Vehicle magnetic sensor
AssigneePrince Corporation
InventorKonrad H. Marcus
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention incorporates a flux-gate sensor for a vehicle compass. The sensor is mounted in association with the mounting system for a rearview mirror mounted to the vehicle windshield. In one embodiment of the present invention, the flux-gate sensor is contained in the mounting bracket for the rearview mirror. This location isolates the sensor from the undesired effects of the metallic mass of the vehicle as well as the dashboard, typically housing the vehicle's wiring.
Claims16
A system for mounting a magnetic sensor to a vehicle having a headliner and a rearview mirror mounted in the upper windshield area, said system comprising:
- a rearview mirror assembly adapted to be mounted proximate to the windshield of a vehicle, said assembly including a flux-gate magnetic sensor and means for positioning said sensor in the windshield area between the vehicle headliner and the rearview mirror near the headliner;
- and
- means for supplying operating electrical current to said sensor and for receiving electrical signals therefrom.
An electrical compass system for a vehicle having a headliner and a rearview mirror mounted in the upper windshield area, said system comprising:
- a rearview mirror assembly adapted to be mounted proximately to the windshield of a vehicle, said assembly including a flux-gate magnetic sensor and means for positioning said sensor in the windshield area near the headliner between the vehicle headliner and the rearview mirror;
- means for supplying operating electrical current to said sensor and for receiving electrical signals therefrom;
- circuit means coupled to said supplying means for processing signals from said sensor;
- and
- display means coupled to said circuit means for displaying the vehicle heading as sensed by said flux-gate sensor.
An electrical compass system for a vehicle having a headliner and a rearview mirror mounted in the upper windshield area, said system comprising:
- a flux-gate magnetic sensor;
- means for positioning said sensor in the central windshield area between the vehicle headliner and the rearview mirror near the headliner of the vehicle;
- means for supplying operating electrical current to said sensor and for receiving electrical signals therefrom;
- circuit means coupled to said supplying means for processing signals from said detector;
- and
- display means coupled to said circuit means for displaying the vehicle heading as sensed by said detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.