distance of the target position can be detected from the current position obtained from the GPS receiver and the latitude and longitude data of the target position read from the map. Conventional products using GPS positioning include car navigation and handy GPS receivers.

[0003]

However, car navigation is specific to a car, and the system situation is large, which is not suitable for carrying. Further, the operation of the handy GPS receiver is complicated, and is specified for high-level users such as wireless users and mountain climbers.

For example, when a Muslim prays in the direction of Mecca, or when an elderly person goes to pick a mountain plant and wants to know the direction, distance, etc. of the return trip, the detection can be performed by a simpler operation and the mobile phone can be detected. There was no equipment suitable for

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of this point, the inventor of the present invention has conducted intensive studies and arrived at the present invention. The present invention has portability, and is capable of accurately determining the azimuth of a target value by a simple operation. It is intended to provide an electronic compass having the following requirements for the purpose of knowing the distance and navigating.

[0006] The latitude, longitude and the like of the target position are stored in the control unit memory in advance. The stored target position information can be corrected. The ability to newly set information on the target position. Information on the target position must be set at multiple points. The information of the target position of the set multiple points can be traced back in the reverse time sequence of the setting. The timing to go back is to display the information of the previous set position when the previous set position is reached. The operation should be simple enough to be performed by one key operation. A terrestrial magnetism sensor unit other than the GPS receiver unit, and the current position can automatically detect the azimuth angle with respect to the north magnetic pole. The direction indication and arrival notification of the set position are simpler and easier to understand than the buzzer ON, level meter display, etc. (10) The time difference of the target position can be displayed, and the information on the target position can be grasped more accurately.

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing a flow of azimuth angle detection, FIG. 3 is an azimuth angle detection flow diagram, FIG. 4 is a correction flow diagram of a target position, FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of setting a target position, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the setting of the target position and the trace thereof, and FIG. 7 shows a usage example. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the display unit.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a configuration block diagram of the present invention. According to this, it is largely divided into a GPS receiver section and a main control section. The GPS receiver receives orbit information and time data from at least two GPS satellites, and calculates the latitude and longitude data and clock data of the current location. The GPS receiver outputs latitude, longitude data, and accurate time data using a serial I / F. The input section of the main control section is composed of only the three points of the GPS data, the plurality of switches, and the output of the geomagnetic sensor provided therein, and the geomagnetic sensor electrically outputs an absolute azimuth angle with respect to magnetic north. . The output section of the main control section has a simple structure with only two points, an LCD display and a buzzer.

FIG. 2 shows the flow of azimuth angle detection. First, GP
By measuring the S receiver, the latitude, longitude data and accurate time data of the current location are obtained. This time data is used to make the local time display of the target position more accurate. The latitude and longitude data of the target position and the target position time difference are obtained from the EEPROM of the main control unit. This EEPROM is electrically rewritable, so that correction of a target position and new setting can be easily performed.

Next, from the output of the geomagnetic sensor, it is detected how many azimuths the current heading is with respect to magnetic north. Then, the azimuth and distance from the current position to the target position are calculated from the latitude and longitude data of the current position and the target position. As the calculation formula, spherical trigonometry, Gauss formula, Huebeni's formula and the like are widely used. Therefore, it is possible to know which direction to go to the target position accurately by adding the angle of the magnetic north and the angle to the target position.

FIG. 3 shows an azimuth angle detection flow. As shown in this flow, the azimuth can be detected by turning on the power or pressing the start switch once. FIG.
Shows a correction flow of the target position. By simply pressing the scale switch once at the target position to be adjusted, automatic correction of the target position becomes possible. FIG. 5 shows a new setting flow of the target position. By pressing the set switch once at the target position to be newly set, whether the position has already been registered,
Judge whether it is new, and perform the process that meets the conditions. FIG. 6 shows the setting of several target positions and the flow going back. This is a method of using the image of a compass when collecting wild vegetables or climbing a mountain. FIG. 7 shows a target azimuth angle search operation. The figure shows a figure in which a Muslim turns around with an electronic compass to know the direction of Mecca. The detected azimuth angle can be intuitively and easily known, rather than simply being displayed as an angle. Further, by displaying the distance to the target position and the local time, a more mentally satisfying feeling can be obtained. FIG. 8 shows a display unit. At the rotational position where the azimuths coincide, the level meter becomes MAX and the buzzer sounds continuously.

