Patent ID: 6130534
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A method of calibrating a three-axis magnetometer comprising the steps of:(a) establishing a three-axis magnetic field simulator having a center position portion;(b) substantially compensating for the earth's magnetic field at least at said center position portion of said magnetic field simulator;(c) disposing a three-axis magnetometer in said magnetic field simulator;(d) successively actuating said magnetic field simulator in predetermined manner and measuring a corresponding output signal for each axis of said three-axis magnetometer to generate a set of measured parameter values;(e) normalizing said measured parameter values by dividing each said measured parameter value by a predetermined standard output factor;(f) generating a square pre-calibration matrix C having coefficients respectively formed by said normalized measured parameter values;(g) performing an inverse matrix operation on said pre-calibration matrix C to generate a square calibration matrix D having a plurality of coefficients respectively indicative of orthonormal compensation coefficients for compensating a subsequent three-axis measurement of said magnetometer;(h) applying said square calibration matrix D to said subsequent measurement of said magnetometer to generate a compensated measurement corresponding thereto.