MAGNETIC-SENSOR CONTROLLER, MAGNETISM MEASUREMENT APPARATUS, OFFSET SETTING METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM ON WHICH OFFSET SETTING PROGRAM IS RECORDED

Abstract

A magnetic-sensor controller includes an input section, a perpendicular-bisector calculation section, a storage section, and a setting section. The input section successively inputs a plurality of magnetic data sets successively output from a three-dimensional magnetic sensor. Each magnetic data includes three components. The perpendicular-bisector calculation section calculates, for each pair of two of the magnetic data sets, a perpendicular bisector of two points corresponding to the two magnetic data sets. The storage section stores a plurality of perpendicular bisectors. The setting section statistically approximates, by a single point, a region where the plurality of perpendicular bisectors stored in the storage section meet, and sets an offset of the magnetic data set on the basis of the single point. The magnetic-sensor controller enables accurate setting of an offset even when the magnetic field strength changes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a hardware block diagram of the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a three-dimensional magnetic sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams relating to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams relating to the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A magnetic-sensor controller comprising: input section which successively inputs a plurality of magnetic data sets, each including three components, successively output from a three-dimensional magnetic sensor and;perpendicular-bisector calculation section which calculates, for each pair of two of the magnetic data sets, a perpendicular bisector of two points corresponding to the two magnetic data sets;memory which stores a plurality of the perpendicular bisectors; andsetting section which statistically approximates, by a single point, a region where the plurality of perpendicular bisectors stored in the memory meet and sets an offset of the magnetic data set on the basis of the single point.

2. A magnetic-sensor controller according to claim 1, wherein the setting section calculates the single point by a least-squares method using the plurality of perpendicular bisectors stored in the memory.

3. A magnetic-sensor controller according to claim 1, further comprising selector which selects suitable pairs each of which is obtained by combining, in the order of input, two magnetic data sets if the two magnetic data sets corresponds to respective two points spaced from each other by at least a predetermined distance, wherein the perpendicular bisector calculation section calculates the perpendicular bisectors from the selected pairs.

4. A magnetic-sensor controller according to claim 1, further comprising management section which manages the memory so as to store a newly calculated perpendicular bisector into the memory when all the angles between the newly calculated perpendicular bisector and one of the perpendicular bisectors already stored in the memory are greater than or equal to a predetermined angle.

5. A magnetic-sensor controller according to claim 1, further comprising management section which manages the memory so as to store a newly calculated perpendicular bisector into the memory when all the angles between the newly calculated perpendicular bisector and all the perpendicular bisectors already stored in the memory are greater than or equal to a predetermined angle.

6. A magnetic-sensor controller according to claim 1, further comprising management section which manages the memory so as to store in the memory the perpendicular bisectors in a predetermined number or less for each of area sections defined on the spherical surface of a unit sphere centered at a specific point and being substantially equal in area to each other, wherein the end point of a unit vector which is perpendicular to each perpendicular bisector stored in the memory and whose start point coincides with the specific point is contained in the corresponding area section.

7. A magnetism measurement apparatus comprising: a magnetic-sensor controller according to claim 1; andthe three-dimensional magnetic sensor.

8. An offset setting method comprising the steps of: successively inputting a plurality of magnetic data sets, each including three components, successively output from a three-dimensional magnetic sensor;calculating, for each pair of two of the magnetic data sets, a perpendicular bisector of two points corresponding to the two magnetic data sets;storing a plurality of the perpendicular bisectors; andstatistically approximating, by a single point, a region where the plurality of stored perpendicular bisectors meet, and setting an offset of the magnetic data sets on the basis of the single point.

9. An computer-readable recording medium on which an offset setting program is recorded, said program causes a computer to function as: successively inputting a plurality of magnetic data sets, each including three components, successively output from a three-dimensional magnetic sensor;calculating, for each pair of two of the magnetic data sets, a perpendicular bisector of two points corresponding to the two magnetic data sets;storing a plurality of the perpendicular bisectors; andstatistically approximating, by a single point, a region where the plurality of stored perpendicular bisectors meet, and setting an offset of the magnetic data sets on the basis of the single point.