Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical navigation system for determining a pose, which includes the position and orientation of an object in an environment. The optical navigation system uses a number of beacons affixed at known locations in the environment to provide electromagnetic radiation in a sequenced pattern. An on-board optic images the radiation from the beacons onto an on-board centroid sensing device to obtain an imaged distribution of the radiation on the on-board centroid sensing device. The centroid sensing device determines the centroid of the imaged distribution and provides centroid information to a navigation unit for determining the pose of the object from the centroid. The navigation system is particularly well-suited for navigating hand-held objects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical navigation system for determining at least one parameter of a pose, which includes the position and orientation of an object in an environment. The optical navigation system uses a number of beacons affixed at known locations in the environment to provide electromagnetic radiation in a sequenced pattern. An on-board optic images the radiation from the beacons onto an on-board centroid sensing device to obtain an imaged distribution of the radiation on the on-board centroid sensing device. The centroid sensing device determines the centroid of the imaged distribution and provides centroid information to a navigation unit for determining at least one parameter of the pose of the object from the centroid. The navigation system is particularly well-suited for navigating hand-held objects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed which spatially enhances stereo signals without sacrificing compatibility with monophonic receivers. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a stereo enhancement system is implemented using only two op-amps and two capacitors and may be switched between a spacial enhancement mode and a bypass mode. In other embodiments, simplified stereo enhancement systems are realized by constructing one of the output channels as the sum of the other output channel and the input channels. In other embodiments, a pseudo-stereo signal is synthesized and spatially enhanced according to stereo speaker crosstalk cancellation principles. In yet other embodiments, the respective spacial enhancements of monophonic signals and stereo signals are integrally combined into a single system capable of blending, in a continuous manner, the enhancement effects of both.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed which spatially enhances stereo signals without sacrificing compatibility with monophonic receivers. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a stereo enhancement system is implemented using only two op-amps and two capacitors and may be switched between a spacial enhancement mode and a bypass mode. In other embodiments, simplified stereo enhancement systems are realized by constructing one of the output channels as the sum of the other output channel and the input channels. In other embodiments, a pseudo-stereo signal is synthesized and spatially enhanced according to stereo speaker crosstalk cancellation principles. In yet other embodiments, the respective spacial enhancements of monophonic signals and stereo signals are integrally combined into a single system capable of blending, in a continuous manner, the enhancement effects of both.

Abstract: Magnetometer circuits are disclosed in which a solenoidal sensor coil including a saturable core is provided a source potential to bring the coil towards saturation, followed by deactivation of the potential to the coil. The current through the coil is sensed and the magnetic field effecting the coil may be determined based on the amount of time which is required for the current in the coil to decline from a first level to a second level. A current sensor connected to the sensor coil provides a first output signal in response to the current through the coil increasing to a first value in a first portion of an operational cycle, and provides a second output signal in response to the current through the coil decreasing to a second value. The time period between the first and second output signals from the current sensor is indicative of the magnitude of the field affecting the coil.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed which spatially enhances stereo signals without sacrificing compatibility with monophonic receivers. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a stereo enhancement system is implemented using only two op-amps and two capacitors and may be switched between a spacial enhancement mode and a bypass mode. In other embodiments, simplified stereo enhancement systems are realized by constructing one of the output channels as the sum of the other output channel and the input channels. In other embodiments, a pseudo-stereo signal is synthesized and spatially enhanced according to stereo speaker crosstalk cancellation principles. In yet other embodiments, the respective spacial enhancements of monophonic signals and stereo signals are integrally combined into a single system capable of blending, in a continuous manner, the enhancement effects of both.

Abstract: Magnetometer circuits are disclosed in which a solenoidal sensor coil including a saturable core is provided a source potential to bring the coil towards saturation, followed by deactivation of the potential to the coil. The current through the coil is sensed and the magnetic field effecting the coil may be determined based on the amount of time which is required for the current in the coil to decline from a first level to a second level. A current sensor connected to the sensor coil provides a first output signal in response to the current through the coil increasing to a first value in a first portion of an operational cycle, and provides a second output signal in response to the current through the coil decreasing to a second value. The time period between the first and second output signals from the current sensor is indicative of the magnitude of the field affecting the coil.

Abstract: A magnetometer technology is provided based on a simple axial sensor which operates using the non-linear nature of saturating magnetic core material. The sensor appears electrically as an inductor with a non-linear inductance that varies both with magnetic field applied externally and the field created by the coil current. By using this sensor as the inductor of an LR relaxation oscillator, a change in applied magnetic field will cause a change in inductance, which will in turn cause a change in the oscillator period. The period of the oscillator can be converted to a digital form by using simple counting techniques. By introducing an enhancement of this scheme whereby two different periods are measured with different oscillator characteristics, the magnetometer will have no output drift when no field is applied.