AT386683B - Orienteering instrument for walkers - Google Patents

Abstract

The orienteering instrument according to the invention for walkers constitutes a small, easily portable device which is advantageously fixed to a belt, in which instrument the direction and the distance from the initial location are calculated in a digital arithmetic unit 3 by means of continuous vectorial summation of step vectors, which are triggered by step movement pulses from a step movement converter 2 and are determined by the direction variable from a magnetic direction indicator 1 and by the step length, automatically and continuously during walking, running or riding, and are displayed to the user. As a result, the walker can reliable find his way back to his starting point without other aids, without a map and primarily even in the event of the most severe impairment of visibility. <IMAGE>

Description

  

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   The invention relates to an orientation device for hikers with a magnetic direction transmitter, which emits an electrical direction signal corresponding to the direction of travel, a odometer for emitting a path signal and a digital arithmetic unit to which the
Outputs from the direction transmitter and the displacement sensor are connected, a displacement vector being formed from the direction signal and the displacement signal.



   Until now, orientation for people walking or running in the wild was only possible with a map and compass. This required a certain amount of knowledge and experience and still remained a time-consuming and cumbersome process that failed for the lost hiker with poor visibility.



   Navigation with distance measurement and direction measurement is known, whereby by subtracting a distance vector and a target vector read by an input device, a difference
Target vector is calculated. Subtraction and coordinate input devices were necessary, either cumbersome or with a lot of equipment from maps or
Street maps coordinates had to be transferred and read. These known navigation devices are complicated, complex and expensive and made not insignificant demands on the user when entering coordinates.



   On the other hand, anyone who is not technical can use the invention, which is simple and cheap
Abilities to find their way back to their starting point safely, without additional aids, without input and without special handling.



   The orientation device according to the invention is characterized in that the distance measuring device is a step motion converter for generating step counting pulses and the digital arithmetic unit has an input device for entering a step length, wherein in the digital arithmetic unit - triggered by a step counting pulse - a step vector is generated in each case and continuously added up to the resulting path vector and the amount and the negative value (t-180) of the direction of the path vector are displayed in a display device for displaying the return path.



   This creates a very small, lightweight device without restricting the freedom of movement of the user, which can be worn close to the body, advantageously on the belt, and which continuously and automatically displays the distance and direction to the starting point without entering coordinates and without additional aids.



   An embodiment of the orientation device according to the invention for hikers is characterized by an acoustic display device for the direction of the return trip; reaching the home direction when the user turns is additionally indicated to the user by an acoustic signal.



   This enables even the visually impaired to take advantage of the invention and to find their way back to their starting point without help after a hike.



   Another embodiment of the orientation device according to the invention for hikers is characterized by a vibration device as a display device for the direction of the return path; reaching the home direction when the user rotates is made noticeable to the user by vibration on a skin contact of the user.



   As a result, the visually impaired and deaf can use the advantages of the invention and find their way back to their starting point without the help of a hike.



   The invention is explained in the drawings, for example:
Fig. 1 shows a magnetic direction transmitter --1--, which emits a direction signal ei corresponding to the respective direction of travel. A step motion converter --2-- generates step counting pulses i, which generate --3-- step vectors s + 'in the arithmetic unit and these continuously
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 of the user are additionally indicated by an acoustic signal.



   PATENT CLAIMS:
1. Orientation device for hikers with a magnetic direction transmitter, which emits an electrical direction signal corresponding to the direction of travel, a travel meter for delivering a travel signal and a digital arithmetic unit, to which the outputs of the travel transmitter and travel meter are connected, a travel vector from the direction signal and the travel signal is formed, characterized in that the distance measuring device is a step motion converter (2) for generating step counting pulses and the digital arithmetic unit (3) has an input device (4) for entering a step length, whereby in the digital arithmetic unit (3) - triggered by a step counting pulse - One step vector each is generated and continuously added up to the resulting path vector and in a display device (5)

   to display the return route, the amount and the negative value ('t-180) of the direction of the route vector are displayed.

 

Claims (1)

 2. Orientation device according to claim 1, characterized by an acoustic display device for the direction of the return.  3. Orientation device according to claim 1, characterized by a vibration device as a display device for the direction of the return path.