Errors in systems using magnetic fields to locate objects

US6553326B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Northern Digital Inc. · CA

Inventors

• Stefan Kirsch · Heidesheim, DE
• Christian Schilling · Brugg, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 7, 2000
• Grant date: Apr 22, 2003
• Expiry date: Apr 7, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01V3/08
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A process detects distortions to magnetic location or orientation determinations. The process includes measuring a plurality of magnetic field values, determining one of a probe's location and a probe's orientation from an extremum of an optimization function. The measured values depend on the probe's location and orientation. The optimization function depends on the measured field values and field values calculated from a model. The process also includes indicating that a distortion to the determining exists in response to the extremum belonging to a preselected range.