JPH03255911A - Azimuth compass - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To know the direction of a desired azimuth and the azimuth of a desired direction speedily and easily by providing a detecting means for the azimuth of the earth magnetism, an arithmetic means, and a character display means. CONSTITUTION:When the output signal from a key input part 12 is a signal which indicates the display of an azimuth or direction, a control part 10 outputs its output signal (a) to actuate an azimuth sensor 13 and an azimuth detecting circuit 14. The sensor 13 consists of, for example, two Hall elements. The azimuth detecting circuit 14 is actuated with the output (a) to perform arithmetic based upon the level of a voltage outputted by the sensor 13 and the arrangement direction of the two Hall elements, detects a vector indicating the North Mangetic Pole, and outputs azimuth data corresponding to the vector to the control part 10. A display part 17 has a liquid crystal display part 2 and makes specific displays on a pointer analog display body 6a and a dot matrix display body part 6b according to a signal inputted from a decoder driver part 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an electronic compass that detects earth's magnetism and optically displays orientation and direction.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Magnetic direction meters as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are known as conventional direction meters.

The magnetic direction meter shown in FIG. 11 rotatably supports a magnetic needle having a pointer 42 indicated by diagonal lines in the figure at the center of a direction board 41. The pointer 42 always indicates the direction of the geomagnetic north pole (hereinafter referred to as the magnetic north pole). Around the compass 41, there are symbols N and E representing north, east, south, and west in a clockwise direction.

It is printed in English letters S and W. A scale 43 is engraved between these symbols.

When using a conventional magnetic compass as shown in the same figure, for example, when determining the bearing in the direction of the arrow B in the same figure, first, as shown in FIG. , rotate the compass board 41 so that the symbol N representing "north" is located. Next, read the symbols N, E, S, W or the scale 43 around the compass board 41 corresponding to the direction of the arrow B in the figure, which is the direction to be sought. In the figure, in the direction of arrow B, there is a scale 43 intermediate between W representing west and S representing south, so it can be seen that the azimuth in the direction of arrow B is "southwest".

For example, when trying to find out which direction "west" is, first align the symbol N representing "north" on the compass 41 with the direction indicated by the pointer 42 indicating the magnetic north pole, and then select "west".
By checking the position of the symbol W representing , it can be seen that the "west" direction is the direction of arrow C from that position.

[Problems with conventional technology]

As mentioned above, to measure the bearing or direction using a conventional magnetic compass, first rotate the compass main body and align the pointer 42 with the symbol N before reading the symbols and scales around the compass. It requires some operations.

Therefore, there was a problem in that it was not possible to immediately know the direction or direction that one wanted to know.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an azimuth meter that can quickly and easily determine a desired direction and the direction of a desired direction.

[Key points of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention makes it possible to immediately display the direction in text by simply indicating one direction using a specific part of the compass main body.
Another key point is that by setting an arbitrary direction, the direction of that direction can be displayed immediately.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic wristwatch with a direction measurement function to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the figure, a wristwatch main body 1 has a circular liquid crystal display section 2 in the center on its front side, an annular dial plate 4 on the outside of the liquid crystal display section 2, and covers the liquid crystal display section 2 and dial plate 4. It includes a watch glass 5 and an annular bezel 3 located outside the watch glass 5.

The liquid crystal display section 2 has a display section 1 for indicating the orientation and direction.
Twenty pointer analog display bodies 6a are provided radially at equal intervals. In the example shown in the figure, the pointer analog display 6a is shown in black when it is on, with diagonal lines when it is blinking, and in white when it is off.

Thereafter, the pointer analog display 6a in the off state will not be shown unless it is particularly necessary. Further, in the center of the liquid crystal display section 2, a dot matrix display section 6b for displaying the direction and time is provided with its longitudinal direction facing the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock directions.

In addition, on the top surface of the dial 4, along with the scale, azimuth degree numbers representing the azimuth angle are placed clockwise at intervals of 306,60", with "0°" placed at the 12 o'clock position, and dividing the dial 4 into 12 equal parts. ,9
0", . . . are arranged and printed. Furthermore, scales at predetermined intervals are engraved between the numbers representing the azimuth angle.

