Abstract: A camera includes a lens, an image sensor, and a display. The lens and the image sensor are configured to capture images. The display may include an array of lights that are selectively illuminable to display the graphics. The lights may be arranged in a grid with each of the lights forming a pixel of the display. The display is hidden from view when not illuminated and displays graphics when illuminated. The camera may include a body that hides the display from view when not illuminated and permits light from the display to pass therethrough when illuminated. The body may include an elastomeric, light-permeable outer layer through which light from the display passes. The body may have a first side having the lens and on which the display displays the graphics. The camera may include a second display on a second side of the body facing opposite the first side.

Abstract: A portable terminal comprises at least 12 clock indicator lights which are distributed at equal intervals and configured around a display screen of the portable terminal, wherein each clock indicator light serves as a clock graduation; a power supply unit configured to connect to each clock indicator light respectively; and a control unit configured to connect to the power supply unit, according to a current time, control the power supply unit to supply power for the clock indicator light corresponding to a hour hand position on a clock of the current time by adopting a preset first color, and control the power supply unit to supply power for the clock indicator light corresponding to a minute hand position on the clock of the current time by adopting a preset second color.

Abstract: A stride monitoring device that can be used particularly for sports applications and that includes a pair of shoes, one of which includes at least one magnetic mass, and the other includes at least a measurement device to make at least one measurement, and a processor for processing of the measurement. The measurement device includes at least one accelerometer and at least one magnetometer capable of outputting signals that can be processed to determine stride parameters.

Abstract: A motion estimation method and system for a mobile body are provided. The method includes: obtaining magnetic field information from compass information of the mobile body; comparing the magnetic field of the mobile body with a predetermined value and determining whether a position of the mobile body belongs to a specific region according to the comparison result; and estimating a direction of the mobile body by determining whether a compass azimuth angle is used for direction estimation of the mobile body according to the determination result.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electronic compass includes receiving raw magnetic field data into a calibration module and determining a calibration output based upon the raw magnetic field data. The raw magnetic field data is also received into a compass heading module for determining compass heading outputs based upon the raw magnetic field data. The calibration module filters the raw magnetic field data and validates the calibration outputs independently from output data filtering and results validation in the compass heading module.

Abstract: A portable phone has a CPU and a magnetic sensor unit including an X-axis magnetic sensor, a Y-axis magnetic sensor, and a temperature sensor. CPU measures at first and second temperatures the influence of a magnetic field of permanent magnets upon an output Sx of the X-axis magnetic sensor and an output Sy of the Y-axis magnetic sensor, and stores the influence data together with the first and second temperature data. CPU estimates at the present temperature the influence upon the output Sx of the X-axis magnetic sensor and the output Sy of the Y-axis magnetic sensor, from the present temperature detected with the temperature sensor and the stored influence data. CPU corrects the outputs Sx and Sy in accordance with the estimated influence and determines the direction of the portable phone from the corrected outputs Sx and Sy.

Abstract: An electronic compass comprises a saturable core sensor (2) with a core (3) made of ferromagnetic material surrounded by an electric winding (3?), a first couple of electric windings (4, 5) around the sensor (2) having reciprocally orthogonal turns, a second couple of electric windings (8, 9) around said first couple (4, 5) having reciprocally orthogonal turns. The gap between the winding (3?) and the first couple of windings (4, 5) and between the first couple of windings (4, 5) and the second couple of windings (8, 9) is filled with a material having a low thermal expansion coefficient, preferably epoxy fiberglass reinforced plastic, supporting the windings of said first (4, 5) and second (8, 9) couple of windings. It is also provided an electronic control circuit (20, 21, 22).

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present invention, a magnetometer includes at least one sensor for sensing a magnetic field component, a biasing circuit, and a processor. The sensor generates an output signal having a signal characteristic that varies in response to the sensed magnetic field component and in response to an applied bias. The biasing circuit dynamically biases the sensor in response to a bias setting signal. The processor is coupled to receive the output signal from the sensor and coupled to the biasing circuit. The processor is operable to generate the bias setting signal and thereby control the biasing circuit to dynamically bias the sensor such that the signal characteristic of the output signal is maintained in a target range. The processor determines the magnetic field component sensed by the sensor as a function of the bias setting applied to the sensor.

