Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the position and orientation of a remote object relative to a reference coordinate frame includes providing a source having a plurality of field-generating elements, wherein the field-generating elements generate electromagnetic fields and have spatially independent components defining a source reference coordinate frame. A driver applies signals to the source to generate a plurality of electromagnetic fields which are distinguishable from one another and a remote sensor has a plurality of field-sensing elements which sense each of the generated electromagnetic fields. A processor processes the output of the sensor in a remote object position and orientation relative to the source reference coordinate frame. At least one of the field-generating elements of the source has at least one electrically conductive sheet and a planar coil including a plurality of coplanar concentric rings above the conductive sheet.

Abstract: A remote object position and orientation determining system employs electromagnetic coupling to sense the position and orientation of a remote object. A plurality of electromagnetic fields are generated having steady state components by applying time-division multiplexed pulsed DC signals to a plurality of field generating elements having spatially independent components defining a source reference coordinate frame. In this manner, the fields are distinguishable from one another. The generated electromagnetic fields are sensed with a remote sensor having a plurality of passive field-sensing elements having spatially independent elements in order to detect the rate-of-change of each of the generated electromagnetic fields. The output of the remote sensors are integrated in order to establish the steady state components of the generated electromagnetic fields. The steady state components are resolved into remote object position and orientation relative to the source reference coordinate frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the position and orientation of a remote object relative to a reference coordinate frame includes a source having a plurality of field-generating elements for generating electromagnetic fields, a drive for applying, to the generator element, signals that generate a plurality of electromagnetic fields that are distinguishable from one another, a remote sensor having a plurality of field-sensing elements for sensing the fields generated by the source, and a processor for processing the outputs of the sensing elements into remote object position and orientation relative to the source reference coordinate frame. The processor compensates the position and orientation values as a function of displacement of either the field-generating elements from a common center, or the field-sensing elements from a common center, or both.