Abstract:
An electronic compass, which uses an induction coil unit and action force generated from the earth&#39;s magnetic field to detect directions, is able to show data on a display panel. Since data on the display panel is reflected on the inclined plane ahead of the present invention, a driver driving on the road is able to look steadily at data reflected from this invention, so as to efficaciously reduce probability of traffic accidents due to observing data by lowering one&#39;s head. The induction coil unit described is easily understood compared with known techniques, thus the production cost is relatively low and this inexpensive invention can be popularly accepted on the market.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is related to an electronic compass for direction detection, and more particularly, an electronic compass with a low manufacture cost and a function for displaying inverted images of directional data. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , which shows the elevational view according to the known electronic compass, comprising a housing  101 , a display panel  102 , and several control buttons  103 , wherein the display panel  102  and the control button  103  are configured on the surface of the housing  101 . Functions of the electronic compass  10  are control and adjustment in navigation, temperature detection, and time display by the control button  103 , and these measured data regarding direction, temperature around environment, and time are shown on the display panel  102 . The electronic compass  10 , which is installed within the general motor vehicle, uses an induction coil of the electronic compass  10  to detect directions of a motor vehicle, and delivers signals calculated by the micro control unit of the electronic compass  10  to the display panel  102 . Furthermore, as to consideration of convenience, functions of indicating both real time and temperature difference existing in the environment are designed into the known electronic compass  10 . However, the fact that the electronic compass  10  is installed on a vertical plane within a motor vehicle leads to shifting of a driver&#39;s line of vision to the display panel  102  while the driver is simultaneously driving a car on a road, and thereby raises the possibility of a traffic accident. Additionally, the high production cost of the known electronic compass  10  is derived from adoption of an accurate structure constructing the induction coil for measurement is not suitable to the general public, and the control button  103  with a complex operation mode further complicates its circuits. Thus, the known electronic compass  10  is usually produced for application of advanced navigation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    On account of the above request, the inventor was devoted to designing a brand-new electronic compass according to experience accumulated after many years of study. The feature of the present invention is aimed at providing a low-cost and easy-to-use electronic compass that effectively helps improve safety in driving. 
         [0006]    In order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention comprises a base, a circuit module, a housing, a display panel, and a rebound lid, wherein a battery socket as well as a battery cover are configured on the bottom of the base, and a circuit module is configured on the top of the base, and then the base is coupled with the housing. A display panel is configured on the surface of the housing and a coupling mechanism is formed at one side of the housing, wherein the coupling mechanism of the housing, by a pivot, is combined with a spring and a coupling mechanism of the rebound lid to construct a unity. Wherein a male fastener is configured on the surface of the above rebound lid, and provides for coupling with a female fastener. A tact switch is implemented next to the female fastener, wherein the rebound lid relies on a spring to bounce and thus forms an adequate angle when a user presses the tact button. At this moment, reflected data of the display panel on the surface of the rebound lid creates a condition that a user is able to look steadily at data on the surface of the rebound lid. Additionally, the present invention contains an induction coil unit for direction detection, which is easily understood when compared with known technology and has simple circuits, thereby reducing the production cost, thus conforming to requests from the general public. 
         [0007]    To enable a further understanding of said objectives and the technological contents of the invention herein, the description of the preferred embodiments with drawings is listed as follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows the elevational view according to the known electronic compass. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows the block diagram of electronic compass according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows the exploded elevational view according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows the elevational view according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a drawing in usage according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows a first drawing in usage according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  shows a second drawing in usage according the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , which shows a block diagram of the present invention relating to an electronic compass, wherein the electronic compass  20  comprises a switch unit  201 , a power supply unit  202 , an induction coil unit  203 , a micro control unit  204 , and a display unit  205 . Wherein the switch unit  201 , the power supply unit  202 , the induction coil unit  203 , the micro control unit  204 , and the display unit  205  are configured within the electronic compass  20 . With the switch unit  201  turned on, the power supply unit  202  is electrified to power on the induction coil unit  203  simultaneously. At this moment, the magnetic force for detection of the earth&#39;s natural magnetic field (i.e. polarity of the North Pole or the South Pole) is created through the induction coil unit  203 . The detected magnetic field is transferred to a signal, which is forwarded to the micro control unit  204  for data calculation, and this data is shown on the display unit  205 . Thereupon, the geographic direction ahead of a motor vehicle can be figured out via operations among these units, and thus an immediate detection and display of the front direction by cooperation of each unit proves that the operational model is of simplification. Meanwhile, the above induction coil unit  203  for navigation is a very common coil on the market, thus the objective of low production cost and popularity can be realized. 
         [0016]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , which shows the exploded elevational view according to the present invention, wherein the present invention is primarily configured to an electronic compass  30 , which comprises a base  301 , a circuit module  302 , a battery unit  303 , a housing  304 , a display panel  305 , a spring  306 , a rebound lid  307 , a pivot  308 , and an external cover  309 , wherein a number of fastening mechanisms  3011  are formed around the periphery of the base  301 . A tact switch  3012  is configured on one side of the periphery of the base  301 , and the circuit module  302  is defined on one side of the surface of the base  301 , on which the starting switch  3021  is configured. The battery unit  303  consists of a battery socket  3031  and a battery cover  3032 , wherein both are configured next to the circuit module  302  and on another surface of the base  301 . Furthermore, a number of fastening mechanisms  3041  are formed around the periphery of the housing  304 , which provides a mutual coupling with the corresponding fastening mechanisms  3011 . An opening  3043  is formed on one side of the housing  304  for implementation of the tact switch  3012 . The display panel  305  is configured on the surface of the housing  304 , whereby the display panel  305  shows data by a general lamp or an LED lighting module. With a female fastener  3042  formed next to the display panel  305 , a coupling mechanism  3044  is also formed on a corresponding position, whereby the coupling mechanism  3044 , relying on a pivot  308 , combines with a spring  306  and a coupling mechanism  3071  of the rebound lid  307  to construct an unity. Adjacent to the coupling mechanism  3044 , an opening  3045  is formed to provide an implementation position of the starting switch  3021 . A male fastener  3072  is formed on the above-mentioned rebound lid  307 , whereby the male fastener  3072  is able to mutually engage with the female fastener  3042  of the housing  304 . Moreover, an external cover  309  is configured outside of the surface of the housing  304 , and an opening is formed at the center of the external cover  309  for opening/closing actions of the rebound lid  307 . 