[0012]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to know an accurate azimuth and distance of a target value by a simple operation by using a GPS (universal earth positioning system), and it has a navigation function. With the electronic compass of the present invention, the direction of the Holy Land Mecca can be easily known at any point on the ground.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of azimuth angle detection.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of azimuth angle detection.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for correcting a target position.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for newly setting a target position.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of setting a plurality of target positions.

FIG. 7 is an embodiment diagram of target azimuth angle detection.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a display unit.

Claims (8)

[Claims] In an electronic compass using a general-purpose earth positioning system, data such as latitude, longitude and height of a specific target position is stored in a memory of a main control unit of the electronic compass in advance. The azimuth and distance from the current position to the target specific position are automatically measured by a simple operation such as turning on the power of the electronic compass, or pressing an arbitrary key such as a start switch once, and displaying on an LCD or the like. An electronic compass that is displayed on a table. 2. In an electronic compass using a general-purpose earth positioning system or the like, data such as latitude, longitude, height, and time difference of a specific target position is stored in a memory of a main control unit of the electronic compass in advance. Power on the electronic compass,
Alternatively, the azimuth and distance from the current position to the target specific position and the local time at the specific position are automatically measured by a simple operation such as pressing an arbitrary key such as a start switch once, and a display such as an LCD is provided. An electronic compass that is displayed on the screen. 3. The electronic azimuth meter according to claim 1, wherein data such as latitude, longitude, and height of the target specific position are stored in a memory of the main control unit in advance. A simple operation such as pressing an arbitrary key such as a scale switch of the electronic compass once, automatically correcting data such as latitude, longitude, and height of a target position on the main control unit. Electronic compass. 4. In an electronic compass using a general-purpose earth positioning system or the like, the latitude, longitude and height of an arbitrary position can be determined by a simple operation such as pressing an arbitrary key such as a set switch once at an arbitrary position. The electronic compass as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein data such as data is stored in the main control unit of the electronic compass as target specific position data. 5. A simple operation such as pressing an arbitrary key such as a set switch once at an arbitrary position, and the data such as the latitude, longitude, and height of the arbitrary position are converted into electronic data as target specific position data. 5. The electronic compass as claimed in claim 4, wherein the target position can be stored by the number of times the set switch or the like is pressed, which can be stored in the main control unit of the compass. 6. An electronic compass as claimed in claim 5, wherein data such as latitude, longitude, height and the like of the arbitrary position can be stored as many times as the number of times the set switch or the like is pressed. The distance is the data of the target position set by the set switch or the like immediately before the position, and when returning to the set target position, the direction and distance to the previous set position data are further displayed, It is possible to return to the first set point by going back according to the direction and distance indicated by the electronic compass, and each point can be set by a simple operation such as simply pressing an arbitrary key such as a set switch once. An electronic compass that can be used. 7. An electronic compass as claimed in claim 6, wherein data such as latitude, longitude, height and the like at the arbitrary position can be stored as many times as the number of times the set switch or the like is pressed. The distance is data of a target position set by a set switch or the like immediately before the position, and when returning to the set target position, automatically teaches by an LCD display or a buzzer sound. Electronic compass. 8. Data such as latitude, longitude, and height of a target specific position is stored in a memory of the main control unit in advance, so that power can be turned on or an arbitrary key such as a start switch is pressed once. The azimuth and distance from the current position to the target specific position are automatically measured by simple operation, and LC
8. The electronic compass according to claim 7, wherein the compass is displayed on a display device such as D. The azimuth indication to the target position is performed by holding the compass and rotating at a current location point within 360 ° C. Automatically turns on the buzzer when the optimal azimuth is reached.
An electronic compass that performs maximum display of a level meter on an N or LCD.