Device for the measurement of the location, the position and/or the change of location or of position of a rigid body in space
First Claim
1. Device for the measurement and registration of the location, the position and/or the change of location or position of a rigid body in space, said device comprising a magnetic field generator for generating a field comprising magnetic field flux and for mounting in fixed relation to the body, sensing means for determining the magnetic field flux or the magnetic field flux change during a measurement operation, said sensing means being arranged at a distance from the magnetic field generator and being mounted independently of the magnetic field generator, and an electronic installation coupled with said sensing means for the production and evaluation of electric signals in accordance with magnetic field flux or a magnetic field flux change, said magnetic field generator (3) being designed in such manner that it generates a defined irregular field;
- said sensing means being operable for determining the magnetic field flux in at least two planes disposed mutually perpendicularly to one another and comprising a plurality of pairs of magnetic flux pick-ups (A/B;
C/D;
E/F) with magnetic flux-dependent sensor elements (17), and support means mounting the respective magnetic flux pick-ups of the respective pairs at respective intervals (a, b, c) from one another and in such a manner that a free space is formed between the respective magnetic flux pick-ups of the respective pairs by means of the respective intervals (a, b, c), a pair of said magnetic flux pick-ups (A/B;
C/D;
E/F) being arranged in each of said planes, and each of the magnetic flux-dependent sensor elements being a Hall generator (17) with a longitudinal axis of symmetry, and each of said magnetic flux pick-ups further comprising a field-interactive element (18) arranged at the side of the Hall generator (17) toward the magnetic field generator (3), and having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the Hall generator (17) and spaced at an interval (d) from said longitudinal axis of symmetry of the Hall generator (17), so that the Hall generators of the respective magnetic flux pick-ups provide linearized signals independent of relative movement between the magnetic field generator and the sensing means parallel to the longitudinal axes of the respective field-interactive elements.
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Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, a magnetic field generator is arranged directly on the body or at an interval therefrom, and is designed in such manner that it generates a defined irregular field. For determining the field flux, a plurality of magnetic flux pick-ups with magnetic flux-dependent sensor elements are arranged on a carrier at an interval from one another in at least two, preferably in three, planes which stand perpendicular to one another. Moreover, the arrangement is executed in such manner that a free space is formed between the magnetic flux pick-ups corresponding to the intervals therebetween. The device is suited in particular for employment in dental medicine, and, namely, for the determination of lower jaw movements in a patient.
55 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Device for the measurement and registration of the location, the position and/or the change of location or position of a rigid body in space, said device comprising a magnetic field generator for generating a field comprising magnetic field flux and for mounting in fixed relation to the body, sensing means for determining the magnetic field flux or the magnetic field flux change during a measurement operation, said sensing means being arranged at a distance from the magnetic field generator and being mounted independently of the magnetic field generator, and an electronic installation coupled with said sensing means for the production and evaluation of electric signals in accordance with magnetic field flux or a magnetic field flux change, said magnetic field generator (3) being designed in such manner that it generates a defined irregular field;
- said sensing means being operable for determining the magnetic field flux in at least two planes disposed mutually perpendicularly to one another and comprising a plurality of pairs of magnetic flux pick-ups (A/B;
C/D;
E/F) with magnetic flux-dependent sensor elements (17), and support means mounting the respective magnetic flux pick-ups of the respective pairs at respective intervals (a, b, c) from one another and in such a manner that a free space is formed between the respective magnetic flux pick-ups of the respective pairs by means of the respective intervals (a, b, c), a pair of said magnetic flux pick-ups (A/B;
C/D;
E/F) being arranged in each of said planes, and each of the magnetic flux-dependent sensor elements being a Hall generator (17) with a longitudinal axis of symmetry, and each of said magnetic flux pick-ups further comprising a field-interactive element (18) arranged at the side of the Hall generator (17) toward the magnetic field generator (3), and having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the Hall generator (17) and spaced at an interval (d) from said longitudinal axis of symmetry of the Hall generator (17), so that the Hall generators of the respective magnetic flux pick-ups provide linearized signals independent of relative movement between the magnetic field generator and the sensing means parallel to the longitudinal axes of the respective field-interactive elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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10. Device according to claim 8, with said electronic installation comprising a multiplex unit (11) with a multiplex circuit arrangement (23) which converts the signals derived from the magnetic flux pick-ups (A through F) into a coded pulse sequence (24);
- and a demultiplex circuit arrangement (27) which decodes the pulse sequence (24) into individual signals.
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11. Device according to claim 10, with said multiplex unit (11) including a bridge balance circuit (22) for each magnetic flux pick-up (A through F).
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12. Device according to claim 1, for measurement and registration of the location, the position and/or of the change of location or of position of a location of the lower jaw of a patient in dental medicine, with said magnetic field generator (3) being fixed relative to such location of the lower jaw.
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13. Device according to claim 12, with said support means for the magnetic flux pick-ups (A through F) comprising a carrying frame (6), and a head mount (8) for mounting on the head of a patient and operatively supporting said carrying frame (6) in such a manner that the free space between the magnetic flux pick-ups provides access to the mouth of the patient.
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14. Device according to claim 13, with said head mount (8) having a plurality of joints (9) for adaptation to the patient'"'"'s head (1).
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15. Device according to claim 10, with a mount (8) disposed on the head (1) of a patient, and said multiplex unit (11) being designed for association with said mount on the head of the patient.
- said sensing means being operable for determining the magnetic field flux in at least two planes disposed mutually perpendicularly to one another and comprising a plurality of pairs of magnetic flux pick-ups (A/B;
Specification