Examples of systems and methods for calibrating or operating a magnetic sensor for sensor temperature or operating conditions are provided. The magnetic sensor can comprise a dual magnetometer sensor that comprises a first, low-power-consumption magnetometer (e.g., a magneto-inductive magnetometer) and a second higher-power-consumption magnetometer (e.g., a magneto-resistive magnetometer). The second magnetometer can have a lower unit-to-unit variation in temperature calibration parameters and can be used to temperature-correct readings from the first magnetometer. The magnetic sensor can dynamically switch between usage of the first magnetometer and the second magnetometer in order to provide a dynamic sample rate that can depend on conditions within the sensor or external to the sensor.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for a self-locating compass for use in navigation are disclosed. The self-locating compass is operable to provide position and/or velocity without information from a global positioning system (GPS) device. The self-locating compass includes a direction finder and a Lorentz force detector. The method includes determining orientation with respect to Earth's magnetic field, measuring a Lorentz force proportional to rate of change of location with respect to the field, determining a change in location, and updating location.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for a self-locating compass for use in navigation are disclosed. The self-locating compass is operable to provide position and/or velocity without information from a global positioning system (GPS) device. The self-locating compass includes a direction finder and a Lorentz force detector. The method includes determining orientation with respect to Earth's magnetic field, measuring a Lorentz force proportional to rate of change of location with respect to the field, determining a change in location, and updating location.

A three-axis digital compass comprising two X-axis magnetic sensors, two Y-axis magnetic sensors, a flux concentrator, a signal sampling unit, a signal processing unit, and a signal output unit is disclosed. The X-axis and Y-axis magnetic sensors are arranged along a periphery of the flux concentrator. An external magnetic field is distorted when passing through the flux concentrator. An Z axis component of the external magnetic field is converted into X-axis or Y-axis magnetic field components when passing through the flux concentrator, and the so converted components of the external magnetic field act on the X-axis and Y-axis magnetic sensitive sensors. An output signal of the X-axis and Y-axis magnetic sensitive sensors is sent to the signal processing unit through the signal sampling unit, and it is used to calculate the three orthogonal components of the external magnetic field. These calculated external magnetic field components are output in a digital format through the signal output unit. The three-axis digital compass has a novel structure and an elegant computation algorithm. The design is compatible with AMR, GMR, TMR or other magnetoresistive sensor technology.

A three-axis digital compass comprising two X-axis magnetic sensors, two Y-axis magnetic sensors, a flux concentrator, a signal sampling unit, a signal processing unit, and a signal output unit is disclosed. The X-axis and Y-axis magnetic sensors are arranged along a periphery of the flux concentrator. An external magnetic field is distorted when passing through the flux concentrator. An Z axis component of the external magnetic field is converted into X-axis or Y-axis magnetic field components when passing through the flux concentrator, and the so converted components of the external magnetic field act on the X-axis and Y-axis magnetic sensitive sensors. An output signal of the X-axis and Y-axis magnetic sensitive sensors is sent to the signal processing unit through the signal sampling unit, and it is used to calculate the three orthogonal components of the external magnetic field. These calculated external magnetic field components are output in a digital format through the signal output unit. The three-axis digital compass has a novel structure and an elegant computation algorithm. The design is compatible with AMR, GMR, TMR or other magnetoresistive sensor technology.

An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject and output an image signal; a control unit configured to control a current supplied to the image capturing unit; and an azimuth direction acquisition unit configured to detect geomagnetism, and acquire azimuth direction information indicating a direction in which the image capturing apparatus is oriented, based on the detected geomagnetism, wherein the azimuth direction acquisition unit detects the geomagnetism while a current is supplied to the image capturing unit, and acquires azimuth direction information in which an influence on the detected geomagnetism, the influence being caused by the supplied current, has been corrected.

An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject and output an image signal; a control unit configured to control a current supplied to the image capturing unit; and an azimuth direction acquisition unit configured to detect geomagnetism, and acquire azimuth direction information indicating a direction in which the image capturing apparatus is oriented, based on the detected geomagnetism, wherein the azimuth direction acquisition unit detects the geomagnetism while a current is supplied to the image capturing unit, and acquires azimuth direction information in which an influence on the detected geomagnetism, the influence being caused by the supplied current, has been corrected.

A method of orienting a mobile device to a vehicle includes determining an orientation of a gravity vector and aligning a first axis of the mobile device with respect to the gravity vector. The method also includes determining an orientation of a magnetic direction and aligning a second axis of the mobile device with respect to the magnetic direction. The method further includes determining a direction of travel for the vehicle and orienting the mobile device to the vehicle.

A gyroscope apparatus for a device including an accelerometer and a magnetic component has a gravity vector generator connected to the accelerometer and receptive to acceleration readings therefrom. A magnetic component output generator is connected to the magnetic component and receptive to magnetic component readings. A sensor fusion engine is connected to the gravity vector generator and to the magnetic component output generator, with a gravity vector value and a magnetic field vector value at a first time instance being combined to represent a first orientation value. The gravity vector value and the magnetic field vector value at a second time instance are combined to represent a second orientation value. An orientation rate of change is derived from a difference between the first orientation value and the second orientation value.

A gyroscope apparatus for a device including an accelerometer and a magnetic component has a gravity vector generator connected to the accelerometer and receptive to acceleration readings therefrom. A magnetic component output generator is connected to the magnetic component and receptive to magnetic component readings. A sensor fusion engine is connected to the gravity vector generator and to the magnetic component output generator, with a gravity vector value and a magnetic field vector value at a first time instance being combined to represent a first orientation value. The gravity vector value and the magnetic field vector value at a second time instance are combined to represent a second orientation value. An orientation rate of change is derived from a difference between the first orientation value and the second orientation value.