Additionally, on the top surface of the bezel 3, there are four symbols "E" representing the direction.
, "W", "S", and "N" are printed. The four symbols are "N" at the 12 o'clock position, "rE", r
3. , rW'' clockwise at intervals that equally divide the bezel 3 into four.

Furthermore, on the side surface of the wristwatch body 1, there are four switches S+, S2. It is equipped with S3 and S4.

In addition, a band 7 is attached to the watch body 1,
On the upper surface of the hand, a direction indicating arrow 8 for indicating the direction in the longitudinal direction of the band 7 is printed to indicate the 12 o'clock direction.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of the wristwatch shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, ROMII is a fixed memory containing data such as microprograms for controlling the system and functions for various calculations.

The key power section 12 includes four switches S as explained in FIG.
+ to S4, and outputs the operation signal of each key of these four switches S1 to S4 to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 is made up of a CPU such as a microprocessor sensor, and is connected to each block to control the entire system based on a program built in the ROMI 1.

When the output signal from the key human power unit 12 is a signal instructing display of an azimuth or direction, the control unit 10 outputs an output signal a.
is output, and the orientation sensor 13 and orientation detection circuit 14 are activated. Furthermore, time measurement processing is performed based on a signal output from a frequency division timing section 19, which will be described later.

The orientation sensor 13 is activated by the output signal a from the control unit 10 and performs orientation measurement. This direction sensor 13 is
For example, it consists of two Hall elements, which have the same characteristics and are combined so that they are perpendicular to each other. Further, the two Hall elements separately sense components of the earth's magnetism and output voltages corresponding to the sensed magnetism to the azimuth detection circuit 14. The orientation detection circuit 14 is activated by the output a from the control unit 10, performs calculations based on the strength of the voltage input from the orientation sensor 13, and the direction in which the two Hall elements are arranged, and detects the magnetic north pole. A vector indicating the vector is detected, and azimuth data corresponding to the vector is output to the control unit 10. The above-mentioned azimuth data is used to display the north azimuth, or to calculate an instructed or set direction or azimuth. The oscillator 18 generates a clock signal with a constant period and outputs it to the frequency division timing section 19. The frequency dividing timing section 19 is composed of a frequency dividing circuit and a timing generator, and transmits a clock signal and a timing signal for controlling each section in time series to the control section 19.
Output to.

The RAM 15 is a random access memory, and as shown in FIG. 3, which will be described later, is composed of registers that store predetermined data.

The decoder/driver section 16 decodes the combination of signals input from the control section 10 and outputs a display drive signal to the display device 17. The display section W17 has the liquid crystal display section 2 explained in FIG.
Based on the signal input from the pointer analog display 6a
And a predetermined display is performed on the dot matrix display section 6b.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the main internal configuration of the RAM 15.

In the figure, a display register 21 stores display data to be displayed on the liquid crystal display section 2 described in FIG. 3. The time register 22 stores the current time generated based on the signal output from the frequency division timing section 15.

The register M indicates the mode displayed on the display device 17.
"o" corresponds to the three display modes described below (time display mode, direction display mode that displays the bearing in a specific direction, direction display mode that sets a specific direction and displays the set direction). This is a mode flag that stores values from ” to “2”. Register E is a flag that stores a value of "1" or "0" depending on whether the mode is for azimuth measurement or not. Register F is a flag that stores a value of "1" or "0" depending on whether or not the mode is for setting the orientation.

The register N stores data indicating the direction of the magnetic north pole detected by the direction detection circuit 14. Further, the register stores the calculated orientation data corresponding to the direction indicated by the direction display arrow 8 or the direction set by the setting operation. The register P stores the azimuth numerical data set in the above-mentioned degrees.

The register 23 is a work area that temporarily stores intermediate results when performing various calculations.

