Goniometer Multi-Zone Display for Continuous Azimuth Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional goniometers face challenges in providing user-friendly, compact, and continuous information output while maintaining precise azimuth angle determination, especially in environments where magnetic compass measurements are unreliable, and display visibility is compromised during rotation.
Innovation Solution
A goniometer design featuring at least two display zones with different radial alignments relative to the standing axis, automatically activated based on angular position criteria, ensuring continuous user guidance and minimizing exposure by controlling display visibility through angular position thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a single display zone is used on the goniometer structure, then the device remains compact, but information availability becomes discontinuous during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into multiple display zones (first display zone and second display zone) arranged at different radial alignments on the structure. Each zone displays information relevant to specific angular positions, ensuring continuous information availability as the structure rotates by switching between zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different display zones based on the current angular position of the structure. The control unit activates appropriate display zones according to angular position criteria, making the information display adaptive and continuous during rotation.
2Ease of operation
If display zones are arranged in multiple radial alignments, then continuous information visibility is achieved, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of expanding the display radially outward, the patent utilizes the angular dimension by arranging display zones at different radial alignments (e.g., 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). This dimensional arrangement allows multiple display zones to be packed into a compact circular footprint, maintaining continuous visibility without proportionally increasing the device area.
3Ease of operation
If the display remains visible during rotation, then user guidance is continuous, but the device becomes more recognizable to enemies
Solution Approach 1:
The display system operates periodically by switching between different display zones as the structure rotates. The control unit activates specific display zones based on angular position criteria, creating a periodic display pattern that maintains information availability while limiting the temporal and spatial exposure of the display to enemy observation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different display zones are activated based on the local angular position context. The control unit determines which display zone should be active according to the current angular position and user angle range, ensuring that information is displayed only when and where it is most useful, thereby reducing unnecessary exposure.
4Ease of manufacture
If magnetic compass alignment is used for north determination, then the goniometer can be manufactured from magnetic materials, but measurement precision deteriorates in environments with magnetic interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary reference system using GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) for north determination. This intermediary approach allows the goniometer to establish its orientation relative to true north without relying on magnetic fields, thereby eliminating the influence of magnetic interference while still enabling the use of magnetic materials in the device construction.
Data Source
AI summary
A goniometer has a base defining a standing axis, a structure rotatable around the standing axis relative to the base, an angle encoder, and a control and processing unit. The structure has a graphic electronic information display arrangement having at least two display zones for displaying user guidance information and/or measuring information, a first of the at least two display zones being arranged in a first radial alignment relative to the standing axis on the structure. A second of the at least two display zones of the information display means is arranged in a second radial alignment relative to the standing axis on the structure, the first radial alignment and the second radial alignment enclosing an angle of at least 90°. The at least two display zones are automatically individually activated by the control and processing unit as a function of a fulfillment of a stored angular position criterion.