Patents by Inventor Allan G. Rodgers, Jr.

Allan G. Rodgers, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Hybrid tracking with auto-correction
    Patent number: 11797127
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ALKEN Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Higgins, Henry E. Himberg, Allan G. Rodgers, Jr.
  • Auto-hemisphere detection in a magnetic tracker
    Patent number: 11675030
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ALKEN Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Higgins, Henry E. Himberg, Allan G. Rodgers, Jr.
  • Dynamic mixing of and switching between sensor measurements in hybrid trackers using electromagnetic tracking
    Patent number: 11585680
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: ALKEN Inc.
    Inventors: Henry E. Himberg, Allan G. Rodgers, Jr., Robert F. Higgins
  • Auto-Hemisphere Detection In A Magnetic Tracker
    Publication number: 20230036210
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: ALKEN Inc., dba Polhemus
    Inventors: Robert F. Higgins, Henry E. Himberg, Allan G. Rodgers, JR.
  • Adaptive weighting of multiple sources in a magnetic or hybrid tracking system
    Patent number: 11543529
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: ALKEN Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Higgins, Keith M. Hanf, Allan G. Rodgers, Jr., Allan G. Rodgers
  • Dynamic mixing of and switching between sensor measurements in hybrid trackers using electromagnetic tracking
    Patent number: 11326905
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ALKEN Inc.
    Inventors: Henry E. Himberg, Allan G. Rodgers, Jr., Robert F. Higgins
  • Self-leveling magnetic source
    Patent number: 11029369
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: ALKEN Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Higgins, Allan G. Rodgers, Jr.