Table of Contents
Advertisement
RC4000 ACU Boardset
Chapter 2
Hardware
compass body. If the needle of the compass swings as the compass is lowered to the mounting location,
it is due to distortion of the earth's magnetic field by ferrous metals on the vehicle, or magnetic fields
generated by the vehicle.
The fluxgate should be mounted in the location where the needle of the compass experiences the
minimum amount of swing as the compass is lowered to the proposed mounting location.
2.2.4 Single Axis Compass
The Single Axis Compass is a smaller, less expensive, and slightly less accurate heading sensor option
compared to the original Fluxgate Compass. The single axis compass module contains a
magnetoresistive sensor that converts the magnetic field in one direction to a representative voltage.
When positioned perpendicular to the earth's gravitational field (level), the sensor can measure the
horizontal component of the earth's magnetic field. By rotating the sensor (via rotating the antenna) and
measuring the resulting voltages, the RC4000 can derive an estimate of the antenna's magnetic heading.
-- see appendix SAC for full description of hardware and unique software items
2.2.5 LCD
The RC4000 can be optionally supplied with a 4 row by 40 column character LCD (liquid crystal display).
Details regarding the interface of the LCD display to the RC4000 boardstack is outlined in section
2.1.2.2.9. The standard LCD display has a temperature rating of 0⁰ to +50⁰C. There is an optional VFD
(vacuum fluorescent display) that is rated for -40⁰ to +85⁰C.
2.2.6 4x4 Keypad
The RC4000 can optionally be supplied with a 4 row by 4 column keypad. When used in conjunction with
the 4x40 LCD
(section
2.2.5), the keypad can be used for full user control of the antenna controller.
Details regarding the interface of the keypad with the RC4000 boardstack is outlined in
section
2.1.2.2.10.
The layout and operational use of the keypad is outlined in
section
3.1.2.
53
Advertisement
Table of Contents
