System and tracker for tracking an object, and related methods
US7289227B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 1, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/875
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system to track a three-dimensional position and an orientation of a movable object and associated methods are provided. The system includes a tracker having an optically trackable body adapted to connect to the movable object. A plurality of optical indicators are connected or mounted to the optically trackable body to form a plurality of geometric figures. A plurality of obfuscating flanges optically separate the optical indicators from each other to prevent each of the optical indicators from becoming optically coincident with another optical indicator when viewed along a preselected viewing path. The system also includes an apparatus to track the tracker having an optical detector to simultaneously detect the three-dimensional position of at least three of the plurality of optical indicators and a determiner to determine the three-dimensional position and orientation of the optically trackable body from the position of the optical indicators.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.