Robert M Spitz

US Patent:

53901223, Feb 14, 1995

Filed:

May 7, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/058956

Inventors:

Paul A. Michaels - Livonia MI
Joseph F. Supinsky - Mt. Clemens MI
Robert F. Spitz - Rochester Hills MI

Assignee:

Lectron Products, Inc. - Rochester Hills MI

International Classification:

G01C 1738
G01C 2500

US Classification:

364443

Abstract:

A vehicle compass system that is adapted to be calibrated in the assembly plant during final assembly of the vehicle. In particular, two factory calibration modes are disclosed: an automatic factory calibration mode wherein the calibration sequence is automatically initiated upon the occurrence of a uniquely definable event on the assembly line, and a manual factor calibration mode wherein a calibration button sequence is actuated at a specified location on the assembly line. In addition, an automatic adaptive calibration process is disclosed which continuously updates the calibration constants each time valid new heading data is obtained. In particular, heading vectors for the four main N, S, E, and W heading directions are calculated and stored in memory when the system is initially calibrated. Thereafter, whenever new heading direction data is obtained, the value of the new heading vector is used to update the value of the closest of the four main heading vectors. A new center calculation is also performed using the updated values and if the result is outside a tolerance window, the calibration constants are changed accordingly.

US Patent:

43910599, Jul 5, 1983

Filed:

Apr 10, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/253065

Inventors:

Samuel Cordova - Denver CO
Robert J. Spitz - Lakewood CO

International Classification:

A01K 9700

US Classification:

43 15

Abstract:

A fishing pole holder for use during fishing having a spring biased tube for the pole handle, and a latch for holding the tube in cocked position with a release trigger activated by a fish line, when a fish takes the bait at the end of line.