Precision alignment system
First Claim
1. A precision alignment system comprising a first apparatus and a second apparatus, said first apparatus comprising a magnetic loop antenna, said second apparatus comprising at least a first RX antennawherein, during use, an input electrical signal is fed to said magnetic loop antenna, said input electrical signal inducing a first induced electrical signal in said first RX antenna, said first induced signal providing a measurement of the alignment of said second apparatus to said first apparatusand wherein a precise alignment of said second apparatus relative to said first apparatus is defined as the position of said second apparatus when the magnitude of said first induced signal in said first RX antenna has a local minimum value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a precision alignment system operable to provide alignment of a first and second apparatus. The precision alignment system makes use of inductive coupling between loop antennas in the first and second apparatus. The mechanism for alignment is the detection of a null in the signal induced in the loop antennas of the second apparatus arising from an input signal fed to a loop antenna of the first apparatus. The precision alignment system can be incorporated in a system for the wireless transfer of electrical power or may be incorporated in a system for the transfer of data. The precision alignment system of the present invention is particularly suited to applications where optical or other means for alignment of two apparatus are unreliable. In particular, the alignment system disclosed is suitable for operation underwater.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A precision alignment system comprising a first apparatus and a second apparatus, said first apparatus comprising a magnetic loop antenna, said second apparatus comprising at least a first RX antenna
wherein, during use, an input electrical signal is fed to said magnetic loop antenna, said input electrical signal inducing a first induced electrical signal in said first RX antenna, said first induced signal providing a measurement of the alignment of said second apparatus to said first apparatus and wherein a precise alignment of said second apparatus relative to said first apparatus is defined as the position of said second apparatus when the magnitude of said first induced signal in said first RX antenna has a local minimum value.
- 24. A precision alignment method comprising the steps of transmitting an electromagnetic signal via a magnetic loop antenna of a first apparatus, receiving said transmitted electromagnetic signal as a first induced electrical signal in a first RX antenna of a second apparatus, determining the magnitude of said first induced electrical signal, adjusting the position of said second apparatus, monitoring the change in said first induced electrical signal and achieving alignment of said second apparatus relative to said first apparatus when the magnitude of said first induced electrical signal falls to zero.
Specification