The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 05, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 24, 1999
Mark L. Clymer, Mystic, CT (US);
Glenn Graves, Oakdale, CT (US);
Graves Electronics LLC, Oakdale, CT (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the orientation of an object relative to a reference magnetic field includes establishing generally adjacent to the object a modifiable magnetic field. The direction of the modifiable magnetic field is changed among a plurality of predetermined, known orientations relative to the object. A resultant magnetic field, including the reference magnetic field and the modifiable magnetic field, is repeatedly measured adjacent to the object. The step of measuring is directed outwardly from adjacent to the object in predetermined directions that are fixed relative to the object to determine when the magnitude of the resultant magnetic field is minimized or maximized indicating that the direction of the modifiable magnetic field is parallel with that of the reference magnetic field. Thereupon, the orientation of the object is correlated to the known orientation of the modifiable magnetic field.