Patent ID: 7317315
Filing Date: 2008-01-08
Classification: G01C,G01D

Abstract:
1. A magnetic azimuth measurement apparatus comprising: a magnetic detection unit having three or more magnetic detection devices with directionality, the magnetic detection devices being disposed at equal angnlar intervals based on a predetermined rule in such a way that directionalities thereof are different from each another; a sampling unit for sequentially switching and sampling electromagnetic conversion outputs of magnetic detection devices of the magnetic detection unit; a condition determining unit for determining whether or not the electromagnetic conversion output being sequentially switched and sampled by the sampling unit meets a predetermined condition; and an azimuth information output unit for outputting magnetic azimuth information based on a result of the determination of the condition determining unit, wherein, each of the three or more magnetic detection devices of the magnetic detection unit comprises a thin film magnetic core, a thin film excitation coil and a thin film detection coil around the magnetic core, the three or more magnetic detection devices disposed in a wheel-spoke arrangement with their cores positioned to point along their respective axes from a common point, and the sampling unit sequentially operates switches in response to a signal from a binary counter if the number of detection coils of the magnetic detection devices is set to be 2