MEQS Position Sensing Through Conductive Obstructions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing position and orientation sensing technologies face significant errors in non-line-of-sight environments due to the presence of large metals or conductors, which distort or attenuate tracking signals, making accurate sensing challenging.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Magneto-Electric Quasistatic Systems (MEQS) that combine decoupled magnetic and electric quasi-static fields, allowing for accurate position and orientation sensing by transmitting and receiving these fields through lossy elements, such as metals or conductors, and calculating orientation-invariant ranges based on detected field responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If magneto-quasi-static (MQS) systems are used for position and orientation sensing in non-line-of-sight environments, then sensing capability in non-line-of-sight environments is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates when large metals or conductors are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electric-quasi-static (EQS) fields and magneto-quasi-static (MQS) fields into a unified MEQS system. The EQS component penetrates conductive materials effectively, while the MQS component provides complementary sensing capability. By merging these two field types and synthesizing their measurements, the system achieves accurate position and orientation sensing in non-line-of-sight environments even when large metals or conductors are present, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and measurement precision.
2Device complexity
If traditional sensing methods are used in environments with lossy elements, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to signal distortion and attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using very low frequency fields in the quasistatic regime, where the wavelength is much larger than the dimensions of the sensors and target. This parameter change allows the fields to penetrate lossy elements without significant distortion or attenuation, maintaining measurement precision while keeping the system relatively simple. The quasistatic approximation simplifies the field equations while providing accurate sensing through conductive materials.
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
This approach effectively reduces errors caused by lossy elements, providing accurate position and orientation sensing in non-line-of-sight environments by accounting for the behavior of bulk electric conductors and combining electric and magnetic field responses to mitigate distortions.
Implementation Method 1
providing a transmitting device configured to transmit combined magneto-electric-quasi-static fields
Implementation Method 2
the magneto-electric-quasi-static fields include a combination of separate electric-quasi-static fields and magneto-quasi-static fields
Implementation Method 3
providing a receiving device configured to receive magneto-electric-quasi-static fields along one or more receiving axes
Data Source
AI summary
Orientation and position sensing methods and devices are disclosed. The described methods and devices are based on implementing magneto-electric-quasi-static fields for position and orientation sensing in lossy-dielectric, conducting, or metallic non-line-of-sight environments, where obstructions or occlusions or nearby objects exists that are lossy in nature and that typically perturb radio or electromagnetic wave signaling. Detailed experimental results highlighting the performance of the disclosed methods are also presented.