Patent · US Expired

Magnetic field position and orientation measurement system with dynamic eddy current rejection

US5767669A · kind A · utility

321Cited by
3References
50Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 14, 1996
Grant dateJun 16, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 14, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF41G3/225
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The position and orientation of remote sensors is determined using pulsed magnetic fields generated from a fixed location. Pulsed magnetic fields are sequentially generated from a plurality of spatially independent components defining a source coordinate frame. The pulsed magnetic fields are sensed by a remote sensor having a plurality of passive field sensing elements. Eddy current distortions are sensed separately and subtracted by the system. The system measures the effect of metallic objects present in the environment and dynamically adjusts the measured values accordingly. The sensed magnetic fields, free of eddy current distortion, are used in order to calculate the position and orientation of the remote object. The system shortens the duration of pulsed magnetic fields and operates correctly at much further distances for the same energy output as compared to known systems.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.