Self-locating compass
AssigneeArchaius Inc.
InventorFrederick Vosburgh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for a self-locating compass for use in navigation are disclosed. The self-locating compass is operable to provide position and/or velocity without information from a global positioning system (GPS) device. The self-locating compass includes a direction finder and a Lorentz force detector. The method includes determining orientation with respect to Earth's magnetic field, measuring a Lorentz force proportional to rate of change of location with respect to the field, determining a change in location, and updating location.
Claims20
A device for measuring velocity comprising:
- at least one sensing unit, wherein the at least one sensing unit comprises a first loop and a second loop;
- and
- an energy source operable to provide a bias current;
- wherein the first loop comprises a sensing element connected at a first end and a second end to the energy source, wherein the sensing element is operable to carry the bias current;
- wherein the second loop comprises a first conductor connected between a first side of the sensing element and a measurement circuit;
- wherein the measurement circuit is further connected to a second conductor connected to a second side of the sensing element;
- wherein the second loop is operable to determine a potential based on deflection of the bias current by a drag force;
- and
- wherein a magnetic velocity is calculated based on the potential.
A device for measuring velocity comprising:
- at least one sensing unit, wherein the at least one sensing unit comprises a first loop and a second loop;
- and
- wherein the first loop comprises a sensing element operable to carry a bias current from an energy source;
- wherein the second loop comprises a first conductor connected between a first side of the sensing element and a measurement circuit;
- wherein the measurement circuit is further connected to a second conductor connected to the second side of the sensing element;
- wherein the second loop is operable to determine a potential based on deflection of the bias current by a drag force;
- and
- wherein the potential is used to calculate a velocity.
A method of determining velocity comprising:
- a power source providing a bias current in a sensing element of at least one sensing unit, wherein the at least one sensing unit comprises a first loop and a second loop;
- detecting and measuring deflection of the bias current by a drag force;
- determining a potential based on the deflection;
- and
- calculating a magnetic velocity using the potential;
- wherein the second loop comprises a first conductor connected between a first side of the sensing element and a measurement circuit;
- and
- wherein the measurement circuit is further connected to a second conductor connected to a second side of the sensing element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.