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:
Nov. 06, 2007
Filed:
Apr. 22, 2005
Herbert R. Jones, Jr., Williston, VT (US);
Robert F. Higgins, Richmond, VT (US);
Henry E. Himberg, Williston, VT (US);
Herbert R. Jones, Jr., Williston, VT (US);
Robert F. Higgins, Richmond, VT (US);
Henry E. Himberg, Williston, VT (US);
Alken Inc., Colchester, VT (US);
Abstract
Techniques for removing distortion in an AC magnetic tracker identify a characteristic frequency in the distortion environment which is then utilized to extract distortion components from the tracker receiver signals so that the corrected position and orientation can be calculated. A multiplicity of alternative techniques for determining this characteristic frequency are disclosed, several of which can be done during operation without interrupting system operation while others can be done off-line. The invention also allows the use of a tuned tracker transmitter since it does not need to operate at multiple frequencies. The invention differs from the prior art by treating an extended conductor characteristic as just another unknown. The position and orientation algorithm solves the 6 unknown coordinates of position and orientation plus the one more unknown—the extended conductor characteristic frequency. This enables the tracker to operate full time in one mode of operation without ever suspending normal operation and without additional hardware capabilities.