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What Nic Compass Sensor

An electronic compass sensor uses magnetometers and accelerometers to determine orientation relative to Earth's magnetic field. SkyMEMS is a leading manufacturer of electronic compass modules using 3-axis sensors. Their compasses have high accuracy and performance through calibration algorithms. Electronic compass sensors come in different axis configurations and output interfaces for uses like satellite antennas, drones, and boat control systems. True north differs from magnetic north, and compass calibration is needed when changing the compass's location to account for magnetic field distortions. Proper compass installation away from sources of magnetic interference improves accuracy.

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28 views

What Nic Compass Sensor

An electronic compass sensor uses magnetometers and accelerometers to determine orientation relative to Earth's magnetic field. SkyMEMS is a leading manufacturer of electronic compass modules using 3-axis sensors. Their compasses have high accuracy and performance through calibration algorithms. Electronic compass sensors come in different axis configurations and output interfaces for uses like satellite antennas, drones, and boat control systems. True north differs from magnetic north, and compass calibration is needed when changing the compass's location to account for magnetic field distortions. Proper compass installation away from sources of magnetic interference improves accuracy.

Uploaded by

elcaballerosbcuro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is Electronic Compass Sensor?

Electronic Compass Sensor is also called E-compass, which is usually based on


a magnetometer sensor which provides mobile phones with an orientation in
relation to the Earth's magnetic field. ... An eCompass is a tilt
compensated electronic compass utilizing accelerometers and magnetometers.
SkyMEMS is a leading manufacturer of 3-axis electronic compass using 3-axis
magneto-inductive sensors, 3-axis MEMS accelerometer and central processing
unit.
SkyMEMS digital compass is a high-performance, low-power consumption,
tilt-compensated electronic compass module that provides industry-leading
heading accuracy. Our electronic compass adopts hard and soft magnetic
calibration algorithm, uses special calibration technology and provides high
accuracy inclination signal, and it has perfect cross connect performance.
We will continue to provide the best solution through development of the compact,
low-voltage and high-performance electronic compass and advanced software to
our customers in the future.

Types of Electronic Compass Sensor


There are many types of electronic compass sensor according to different
standards.
According to the axis number, the electronic compass sensor sensor includes two
types:
- Single axis electronic compass sensor
- 2 axis electronic compass sensor
- Triple axis electronic compass sensor
According to the output interface, the electronic compass sensor sensor includes
the following types:
- RS232 output electronic compass sensor
- RS485 output electronic compass sensor

Applications of Electronic Compass Sensor


SkyMEMS has different types of series Electronic Compass Sensor, from tiny
digital compass module with high precision to super high precision electronic
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compass sensor, which has been widely used in the following fields:
- Satellite Antenna Pointing
- Antenna Servo System
- Boat Control System
- Unmanned Aircraft
- Infrared Imager

What Is True North?


It is well known that the earth's magnetic poles and its axis of rotation are not at the
same geographical location. They are about 11.5° rotation from each other. This
creates a difference between the true north, or grid north, and the magnetic north,
or direction a magnetic compass will point. Simply it is the angular difference
between the magnetic and true north expressed as an Easterly or Westerly
variation. This difference is defined as the variation angle and is dependent on the
compass short duration, making a magnetic compass a useful navigation tool.

Compass Calibration
Each calibration method is associated with a specified physical movement of the
compass platform in order to sample the magnetic space surrounding the compass.
The Hard and Soft iron distortions will vary from location to location within the same
platform. The compass has to be mounted permanently to its platform to get a valid
calibration.
A particular calibration is only valid for that location of the compass. If the compass
is re-oriented in the same location, then a new calibration is required. It is possible
to use a compass without any calibration if the need is only for repeatability and not
accuracy.
Compass Installation
The performance of a compass will greatly depend on its installation location. A
compass relies on the earth's magnetic field to provide heading. Any distortions of
earth's magnetic field by other sources such as a car massive iron components
should be compensated for in order to determine an accurate heading. Sources of
magnetic fields in any automobile include permanent magnets mostly in its audio
speakers, motors, electric currents flowing in its wiring-either dc or ac, and
ferro-magnetic metals such as steel or iron. The influence of these sources of
interference on an electronic compass accuracy can be greatly reduced by placing

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the compass far away from them.
Some of the field effects can be compensated by way of calibrating the compass for
a defined location in terms of magnetic interference. However, it is not always
possible to compensate for time varying magnetic fields; for example, disturbances
generated by the motion of magnetic metals, or unpredictable electrical current in a
nearby power lines. Magnetic shielding can be used for large field disturbances
from motors or audio speakers. The best way to reduce disturbances is distance.
Also, never enclose the compass in a magnetically shielded metallic housing.
Compass Tilt Errors
Heading errors due to a tilt depend somewhat on geographic location. At the
equator, tilt errors are less critical since the earth's field is strictly in the horizontal
plane. This provides larger X and Y readings and little of the Z component
correction near the magnetic poles, tilt errors are extremely important, since there
is less X,Y field and more of the Z component. Tilt errors are also dependent on the
heading.

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