In the above configuration, the operations performed by the control section 1o will be explained using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of the program. In the HALT state of step SAI, when there is an input from the key human power section 12, step 5A12
Then, processing corresponding to switch operations for azimuth setting, azimuth display, mode switching, etc. is performed. If there is no input from the key input section 12, the process proceeds to step SA2, where time counting processing is performed based on the clock signal input from the frequency division timing section 19, and current time data is stored in the clock register 22 of the RAM 15. . And the next step S
At A3, it is determined whether the value of register E is "1" indicating that the mode is for performing direction measurement. When the value is "0", the display process of step SA9 is performed and the process returns to step SA1.

On the other hand, in step SAI, if there is key human power from the key human power section 12, the process proceeds to step 5A12. The flowchart from step 5A12 onward shows each mode by storing predetermined values in three registers M, E, and F in order to determine the procedure for performing each of the above-mentioned processes based on the input of keys S1 to S4. This is the process of setting or canceling a flag.

In step 5A12, it is determined whether or not the key is manually operated by the switch S+ key which cycles through the three display modes and specifies switching. If it is due to the S1 key, proceed to step 5A13 and set "
1" is added to set a flag indicating the next display mode. In the next step 5A14, the value of register M is “
1" or "2". When the value is "1" or "2", the process proceeds to step 5A15, where "1" is stored in the register E, a flag indicating the mode for performing direction measurement is set, and the direction detection circuit 14 and the direction sensor 1 are set.
3, outputs a signal a instructing direction measurement, and proceeds to step SA9.

In step 5A14, when the value of M is "0", the process advances to step 5A16, stores "0" in the register, cancels the direction measurement mode, and then advances to step SA9.

FIG. 6 is a diagram collectively illustrating the operations of the three main operation modes and the two secondary operation modes that can be switched in response to the manual keystrokes of the switch S.

SCI in FIG. 6 shows the time display mode of register M=rOJ, and in this time display mode, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the current time 12:53:13 is displayed on the dot matrix display section 6b. be done. In this display mode, when the switch S1 is pressed manually, "1" is stored in the register M in step 5A13, and the mode is switched to the mode indicated by SC2 in the figure designated by the value "1" of the register M. This mode is a direction display ■ mode that displays a specific direction, that is, the 12 o'clock direction of the wrist watch body 1 (the direction indicated by the direction display arrow 8), and when the display mode shown by SC2 is entered, the next step 5A1
5, E=rl'', the direction is measured as described later, and the result is a display as shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the azimuth r135 between r120J and r150J printed on the dial 4 of the liquid crystal display section 2. , +, the pointer analog display 6a indicating that the direction is "north" lights up, while the pointer analog display 6a in the direction indicated by the direction display arrow 8, that is, facing "0", lights up. 6a is blinking. Then, the dot matrix display section 6b displays the direction "22" obtained by the calculation described later.
5°" is displayed blinking. The azimuth "225°" can be immediately read as "southwest" from the correspondence between the display on the bezel 3 and the azimuth display on the dial 4.

That is, in this display mode, when the device is worn on the wrist or the like and the direction indicating arrow 8 is directed in a desired direction, the direction is displayed digitally in azimuth angle numbers, so that the direction can be immediately recognized. At the same time, the direction of "north" is also displayed.

Next, in the state SC2 of FIG. 6, when the switch S1 is pressed manually, "2" is stored in the register M in step 5AI3, and the mode is switched to the mode indicated by SC3. Even in this state, in the next step 5A15, E=
r1. The direction will be measured as described later, and a display as shown in FIG. 10 will be made. In FIG. 10, the analog display 6a on the dial 4 at a position indicating the midpoint between the azimuth 90 and the azimuth 80 lights up to indicate north, and the dot matrix display 6b has a preset ""West" direction "
"270°" is displayed blinking. The azimuth angle 30 and the azimuth angle 60 printed on the dial plate 4 serve as an analog display indicating the direction of the blinking azimuth "270°".
The analog display 6a in the center of is displayed blinking.

