Sparton Digital Compass Products

Sparton digital compasses provide affordable superior performance. Sparton's three-axis, tilt-compensated digital compass products provide three-dimensional absolute magnetic field measurement and full 360 degree tilt compensated bearing, pitch, and roll. Our proprietary adaptive algorithms allow our unique, precise sensors to provide continuous and exceptional accuracy in the presence of stray magnetic fields while automatically maintaining heading accuracy under motion conditions.

In addition to 3-D calibration, our digital compasses include a revolutionary 2-D calibration algorithm to optimize performance and allow fast, accurate, in-field, on-equipment calibration for platform based applications. Additional features such as selectable baud rates (up to 115,200 Baud) and digital filter settings are now included.

Automatic heading stabilization under motion conditions is attained through our Adaptive In-Field Calibration algorithms (SP3004D only) which enables platforms or vehicles to maintain heading accuracy. Further, our digital compasses correct for declination enabling true heading to be provided. Sparton digital compasses can be integrated into any system using a UART or SPI interface.

All unmanned vehicles require heading reference. Sparton digital compasses meet the challenging needs of these applications. For additional information, please see our applications page.

Congressional Mandate:
"Unmanned Advanced Capability Aircraft and Ground Combat Vehicles... It shall be a goal of the Armed Forces to achieve the fielding of unmanned, remotely controlled technology such that by 2015, one-third of the operational ground combat vehicles of the Armed Forces are unmanned."

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-398, section 220)

Sparton digital compasses are delivered as encapsulated modules ready to meet the requirements of your design application and environment. Sparton also offers product integration, DFM, DFA and production services.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is important to note that operating environments can adversely affect magnetic compasses. Any device operating in the vicinity of a magnetic compass that produce a time-varying magnetic field may degrade compass performance. In addition, any magnetic material that causes severe magnetic distortions in the vicinity of the compass may also degrade compass performance. It is recommended that Sparton be included at the front-end of your product design to assist with compass integration.

For more information about the geomagnetic properties of the earth and how that affects magnetic compass properties: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/