PNI TCM 5 - Manual (Page 4)

PNI Sensor Corporation Doc #1007537 r12
TCM3 & TCM5 User Manual- Sept 2011 Page 4
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PNI Corporation’s TCM3 & TCM5
Thank you for purchasing PNI’s TCM3 (pn 12606) or TCM5 (pn 12608) tilt-compensated compass
module. You have chosen a product that represents the largest step forward in compass technology for
many years. The TCM is a state-of-the-art, low power, high performance electronic tilt compensated
compass sensor module.
The TCM uses advanced algorithms, with hard iron and soft iron corrections, to provide highly accurate
heading information, in any orientation (TCM5 only), at latitudes up to 85

. The output information of the
unit will indicate accurate attitude position of the module and can be used in systems requiring full 360

rotation (TCM5 only). This has been accomplished by integrating 3-axis magnetic field sensing, 3-axis tilt
sensing, and compass heading into a single module, which is one of the smallest in the market. With its
small size, the TCM is capable of fitting into today’s size sensitive systems. These advantages make PNI
Corporation’s TCM the choice for applications that require the highest accuracy and performance
anywhere in the world.
The TCM combines PNI Corporation’s patented Magneto-Inductive (MI) sensors and measurement circuit
technology with a 3-axis MEMS accelerometer for unparalleled cost effectiveness and performance. The
magnetic sensors and accelerometers are calibrated to operate from -40 to 85

C; hence the
measurement is very stable over temperature and inherently free from offset drift.
The
TCM’s advantages make it suitable for many applications, including:

High-performance solid state navigation equipment

High-performance attitude measurement

IMU system integration

3-axis magnetic field sensing

Robotics systems

Laser range finders

Drilling applications
With its many potential applications, the TCM provides a command set designed with flexibility and
adaptability in mind. Many parameters are user-programmable, including reporting units, a wide range of
sampling configurations, output damping, and more. We hope the TCM will help you to achieve the
greatest performance from your target system. Thank you for selecting PNI’s TCM compass.
Note: Several versions of the TCM exist, as the product line has evolved over the years. Throughout this
manual the term “TCM” refers to the TCM 3 and TCM 5. Other versions available from PNI include the
current TCM XB and TCM 5LT, and the legacy TCM 2.5 and TCM 2.6. (Availability subject to change.)