In this display mode, when an arbitrary azimuth is set in advance, the direction of the set azimuth is indicated by the pointer display, and the north direction is also indicated by the pointer display.

However, by operating the switch SL key, step 5A is performed.
The measurement of the orientation after E=rlJ is established by No. 15 will be described below.

When E=rlJ, the control unit 10 outputs a signal a, the azimuth sensor 13 and the azimuth detection circuit 14 operate, and the control unit 10 enters a state in which it waits for azimuth data from the azimuth detection circuit 14. However, in step SA3, the value of register E becomes "1" indicating that the mode is for performing direction measurement.
”, and in step SA4, the direction detection circuit 14
It is determined whether or not azimuth data indicating the magnetic north pole has been inputted, and if azimuth data has been inputted, step SA
The process proceeds to Step 5, where the azimuth data is stored in register N, and then the process proceeds to step SA6, where "0" is stored in register E and the measurement mode is canceled. Then, in step SAT, it is determined whether or not the value of register M is "1" indicating the direction display mode ■.If the value is "1", the process proceeds to step SA8. , the direction indicated by the direction display arrow 8, that is, the azimuth in the 12 o'clock direction, is calculated based on the magnetic north pole azimuth data in the register N, and the calculated azimuth data is stored in the register. Then, the process proceeds to step SA9, where the display process of the azimuth display mode I is performed, and the process returns to step SAI.

Here, the display processing in step SA9 will be explained using FIG. 5.

In FIG. 5, in step SBI, it is determined whether the value of register M is "0" indicating the time display mode. When the value is "0", step SB2
Then, the time data is read from the time register 22, and the time is displayed on the dot matrix display section 6b as shown in FIG. 7 to perform time display processing, and the process ends.

In step SBI, if the value of register M is not "0", the process advances to step SB3, and the value of register E is "0".
1". When the value is "1", proceed to step SB4 and indicate that the direction is being measured.
For example, the entire display section is flashed, etc., and the process is terminated.

In step SB3 above, the value of register E is "1"
If not, the process proceeds to step SB5, and it is determined whether the value of register M is "1" or not.

When the value is "1", the process advances to step SB6.

At step SB6, as shown in FIG.
The pointer analog display 6a located at the position corresponding to the azimuth data is turned on to indicate the north direction, the pointer analog display 6a located at the 12 o'clock direction is blinked, and the register L is turned on.
The azimuth angle value corresponding to the azimuth data is blinkingly displayed on the dot matrix display section 6b. After announcing the designated 12 o'clock direction, the process ends.

In step SB5, if the value of register M is not "1", M=r2J. However, in this case, the process first proceeds to step SB7, and it is determined whether the value of the register F is "1" indicating that the mode is for setting the orientation.

When the value is "1", the process advances to step SB8, where the direction set in the register P (previously set direction) is displayed on the dot matrix display section 6b as shown in FIG. After the direction is sequentially blinked for each digit in response to the operation of a correction switch S3, which will be described later, the process is terminated. On the other hand, if the value of the register F is not "1" in step SB7, the process proceeds to step SB9, where a process for displaying the set orientation is performed. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the pointer analog display 6a at the position corresponding to the azimuth data in register N is lit to indicate the north direction, and the pointer analog display 6a at the position corresponding to the azimuth data in register L is turned on. blinks to notify which direction the set azimuth is relative to the north direction, and blinks the azimuth corresponding to the azimuth data in the register L on the dot matrix display section 6b. After announcing the direction, the process ends.

Returning to FIG. 4, in step SA3,
When the value of register E is "0", the process immediately proceeds to step SA9, performs the display process described in FIG. 5, and returns to step SAI.

On the other hand, if no azimuth data has been input in step SA4, the process immediately proceeds to step SA9, performs the display process described in FIG. 5, and returns to step SAI.

