AUTOMATIC DETERMINATION OF THE POSITION OF AN OBJECT

• US 20120038347A1
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cairos Technologies Ag
• Original Assignee: Cairos Technologies Ag
• Inventors: Bucher, Tilman
• Application Number:
  US13/282,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20120038347A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.11
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/07 Hall effect devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/093 using multilayer structures, e.g. giant magnetoresistance sensors thin magnetic films H01F10/00

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for analysis of magnetic fields or signals used for the determination of the position of an object, wherein two temporally to each other shifted magnetic signals or fields are generated by two conductors arranged at least in part or completely separated from each other. The magnetic fields generated by the conductors are consecutively being captured by at least one and preferably three sensors arranged orthogonally to each other and determining from the captured signals information for determining the position of the object carrying the sensors relative to the conductors.

Claims

1. An arrangement of at least two electrical conductors, wherein:

the at least two electrical conductors are placed parallel to each other;

both conductors are adapted to generate a magnetic field with each of the at least two conductors connected to a current source; and

at least one end of each of the at least two conductors, which is averted to the connection with the current source, electronically grounded.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrical conductors are standing horizontally.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrical conductors are placed perpendicular to a surface.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one end of each of the at least two electrical conductors is grounded through at least one anchor extending underneath a surface.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein on a sports field at each side of at least one marking line at least one electrical conductor is placed at a same horizontal distance to the marking line and wherein the at least two conductors extend beyond the length of the marking line.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein at least one electrical conductor is placed in front of a marking line and at least one electrical conductor is placed behind the marking line of a sports field in such a manner that each of the conductors is parallel to the marking line at the same horizontal distance.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the at least two electrical conductors are placed at a same level so that a field strength of the at least two electrical conductors cuts a surface of the sports field orthogonal to the marking line.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least two electrical conductors foam orthogonal pair-wise arrangements of conductors.

9. A method for determining a position of an object comprising:

placing at least two electrical conductors in a sports field at a same height;

generating magnetic fields from the at least two conductors; and

producing a field strength from the magnetic fields that orthogonally cuts a surface of the sports field at a marking line.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein placing the at least two electrical conductors in the sports field comprises arranging the at least two electrical conductors underneath a surface of the sports field.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein placing the at least two electrical conductors in the sports field comprises laying the at least two electrical conductors beneath a surface of the sports field parallel to the marking line.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein placing the at least two electrical conductors in the sports field comprises creating at least one notch in a surface of the sports field.

13. The method according to claim 9, comprising attaching at least one electrical conductor to a non-conductive carrier having an inflexible backing strip.

14. An apparatus comprising:

at least two electrical conductors positioned at a same height in a sports field;

at least one current source coupled to at least one end of each of the at least two conductors for generating magnetic fields that orthogonally cut a surface of the sports field at a marking line; and

at least one ground source coupled to at least one end of each of the at least two conductors electronically grounding the at least two electrical conductors.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, comprising a conductor carrier for securing at least one electrical conductor, wherein the conductor carrier is non-conducting.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the conductor carrier comprises an inflexible backing strip having at least one threaded screw for positioning alignment of the at last one electrical conductor.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, comprising at least two conductive carriers for each of the at least two electrical conductors.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the at least two conductive carriers comprise inflexible backing strips having threaded screws for positioning alignment of the at least two electrical conductors.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the at least two conductive carriers couple together to form a single apparatus.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, comprising a bolted assembly for varying the distance between the at least two conductive carriers.