Outside-In Magnetic Position Tracking with Absorbers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current position tracking systems for virtual reality are expensive and inaccurate due to their inside-out design and reliance on Digital Signal Processing, making them unsuitable for wireless, consumer-grade head-mounted displays.
Innovation Solution
A cost-effective, outside-in position tracking system using small signal emitter units with electromagnetic absorbers and blockers, combined with a mixed signal circuit and receiver units arranged in a convex spherical shape to enhance magnetic field measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an inside-out position tracking design with DSP receivers is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional inside-out tracking architecture to an outside-in design. Instead of placing receivers on the user's head and tracking the environment, stationary receivers are placed in the environment to track emitters on the user's head. This inversion simplifies the user device while maintaining tracking precision through the stationary receiver architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex Digital Signal Processing (DSP) systems with a simpler magnetic field-based detection system. By using magnetic loops and electromagnetic absorbers to create detectable magnetic field patterns, the system achieves accurate position tracking without requiring complex DSP algorithms, thereby reducing device complexity and cost.
2Measurement precision
If an inside-out position tracking design with DSP receivers is used, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional inside-out tracking architecture to an outside-in design. Instead of placing receivers on the user's head and tracking the environment, stationary receivers are placed in the environment to track emitters on the user's head. This inversion simplifies the user device while maintaining tracking precision through the stationary receiver architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive magnetic loop emitters that can be manufactured at low cost using simple materials and assembly processes. These emitters, combined with stationary receivers, provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive DSP-based systems, making virtual reality tracking accessible for consumer market deployment.
3Measurement precision
If electromagnetic absorbers and blockers are added to enhance magnetic field measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electromagnetic absorbers and blockers at specific locations around the magnetic loop emitter to shape and enhance the magnetic field in particular directions. This localized modification of field properties improves measurement precision without requiring a complete redesign of the entire emitter structure, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines magnetic loop elements with electromagnetic absorber materials and blocker structures to create a composite emitter system. This composite approach enables precise magnetic field control and measurement enhancement while integrating multiple functional components into a unified emitter assembly that balances performance with manageable complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves 5 mm accuracy over a 3-meter range, operates in real-time, and is affordable for consumer use, with optimized physical size and accuracy for home deployment.
Implementation Method 1
one or more emitters and the one or more receivers each further comprise one or more electromagnetic absorbers and electromagnetic blockers which are configured to ensure the respective emitter and receiver magnetic loops emit a magnetic field on their own plane
Implementation Method 2
one or more receiver magnetic loops...placed in between the one or more receivers to increase differences in the strengths of the incoming magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
Position tracking systems comprising one or more emitters comprising one or more emitter magnetic loops, one or more receivers comprising one or more receiver magnetic loops and a processing unit and a processing unit comprising a mixed signal circuit, wherein the one or more emitters and the one or more receivers each further comprise one or more electromagnetic absorbers and electromagnetic blockers which are configured to ensure the respective emitter and receiver magnetic loops emit a magnetic field on their own plane. The one or more receiver magnetic loops, the one or more second electromagnetic absorbers, and the one or more second electromagnetic blockers are placed in between the one or more receivers to increase differences in the strengths of the incoming magnetic field such that the differences in the strengths are measurable by mixed signal circuit. In some examples, the one or more emitters comprise at least six emitter magnetic loops, wherein an x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis each comprise two of the at least six emitter magnetic loops. In another example, the one or more emitters each operate in a unique frequency. In some further examples, a receiver unit comprises a convex spherical shape, one or more small loop antenna units comprising one or more processing units and one or more receivers, wherein the one or more receivers are rotated either along y-axis to create a cone shape or along x-axis to create a wedge shape.