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Wireless magnetic tracking

  • US 9,474,909 B2
  • Filed: 12/12/2012
  • Issued: 10/25/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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.

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