Wireless position sensor
First Claim
1. Apparatus for tracking an object in a body of a subject, comprising:
- a plurality of field generators, adapted to generateelectromagnetic fields at different, respectivefrequencies in a vicinity of the object;
a radio frequency (RF) driver, adapted to radiate a RF driving field toward the object;
a wireless transponder, adapted to be fixed to the object, the transponder comprising;
at least one sensor coil, coupled so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to the electromagnetic fields;
a control circuit, coupled to the at least one sensor coil so as to generate an output signal indicative of the current; and
a power coil, coupled to receive the RF driving field and to convey electrical energy from the driving field to the control circuit, and further coupled to transmit the output signal generated by the control circuit; and
a signal receiver, adapted to receive the output signal transmitted by the power coil and, responsive thereto, and signal processing circuits operatively connected to the signal receiver for determining three dimensions of position information and at least two dimensions of orientation information wherein the information is the position and orientation coordinates of the object in the body of the subject.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for tracking an object includes a plurality of field generators, which generate electromagnetic fields at different, respective frequencies in a vicinity of the object, and a radio frequency (RF) driver, which radiates a RF driving field toward the object. A wireless transponder is fixed to the object. The transponder includes at least one sensor coil, in which a signal current flows responsive to the electromagnetic fields, and a power coil, which receives the RF driving field and conveys electrical energy from the driving field to power the transponder. The power coil also transmits an output signal responsive to the signal current to a signal receiver, which processes the signal to determine coordinates of the object.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for tracking an object in a body of a subject, comprising:
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a plurality of field generators, adapted to generate electromagnetic fields at different, respective frequencies in a vicinity of the object; a radio frequency (RF) driver, adapted to radiate a RF driving field toward the object; a wireless transponder, adapted to be fixed to the object, the transponder comprising; at least one sensor coil, coupled so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to the electromagnetic fields; a control circuit, coupled to the at least one sensor coil so as to generate an output signal indicative of the current; and a power coil, coupled to receive the RF driving field and to convey electrical energy from the driving field to the control circuit, and further coupled to transmit the output signal generated by the control circuit; and
a signal receiver, adapted to receive the output signal transmitted by the power coil and, responsive thereto, and signal processing circuits operatively connected to the signal receiver for determining three dimensions of position information and at least two dimensions of orientation information wherein the information is the position and orientation coordinates of the object in the body of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for tracking an object in a body of a subject, comprising:
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positioning a plurality of field generators so as to generate electromagnetic fields at different, respective frequencies in a vicinity of the object; positioning a radio frequency (RF) driver to radiate a RF driving field toward the object; adapting to be fixed to the object, a wireless transponder comprising at least one sensor coil and a power coil, so that an electrical current flows in the at least one sensor coil responsive to the electromagnetic fields; receiving the RF driving field using the power coil so as to derive electrical energy therefrom; generating an output signal at the wireless transponder indicative of the current flowing in the sensor coil, using the electrical energy derived from the RF driving field by the power coil; transmitting the output signal from the wireless transponder using the power coil; and receiving and processing the output signal to determine three dimensions of position information and at least two dimensions of orientation information wherein the information is position and orientation coordinates of the object in the body of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification