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Pulsed-DC position and orientation measurement system

  • US 5,453,686 A
  • Filed: 04/08/1993
  • Issued: 09/26/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for determining the position and orientation of a remote object relative to a reference coordinate frame comprising:

  • a source having a plurality of field generating elements, wherein said field generating elements generate electromagnetic fields and have spatially independent components defining a source reference coordinate frame;

    a driver, wherein said driver applies to said plurality of field generating elements, signals which generate a plurality of electromagnetic fields, wherein said driver generates pulsed-DC Signals that are applied sequentially to said field generating elements, defining a field generation cycle, whereby said electromagnetic fields have steady state components and are time-division multiplexed, said electromagnetic fields being distinguishable from one another;

    a remote sensor having a plurality of field sensing elements, wherein said field sensing elements sense each of said generated electromagnetic fields and have spatially independent components; and

    a processor, wherein said processor processes the output of said sensor into remote object position and orientation relative to said source reference coordinate frame, said processor including a signal integrator that is adapted to integrating the output of at least one of said sensing elements over a given period of time in order to establish the steady state components of said generated electromagnetic field and a calculator that is adapted to calculate remote object position and orientation from the steady state components.

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