Abstract: An improved method, system, and device for a compass combining an electronic magnetic compass and an angular velocity sensing gyroscope. One aspect of the invention integrates an angular velocity output signal from an angular velocity sensor or rate gyroscope to determine the angle of motion. An initial magnetic heading is obtained from a geomagnetic sensor and used as a reference for the integrated angular velocity signal. A geomagnetic heading signal is blended with the angular velocity output signal at an adaptive time interval. The adaptive time interval is increased if the reliability of the magnetic field improves and decreased if the reliability of the magnetic field degenerates. Additionally, dynamic calibration of the angular velocity sensor may be performed to correct for gyroscope bias (zero offset), and/or gyroscope scale factor or gain.

Abstract: A multi-function electronic compass incorporates multiple sensors in addition to magnetometers inputting sensed data to a microprocessor system which calculates a variety of results from the sensed data in addition to direction. Direction indicia and other results are output for a user on a display. Additional sensors include one or more of an inclinometer, an altimeter, an accelerometer, and a barometer. In one aspect the compass has a tilt-up lid with a sighting port and an adjacent mirror, and the microprocessor system displays directional indicia backwards so the reflected indicia in the mirror adjacent to the sighting port are directly readable by the user using the sighting port. In one model a laser beam is included as an aid in sighting.

Abstract: A vehicle compass system including a magnetic field sensor from which the earth's magnetic field can be detected in two channels of measurement. The sensor is coupled to a processing circuit which samples the sensor data and determines the maximum and minimum signal levels in each channel of measurement during movement of the vehicle through a 360.degree. path of travel. Based on the spans between the maximum and minimum signal levels, adjustment signals are generated for adjusting the resolution of the compass system and the maximum and minimum signal levels of subsequent sensor data so that the system's sensitivity resolution may be adjusted and accurate heading information can be calculated and displayed regardless of the strength of the earth's magnetic field.

Abstract: The orientation of a moving platform with respect to a magnetic field is determined by rotating a 3-component vector magnetometer mounted on the platform about at least two axes in the magnetic field. Changes in the signals from the magnetometer are monitored, and the direction of the magnetic field relative to the platform is computed from the signal changes. It is not necessary to know the DC bias of each magnetometer channel or the component of the background magnetic field along each axis of the magnetometer.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor which may be rendered preferentially sensitive to magnetic field components in each of two, preferably orthogonal, directions by application of appropriate magnetic bias fields is disclosed.

Abstract: A system to control the effect of northerly turning error which may occur in any direction indicating navigation instrument which includes a component responsive to the earth's magnetic field. In one form, an aircraft magnetic compass is compensated by electric current in an electromagnet which is made responsive to the rate of turn as sensed by a turn and bank indicator. In another form, an aircraft type slaved gyro directional system is protected from the effect of northerly turning error which occurs in its remotely located magnetic azimuth sensor by disconnecting its control circuit from the gyro when the turn rate reaches a predetermined level, thus allowing the gyro to act solely as a directional gyro during the turn.

Abstract: A compensated vehicle heading system wherein magnetic heading information is combined with heading information determined by sensing vehicle dynamic movement to provide augmented heading information is disclosed. The magnetic heading information is provided by a magnetic heading sensor. The heading information determined by sensing vehicle dynamic movement is provided by a vehicle dynamic system that senses vehicle direction changes. In one form, the vehicle dynamic system includes magnetic sensors mounted so as to sense the speed of rotation of the undriven wheels of a land vehicle and generate pulse chains in accordance therewith. These pulse chains are scaled and applied to an UP/DN counter. The output of the UP/DN counter is continuously compared with the magnetic heading information and the results of the comparisons control the gating of a trickle pulse addition to the scaled pulse chains applied to the UP/DN counter.