Automobile navigation using a magnetic flux-gate compass

The classic technology of the saturable core may be combined with the microcomputer to yield an improved version of the magnetic flux-gate compass. General description and fundamental principles are discussed with application to mass-produced automobiles. A transfer function between the earth's magnetic field and the fluxgate output voltages is developed. The introduction of the microcomputer allows a faster calibration which does not require any type of nulling or feedback circuit.