Dynamic Transmitter Power Control for Magnetic Tracker

• US 20180180448A1
• Filed: 05/04/2017
• Published: 06/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Quentin Simon Charles, Fullam, Scott Francis, Cherkashin, Lev, Velat, Steven James
• Granted Patent: US 10,451,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B7/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/12 using electric or magnetic means G01D5/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/02 Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence

Abstract

A system determines the transmission strength of the magnetic field signal. The magnetic field signal is transmitted from a first magnetic-sensor device to a second magnetic-sensor device. The system then determines a first projected distance between the first magnetic-sensor device and the second magnetic-sensor device. Based at least in part on the first projected distance, the system calculates an adjusted transmission strength for the magnetic field signal. The system then causes the first magnetic-sensor device to transmit an adjusted magnetic field signal. The adjusted magnetic field signal comprises the adjusted transmission strength. The system receives, from the second magnetic-field device, the adjusted magnetic field signal. Based at least in part upon the received adjusted magnetic field signal, the system, computes a first pose of the first magnetic-sensor device in relation to the second magnetic-sensor device.

Claims

1. A computer system for dynamically modifying a transmission strength of a magnetic field signal, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors configure the computer system to perform at least the following;

determine the transmission strength of the magnetic field signal, the magnetic field signal being transmitted from a first magnetic-sensor device to a second magnetic-sensor device;

determine a first projected distance between the first magnetic-sensor device and the second magnetic-sensor device;

based at least in part on the first projected distance, calculate an adjusted transmission strength for the magnetic field signal;

cause the first magnetic-sensor device to transmit an adjusted magnetic field signal, wherein the adjusted magnetic field signal comprises the adjusted transmission strength;

receive, from the second magnetic-field device, the adjusted magnetic field signal; and

based at least in part upon the received adjusted magnetic field signal, compute a first pose of the first magnetic-sensor device in relation to the second magnetic-sensor device.

2. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the executable instructions include instructions that are executable to configure the computer system to:

identify magnetic noise received by the second magnetic-sensor device; and

based at least in part on the magnetic noise, calculate the adjusted transmission strength for the magnetic field signal.

3. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the executable instructions include instructions that are executable to configure the computer system to:

based upon the first pose, calculate a predicted second pose of the first magnetic-sensor device in relation to the second magnetic-sensor device; and

based at least in part on the predicted second pose, calculate the adjusted transmission strength for the magnetic field signal.

4. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the executable instructions include instructions that are executable to configure the computer system to:

receive an indication of motion from a spatial input device that is associated with the first magnetic-sensor device;

based upon the indication of motion, calculate a second projected distance between the first magnetic-sensor device and the second magnetic-sensor device; and

based at least in part on the second projected distance, calculate the adjusted transmission strength for the magnetic field signal.

5. The computer system as recited in claim 4, wherein the executable instructions include instructions that are executable to configure the computer system to:

based upon the indication of motion, calculate an adjustment rate at which the transmission strength of the magnetic field is adjusted.

6. The computer system as recited in claim 4, wherein the spatial input device comprises an inertial measurement device that is physically coupled with the first magnetic-sensor device.

7. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the executable instructions include instructions that are executable to configure the computer system to:

receive a request for a particular input characteristic from a mixed-reality software application that is receiving input from the first magnetic-sensor device, wherein the particular input characteristic comprises information relating to a requested input precision; and

based at least in part on the particular input characteristic, calculate the adjusted transmission strength for the magnetic field signal.

8. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first magnetic-sensor device is disposed within a handheld controller.

9. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the second magnetic-sensor device is disposed within a head-mounted display.

10. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the executable instructions include instructions that are executable to configure the computer system to:

during a transition phase from a first transmission strength to a second transmission strength, receive from the first magnetic-sensor device a set of transmission strengths being emitted by the first magnetic-sensor device; and

based at least in part upon the set of transmission strengths, compute the first pose of the first magnetic-sensor device in relation to the second magnetic-sensor device.

11. A method for dynamically modifying a transmission strength of a magnetic field signal comprising:

determining the transmission strength of the magnetic field signal, the magnetic field signal being transmitted from a first magnetic-sensor device to a second magnetic-sensor device;

determining a first projected distance between the first magnetic-sensor device and the second magnetic-sensor device;

based at least in part on the first projected distance, calculating an adjusted transmission strength for the magnetic field signal;

causing the first magnetic-sensor device to transmit an adjusted magnetic field signal, wherein the adjusted magnetic field signal comprises the adjusted transmission strength;

receiving, at the second magnetic-field device, the adjusted magnetic field signal; and

based at least in part upon the received adjusted magnetic field signal, computing a first pose of the first magnetic-sensor device in relation to the second magnetic-sensor device.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

identifying magnetic noise received by the second magnetic-sensor device; and

based at least in part on the magnetic noise, calculating the adjusted transmission strength for the magnetic field signal.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

based upon the first pose, calculating a predicted second pose of the first magnetic-sensor device in relation to the second magnetic-sensor device; and

based at least in part on the predicted second pose, calculating the adjusted transmission strength for the magnetic field signal.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an indication of motion from a spatial input device that is associated with the first magnetic-sensor device;

based upon the indication of motion, calculating a second projected distance between the first magnetic-sensor device and the second magnetic-sensor device; and

based at least in part on the second projected distance, calculating the adjusted transmission strength for the magnetic field signal.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

based upon the indication of motion, calculating an adjustment rate at which the transmission strength of the magnetic field is adjusted.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the spatial input device comprises an inertial measurement device that is physically coupled with the first magnetic-sensor device.

17. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a request for a particular input characteristic from a mixed-reality software application that is receiving input from the first magnetic-sensor device, wherein the particular input characteristic comprises information relating to a requested input precision; and

based at least in part on the particular input characteristic, calculating the adjusted transmission strength for the magnetic field signal.

18. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first magnetic-sensor device is disposed within a handheld controller.

19. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the second magnetic-sensor device is disposed within a head-mounted display.

20. A computer program product comprising one or more computer storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed at a processor, cause the computer system to perform a method for synchronizing and desynchronizing mixed-reality datasets between multiple devices, the method comprising:

determining the transmission strength of the magnetic field signal, the magnetic field signal being transmitted from a first magnetic-sensor device to a second magnetic-sensor device;

determining a first projected distance between the first magnetic-sensor device and the second magnetic-sensor device;

based at least in part on the first projected distance, calculating an adjusted transmission strength for the magnetic field signal;

causing the first magnetic-sensor device to transmit an adjusted magnetic field signal, wherein the adjusted magnetic field signal comprises the adjusted transmission strength;

receiving, at the second magnetic-field device, the adjusted magnetic field signal; and

based at least in part upon the received adjusted magnetic field signal, computing a first pose of the first magnetic-sensor device in relation to the second magnetic-sensor device.