Magnetic tracking system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for determining a location of a target, the apparatus comprising:
- first and second magnetic dipole beacons positioned at substantially a same spatial location having respectively first and second time dependent magnetic moments oriented in different directions that generate first and second magnetic fields having different time dependencies;
at least one magnetic field sensor coil located at the location of the target that generates signals responsive to the first and second magnetic fields; and
circuitry that receives the signals generated by the at least one magnetic field sensor coil and processes the signals responsive to the different time dependencies of the first and second magnetic fields to determine spatial coordinates of a location of the at least one sensor coil and thereby the target as equal to values of respective closed form expressions, each closed form expression a function of a ratio between different components of a same magnetic field of the first and second magnetic fields and a magnitude of a difference between magnitudes of different components of the first and second magnetic fields.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for determining a location of a target, the apparatus comprising: first and second magnetic dipole beacons positioned at substantially a same spatial location having respectively first and second time dependent magnetic moments oriented in different directions that generate first and second magnetic fields having different time dependencies; at least one magnetic field sensor coil located at the location of the target that generates signals responsive to the first and second magnetic fields; and circuitry that receives the signals generated by the at least one sensor coil and processes the signals responsive to the different time dependencies of the magnetic fields to determine a location of the at least one sensor coil and thereby the target.
31 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for determining a location of a target, the apparatus comprising:
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first and second magnetic dipole beacons positioned at substantially a same spatial location having respectively first and second time dependent magnetic moments oriented in different directions that generate first and second magnetic fields having different time dependencies; at least one magnetic field sensor coil located at the location of the target that generates signals responsive to the first and second magnetic fields; and circuitry that receives the signals generated by the at least one magnetic field sensor coil and processes the signals responsive to the different time dependencies of the first and second magnetic fields to determine spatial coordinates of a location of the at least one sensor coil and thereby the target as equal to values of respective closed form expressions, each closed form expression a function of a ratio between different components of a same magnetic field of the first and second magnetic fields and a magnitude of a difference between magnitudes of different components of the first and second magnetic fields. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for determining a location of a target, the apparatus comprising:
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first and second magnetic dipole beacons positioned at substantially a same spatial location having respectively first and second time dependent magnetic moments oriented in different directions that generate first and second magnetic fields having different time dependencies; at least one magnetic field sensor coil located at the location of the target that generates signals responsive to the first and second time dependent magnetic fields and wherein a magnetic field sensor coil of the at least one magnetic field sensor coil is maintained parallel to one of the first and second magnetic moments; and circuitry that receives the signals generated by the at least one magnetic field sensor coil and processes the signals responsive to the different time dependencies of the magnetic fields to determine a location of the at least one sensor coil and thereby the target.
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16. Apparatus for determining a location of a target, the apparatus comprising:
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first and second magnetic dipole beacons comprising first and second excitation coils respectively positioned at substantially a same spatial location having respectively first and second time dependent magnetic moments oriented in different directions that generate first and second magnetic fields having different time dependencies and wherein a separation distance between the first and second magnetic beacons is less than or equal to about a maximum dimension of a characteristic cross section of a largest of the first and second excitation coils; at least one magnetic field sensor coil located at the location of the target that generates signals responsive to the first and second magnetic fields; and circuitry that receives the signals generated by the at least one magnetic field sensor coil and processes the signals responsive to the different time dependencies of the first and second magnetic fields to determine a location of the at least one magnetic field sensor coil and thereby the target. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification