Position and orientation measuring system having anti-distortion source configuration
US5640170A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 5, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01B7/004
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the position and orientation of a remote object relative to a reference coordinate frame includes providing a source having a plurality of field-generating elements, wherein the field-generating elements generate electromagnetic fields and have spatially independent components defining a source reference coordinate frame. A driver applies signals to the source to generate a plurality of electromagnetic fields which are distinguishable from one another and a remote sensor has a plurality of field-sensing elements which sense each of the generated electromagnetic fields. A processor processes the output of the sensor in a remote object position and orientation relative to the source reference coordinate frame. At least one of the field-generating elements of the source has at least one electrically conductive sheet and a planar coil including a plurality of coplanar concentric rings above the conductive sheet. The planar coil is configured in a manner that a signal applied to that coil will cause a current density at each ring that is inversely proportional to the square of the radius of that ring. The planar coil may be made from a conductor fo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.