Further, if the value of the register M is not "1" in step SAT, the process proceeds to step 5AIO, where it is determined whether the value of the register M is "2" indicating the direction display ■ mode. When the value of the register M is "2", the process proceeds to step 5AII, and based on the azimuth set in the register P and the azimuth data of the register N by the switch operation described later, the process corresponds to the set azimuth. Direction data is calculated and the obtained direction data is stored in a register. The process then proceeds to step SA9, where the display process described in FIG. 5 is performed, and the process returns to step SAI.

In step 5AIO above, the value of register M is “
2", the time display mode is M=rO,
Proceeding to step SA9, the display processing explained in FIG. 5 is performed, and the process returns to step SAI.

On the other hand, in step 5A12, the key human power is S,
If not, the process proceeds to step 5A17, where it is determined whether or not the manual key input is the S2 key, which alternately switches and specifies two modes: the display mode of the set orientation and the display mode of the orientation setting. When the S2 key is pressed, that is, when switching from one of the above two modes to the other is instructed, and step 5AI
Proceeding to step 8, it is determined whether or not the value of the register M is "2" indicating the orientation display ■mode.

If the value is "2", proceed to step 5A19;
It is determined whether the value of register F is "0" indicating the display mode of the set orientation.

When the value is "0", the process advances to step SA20, and in order to switch to the other mode, the direction setting display mode, "0" is stored in register E to cancel the direction measurement mode, and the next mode is set. In step SA21, "1" is stored in register F to set the direction setting mode, and then the process proceeds to step SA9.

In the above step 5A19, if the value of the register F is not "0", that is, if it is "1" indicating that the display mode is the direction setting display mode, the process proceeds to step 5A22 and the setting direction display mode is set, which is the other mode. In order to enter the display mode, "1" is stored in the register E to set the direction measurement mode, and in the next step 5A23, "0" is stored in the register F to cancel the direction setting display mode, and then the process proceeds to step SA9. move on.

In step 5A1B above, the value of register M is “
2", the operation of the S2 key is invalidated, and the process immediately proceeds to step SA9 to perform the display processing up to the previous time. Further, in step 5A17, if the input is not from the S2 key, the process proceeds to step 5A24, and the input is from the S3 key.
After performing the processing corresponding to the modification of various setting values using the 34 keys or the manual operation of the keys for clock processing, etc., the process proceeds to step SA9 to perform the corresponding display processing.

Although the above embodiment describes an example in which it is applied to an electronic wristwatch, it may also be a dedicated device, and it can also be incorporated into small devices such as electronic notebooks and schedulers, or vehicles such as cars and bicycles. Various applications are possible. Further, although an optical pointer display is used as a means for instructing the azimuth and direction, it is also possible to move the pointer using a step motor and provide instructions using the pointer. Further, in this embodiment, a Hall element is used as the magnetic sensor, but a magnetoresistive element, a flux sensor, or the like may also be used. Further, although the direction is displayed in degrees indicating the azimuth angle, it may be displayed in alphabets such as N or North, or in Chinese characters, and can be displayed in various ways.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, it is possible to immediately know the direction of the desired direction, and it is also possible to immediately know the direction of the desired direction.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of this embodiment, FIG. 3 is a main internal configuration diagram of the RAM 15, and FIG.
Flowchart showing the overall flow of the program; FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of display processing; FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of operation modes; FIGS. Figures illustrating examples: Figures 11 and 12 are diagrams illustrating a conventional magnetic direction meter. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Watch body, 2...Liquid crystal display part, 3...Bezel, 4...Dial plate, 5...Pointer analog display body, 6...Dot matrix display part, 7... band, 8...direction display arrow, 10...control unit,

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A detection means for detecting the direction of geomagnetism, and an arbitrary direction indicated by a specific part of a case housing the detection means, based on the direction of the geomagnetism detected by the detection means. What is claimed is: 1. A compass comprising: a computation means for performing a computation, and a character display means for displaying the direction obtained by the computation means in text. 2) a detection means for detecting the geomagnetic direction; a setting means for setting an arbitrary direction; and the setting based on the direction data set by the setting means and the geomagnetic direction detected by the detection means. An azimuth indicator comprising azimuth display means for displaying the direction of the azimuth.