Data transmission to a position sensor
First Claim
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1. A method for transmitting control instructions to a sensor in a position tracking system, comprising:
- generating a drive signal for driving a field generator;
superimposing a control signal comprising the control instructions on the drive signal;
driving the field generator with the drive signal, so as to generate a field to be sensed by the sensor;
at the sensor, detecting the field in order to determine position coordinates of the sensor and to demodulate the control signal so as to extract the control instructions; and
controlling a functionality of the sensor based on the extracted control instructions; and
wherein the drive signal has a drive frequency, and wherein superimposing the control signal comprises modulating the control instructions on a control sub-carrier having a control frequency, which is different from the drive frequency, so as to enable separation of the control signal from the drive signal.
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Abstract
A method for transmitting control instructions to a sensor in a position tracking system includes generating a drive signal for driving a field generator. A control signal including the control instructions is superimposed on the drive signal. The field generator is driven with the drive signal, so as to generate a field to be sensed by the sensor. The field is detected at the sensor in order to determine position coordinates of the sensor and to demodulate the control signal so as to extract the control instructions. A functionality of the sensor is controlled based on the extracted control instructions.
194 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for transmitting control instructions to a sensor in a position tracking system, comprising:
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generating a drive signal for driving a field generator; superimposing a control signal comprising the control instructions on the drive signal; driving the field generator with the drive signal, so as to generate a field to be sensed by the sensor; at the sensor, detecting the field in order to determine position coordinates of the sensor and to demodulate the control signal so as to extract the control instructions; and controlling a functionality of the sensor based on the extracted control instructions; and
wherein the drive signal has a drive frequency, and wherein superimposing the control signal comprises modulating the control instructions on a control sub-carrier having a control frequency, which is different from the drive frequency, so as to enable separation of the control signal from the drive signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for transmitting data from a tracked object in a position tracking system, comprising:
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generating a drive signal for driving a field generator in the tracked object; superimposing a data-carrying signal comprising the data on the drive signal; driving the field generator with the drive signal, so as to generate a field to be sensed by one or more external receivers; and at the one or more external receivers, detecting the field in order to determine position coordinates of the tracked object and to demodulate the data-carrying signal so as to extract the data; and wherein the drive signal has a drive frequency, and wherein superimposing the data-carrying signal comprises modulating the data on a control sub-carrier having a control frequency, which is different from the drive frequency, so as to enable separation of the data-carrying signal from the drive signal.
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10. Apparatus for transmitting control instructions to a sensor in a position tracking system, comprising:
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a field generator, which is coupled to generate a field to be sensed by the sensor; a signal generator unit, which is coupled to generate a drive signal for driving the field generator, while superimposing a control signal comprising the control instructions on the drive signal; a sensor unit comprising a position sensor, which is coupled to detect the field, and a sensor control unit, which is coupled to generate position signals responsively to the detected field, to demodulate the control signal so as to extract the control instructions and to control a functionality of the sensor based on the extracted control instructions; and a processor, which is coupled to calculate position coordinates of the sensor responsively to the position signals; and wherein the signal generator unit is coupled to generate the drive signal at a drive frequency and to modulate the control instructions on a control sub-carrier having a control frequency, which is different from the drive frequency, so as to enable separation of the control signal from the drive signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for transmitting data from a tracked object in a position tracking system, comprising:
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a field generator coupled to the tracked object, which is arranged to generate a field to be sensed by an external system; a signal generator unit associated with the field generator, which is coupled to generate a drive signal for driving the field generator, while superimposing a data-carrying signal comprising the data on the drive signal; and one or more external receivers in the external system, which are coupled to detect the field in order to determine position coordinates of the tracked object and to demodulate the data-carrying signal so as to extract the data; and wherein the drive signal has a drive frequency, and wherein superimposing the data-carrying signal comprises modulating the data on a control sub-carrier having a control frequency, which is different from the drive frequency, so as to enable separation of the data-carrying signal from the drive signal.
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Specification