Wireless magnetic tracking
First Claim
1. A wireless magnetic tracking system comprising:
- a plurality of transmitting coils each configured to generate a magnetic field when energized;
an active transponder configured to simultaneously (i) obtain measurements of the magnetic field when one of the plurality of transmitting coils is energized and (ii) transmit a wireless signal containing data concerning the measurements;
a computing device configured to (i) cause each of the plurality of transmitting coils to be sequentially energized, (ii) receive the data concerning the measurements, and (iii) determine a position and an orientation of the active transponder relative to the plurality of transmitting coils in response to the data concerning the measurements;
a coil driver circuit configured to selectively supply an excitation signal to each of the plurality of transmitting coils, wherein the computing device is configured to control the coil driver circuit; and
a receiver configured to (i) receive the wireless signal from the active transponder and (ii) provide the data concerning the measurements to the computing device;
wherein the receiver comprises a plurality of antennas configured to simultaneously receive the wireless signal from the active transponder and a combiner configured to sum the wireless signals received by the plurality of antennas.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Illustrative embodiments of systems and methods for wireless magnetic tracking are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a wireless magnetic tracking system may include a plurality of transmitting coils each configured to generate a magnetic field when energized, an active transponder configured to simultaneously (i) obtain measurements of the magnetic field when one of the plurality of transmitting coils is energized and (ii) transmit a wireless signal containing data concerning the measurements, and a computing device configured to (i) cause each of the plurality of transmitting coils to be sequentially energized, (ii) receive the data concerning the measurements, and (iii) determine a position and an orientation of the active transponder relative to the plurality of transmitting coils in response to the data concerning the measurements.
8 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A wireless magnetic tracking system comprising:
- a plurality of transmitting coils each configured to generate a magnetic field when energized;
an active transponder configured to simultaneously (i) obtain measurements of the magnetic field when one of the plurality of transmitting coils is energized and (ii) transmit a wireless signal containing data concerning the measurements; a computing device configured to (i) cause each of the plurality of transmitting coils to be sequentially energized, (ii) receive the data concerning the measurements, and (iii) determine a position and an orientation of the active transponder relative to the plurality of transmitting coils in response to the data concerning the measurements; a coil driver circuit configured to selectively supply an excitation signal to each of the plurality of transmitting coils, wherein the computing device is configured to control the coil driver circuit; and a receiver configured to (i) receive the wireless signal from the active transponder and (ii) provide the data concerning the measurements to the computing device; wherein the receiver comprises a plurality of antennas configured to simultaneously receive the wireless signal from the active transponder and a combiner configured to sum the wireless signals received by the plurality of antennas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a plurality of transmitting coils each configured to generate a magnetic field when energized;
Specification