Alken Inc.

Allan G Rodgers, Jr

Robert F Higgins

Henry E Himberg

Keith M Hanf

Allan G Rodgers

An apparatus and method for implementing a technique for performing calibration of an electromagnetic tracking apparatus on-the-fly while operating the apparatus. The apparatus and method uses a non-magnetic tracking device to determine position and orientation of a tracked object that is not subject to magnetic distortion or interference, and store calibration data for future measurements by the electromagnetic tracking apparatus based on the measurements made by the non-magnetic tracking device.

Hybrid tracking with auto-correction

An apparatus and method for determining position and orientation (PnO) of an object within an environment and for automatically determining a hemisphere of the object relative to a source location using an electromagnetic tracking system and a non-magnetic tracking device. The method involves seeding two candidate PnO solutions, one in each hemisphere, based on initial data from the magnetic tracker. Then, as the sensor moves within the tracking volume, both the magnetic tracker and the non-magnetic tracking device are used to track changes in each of the candidate PnO solutions and to determine a correct one of the candidate PnO solutions.

Auto-hemisphere detection in a magnetic tracker

A safety system for a machine having a danger zone includes an induction coil having one or more turns extending along the periphery of a part of a worker's body as, for example, extending alone the fingers of a glove worn by the worker. A drive circuit applies a time-varying current having an identifiable characteristic such as the frequency of an alternating current. A magnetic field having the characteristic of the time-varying current is induced in an omnidirectional magnetic field sensor mounted adjacent the danger zone. The magnitude of this field is monitored. When the magnitude exceeds a threshold, a warning signal is issued and protective action may be taken, such as stopping or reversing the machine.

Safety system for machinery

A system and method for implementing a technique for dynamically switching between or mixing position and orientation determinations in a hybrid tracking system using both electromagnetic and non-electromagnetic tracking, and having a transmitter coil array for generating a magnetic field, a receiver circuit for sensing the magnetic field, and at least one non-magnetic sensor.

Dynamic mixing of and switching between sensor measurements in hybrid trackers using electromagnetic tracking

An apparatus and method for implementing a technique for adaptively assigning weighting factors to position and orientation determinations in an electromagnetic or hybrid tracking system having multiple transmitters or multiple receivers. The apparatus may reduce the impact of eddy current distortion to the position and orientation determinations.

Adaptive weighting of multiple sources in a magnetic or hybrid tracking system

A method for calibrating a magnetic source of an electromagnetic tracking system for tracking a position and orientation of an object using an inertial motion unit (IMU) mounted to the magnetic source and aligned with the coil array of magnetic source. Pitch and rolls angles of the coil array are calibrated using the IMU.

Growing community of inventors

Waterbury, VT, United States of America

Allan G Rodgers, Jr