         [0017]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , which shows an elevational view according to the present invention, wherein the male fastener  3072  of the rebound lid  307  engages with the female fastener  3042  of the housing  304  before usage of the present invention, the electronic compass  30 , and maintaining a coupling condition using the tact switch  3012 . When the rebound lid  307  is covered on the housing  304 , the starting switch  3021  is pressed down and the display panel  305  is powered off, thus the power supply of the electronic compass  30  is not electrified, i.e., the electronic compass  30  is inoperative. Once the tact switch  3012  is pressed, the male fastener  3072  of the rebound lid  307 , relying on the bounce of the spring  306 , is able to separate from the female fastener  3042  of the housing  304  to rotate to an adequate angle away from the housing  304  by mutual effect among the coupling mechanism  3044 , the coupling mechanism  3071 , and the pivot  308 . At such time, the fact that the rebound lid  307  separates from the starting switch  3021  means the electrified electronic compass  30 , whereby the display panel  305  begins to show data relating to geographic directions ahead of a motor vehicle. When terminating operation, the user is able to manually press the rebound lid  307  to contact the surface of the housing  304 , whereby the male fastener  3072  engages with the female fastener  3042 , and returns back to an inoperative condition. 
         [0018]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , which shows a drawing in usage according to the present invention, wherein an adequate angle formed between the rebound lid  307  and the housing  304  is dependent on the bounce of the spring  306  after the tact button  3012  is pressed down. Owing to an electrical link between the switch unit  201  and the starting switch  3021 , the starting switch  3021 , without restriction of pressure by the rebound lid  307 , turns on the switch unit  201 , and thereby outputting a signal to enable the power supply unit  202 , thus powering on the electronic compass  30 . At this moment, the above electrified induction coil unit  203  starts to detect geographic directions ahead of a motor vehicle, and forwards signals detected to the micro control unit  204 , which conducts calculation to data according to received signals and forwards data to the display panel  305 . Because of an electrical link between the display unit  205  and the display panel  305 , the calculated data can be shown on the display panel  305 . Further, the data, as a format of light shown on the display panel  305 , can be reflected on the surface of the rebound lid  307 . Moreover, notwithstanding inverted image that data is shown on the display panel  305 , a positive image of data can be displayed on the rebound lid  307  with a reflection of light on the surface of the rebound lid  307 . Because the present invention relating to an electronic compass  30  can be installed on a plane surface, for instance, a specific plane observed within the motor vehicle, a driver is able to look steadily at data on the surface of the rebound lid  307 , after the rebound lid is bounced, and thus prevents danger derived from observing data by lowering of one&#39;s head, as a method to read data for the known electronic compass. Therefore, a driver driving a motor vehicle on a road can efficaciously avoid danger due to distractions. 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , which shows a first drawing in usage according to the present invention, wherein the present invention is primarily configured to an electronic compass  40 , which comprises a housing  401 , a display panel  402 , a starting switch  403 , and an electrical wire  50 . Wherein the display panel  402  is configured on the surface of the housing  401 , and the starting switch  403  is next to the display panel  402 . The above-mentioned electrical wire  50  is electrically connected to one end of the housing  401 , wherein the above switch unit  201 , the power supply unit  202 , the induction coil unit  203 , the micro control unit  204 , and the display unit  205  are configured within, and thus are electrically connected to the display panel  402 , the starting switch  403 , and the electrical wire  50 . With the starting switch  403  pressed, the switch unit  201  is induced, thereby turns on the above-mentioned induction coil unit  203 . At this moment, the electrical wire  50  which is plugged into an outlet sends electricity to the power supply unit  202 , and then the induction coil unit  203  for creation of magnetic field used for detection of the earth&#39;s natural magnetic field. The detected magnetic field is transferred into signals, which is forwarded to the above micro control unit  204  for data calculation. Then, the calculated data is sent to the above display panel  402  of the display unit  205 . 
         [0020]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , which shows a second drawing in usage according the present invention relating to an electronic compass  60 , wherein the above power supply unit  202  is electrically connected to a battery unit  70  for implementation of the battery  80 , as electric energy of the present invention. The display panel  602  within the above-mentioned display unit  205  contains a LED lighting module, whereby the display panel  602  uses the LED lighting module to reflect data on a plane, which forms an angle of inclination with the housing  601 . Data on the display panel  602  is shown as an inverted image, but can display a positive image when inverted image is reflected on the plane. Thus, with this present invention installed within a motor vehicle, the inverted image reflects on the surface of windshield, and whereupon a driver driving on a highway is able to look steadily at data on the windshield, so as to improve driving safety. 
         [0021]    As stated above, the embodiment of this present invention achieves the features of an electronic compass with features of providing a low-cost, convenient application, and enhancing driving safety. 
         [0022]    In addition, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 
         [0023]    In conclusion, this present invention relating to an electronic compass, as a creation, is to extend practicality and progress; the applicant quotes provisions of the Patent Law to apply for a patent.