Patents by Inventor Eric R. Bachmann

Eric R. Bachmann 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).

  • Method and apparatus for motion tracking of an articulated rigid body
    Patent number: 7089148
    Abstract: One embodiment the invention includes a method of determining an orientation of a sensor. The method includes measuring a local magnetic field vector and a local gravity vector and using those measurements to determine the orientation of the sensor. Embodiments can include measuring the magnetic field vector and the local gravity vector using quaternion coordinates. Another embodiment includes measuring a local magnetic field vector, a local gravity vector, and the angular velocity of the sensor. These three vectors are processed to determine the orientation of the sensor. In one embodiment the three vectors can all be measured in quaternion coordinates. Another method embodiment includes determining a local gravity vector by providing a acceleration detector, moving the detector from a start point to an end point over a time period, and summing acceleration measurements over the time period. The local gravity vector is calculated using the summed acceleration measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Eric R. Bachmann, Robert B. McGhee, Xiaoping Yun, Michael J. Zyda, Douglas L. McKinney
  • Method and apparatus for motion tracking of an articulated rigid body
    Patent number: 6820025
    Abstract: One embodiment the invention comprises a method of determining an orientation of a sensor. The method includes measuring a local magnetic field vector and a local gravity vector and using those measurements to determine the orientation of the sensor. Embodiments can include measuring the magnetic field vector and the local gravity vector using quaternion coordinates. Another embodiment comprises measuring a local magnetic field vector, a local gravity vector, and the angular velocity of the sensor. These three vectors are processed to determine the orientation of the sensor. In one embodiment the three vectors can all be measured in quaternion coordinates. Another method embodiment comprises determining a local gravity vector by providing a acceleration detector, moving the detector from a start point to an end point over a time period, and summing acceleration measurements over the time period. The local gravity vector is calculated using the summed acceleration measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Eric R. Bachmann, Robert B. McGhee, Xiaoping Yun, Michael J. Zyda, Douglas L. McKinney
  • Method and apparatus for motion tracking of an articulated rigid body
    Publication number: 20020103610
    Abstract: One embodiment the invention comprises a method of determining an orientation of a sensor. The method includes measuring a local magnetic field vector and a local gravity vector and using those measurements to determine the orientation of the sensor. Embodiments can include measuring the magnetic field vector and the local gravity vector using quaternion coordinates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: Government of the United States
    Inventors: Eric R. Bachmann, Robert B. McGhee, Xiaoping Yun, Michael J. Zyda, Douglas L. McKinney