9921results about "Incline measurement" patented technology

A calibration system for a surgical instrument. The calibration system includes an actuator, such as a motor system and a flexible shaft. The calibration system also includes a surgical instrument actuatable by the actuator. The calibration system also include calibration data corresponding to the surgical instrument. A processor is configured to process the calibration data for determining a position of the surgical instrument. The calibration system may include a sensor configured to provide a signal corresponding to a movement of the actuator, the processor being further configured to process the signal for determining a position of the surgical instrument.

A manipulator operative in a master / slave operative mode, comprising: a master unit commanding an operation; a slave unit having a work unit; a detector detecting the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit; and a control device controlling the slave unit in response to the command from the master unit, wherein the control device includes: a function of determining a non-mater / slave operative mode or a master / slave operative mode; a function of calculating a difference between the orientation of the master unit and the orientationof the slave unit; and a function of comparing the absolute value of the difference with a preset reference value; and depending upon the result of the comparison, determining a normal master / slave operative mode or a transitional master / slave operative mode, in the master / slave operative mode, the transitional master / slave operative mode is a transitional mode from the non-master / slave operative mode to the master / slave operative mode.

The present invention is directed to a machine with a position feedback system and a method for use thereof. The machine includes at least one movable element mounted for movement on a path and at least one programmable controller. The machine further includes at least two absolute or magnetostrictive sensors or the machine includes an absolute sensor and a non-absolute sensor. The programmable controller uses positional information from the sensors to determine the position of the movable elements on the path and control the movable elements. The method includes determining a known position for the movable elements, linking at least two magnetostrictive sensors into one virtual sensor, and / or performing commutation alignment for the movable elements. Determining the position and commutation alignment can occur when the movable elements are stationary or moving.

Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for measuring and analyzing movements of a body and for communicating information related to such body movements over a network. In certain embodiments, a system gathers biometric and biomechanical data relating to positions, orientations, and movements of various body parts of a user performed during sports activities, physical rehabilitation, or military or law enforcement activities. The biometric and biomechanical data can be communicated to a local and / or remote interface, which uses digital performance assessment tools to provide a performance evaluation to the user. The performance evaluation may include a graphical representation (e.g., a video), statistical information, and / or a comparison to another user and / or instructor. In some embodiments, the biometric and biomechanical data is communicated wirelessly to one or more devices including a processor, display, and / or data storage medium for further analysis, archiving, and data mining. In some embodiments, the device includes a cellular telephone.

A multipurpose tool for gripping an object and determining an orientation of a surface comprises a first arm with a jaw at one end and a grip at an opposite end and a second arm pivotally connected to the first arm about a pivot point. The second arm also has a jaw at one end and a grip at the opposite end. The grips are moveable between an open position for opening the jaws and a closed position for closing the jaws. At least one level vial is mounted on at least one of said arms such that the arm may be placed into engagement with the surface for determining the orientation of the surface.

Apparatuses and methods to sense proximity of an object and operate a proximity sensor of a portable device. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output, and altering, based on the ALS output, an effect of a proximity sensor output on control of a proximity determination. The ALS sensor and the proximity sensor may be located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device. In some cases, the proximity determination may be a proximity of an object to the proximity sensor, and altering the effect may include changing the proximity of the object from a proximity greater than a first threshold to a proximity less than the first threshold. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.

The selection and output of a signal, such as an alphanumeric character, is provided depending upon the orientation of a device, such as a mobile telephone. In particular, a neutral position of a device is determined in relation to at least a first axis, the device including at least a first control associated with a first plurality of output signals, and an angular displacement of the device is measured about at least the first axis. A selection of the first control is also received, and one of the first plurality of output signals is output based at least upon the selection and the angular displacement.

Apparatuses and methods to sense proximity of an object and operate a proximity sensor of a portable device. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output, and altering, based on the ALS output, an effect of a proximity sensor output on control of a proximity determination. The ALS sensor and the proximity sensor may be located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device. In some cases, the proximity determination may be a proximity of an object to the proximity sensor, and altering the effect may include changing the proximity of the object from a proximity greater than a first threshold to a proximity less than the first threshold. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.

Drug storage and dispensing devices for dispensing a drug dosage form to a patient are disclosed. The dispensing device has a programmable lock-out feature for locking the dispensing device and is capable of detecting the identity of a user. The invention further provides a method for the treatment of subject, by administering to the subject a drug dosage form using a dispensing device of the invention.

Systems are arranged to provide a user information which relates to objects of interest. A user may point a hand held device toward an object to address it. The device determines which objects are being addressed by making position and attitude measurements and further a reference and search of a database containing preprogrammed information relating to objects. Information relating to objects determined as objects presently being addressed is thereafter presented at a user interface. Devices of these systems include a point reference, a direction reference, a position determining support, attitude determining support, a computer processor and database, and a user interface. Methods of systems include the steps of addressing an object, determining position and attitude, searching a database, and presenting information to a user.

A pipeline inspection and defect mapping system includes a pig having an inertial measurement unit and a pipeline inspection unit for recording pig location and defect detection events, each record time-stamped by a highly precise onboard clock. The system also includes several magloggers at precisely known locations along the pipeline, each containing a fluxgate magnetometer for detecting the passage of the pig along the pipeline and further containing a highly precise clock synchronized with the clock in the pig. The locations of the various magloggers are known in a north / east / down coordinate system through a differential global positioning satellite process. Finally, a postprocessing off-line computer system receives downloaded maglogger, inertial measurement, and odometer data and through the use of several Kalman filters, derives the location of the detected defects in the north / east / down coordinate frame. Consequently, a task of identifying sites for repair activity is much simplified.

In one embodiment of the invention, a tool tracking system is disclosed including a computer usable medium having computer readable program code to receive images of video frames from at least one camera and to perform image matching of a robotic instrument to determine video pose information of the robotic instrument within the images. The tool tracking system further includes computer readable program code to provide a state-space model of a sequence of states of corrected kinematics information for accurate pose information of the robotic instrument. The state-space model receives raw kinematics information of mechanical pose information and adaptively fuses the mechanical pose information and the video pose information together to generate the sequence of states of the corrected kinematics information for the robotic instrument. Additionally disclosed are methods for image guided surgery.

A portable apparatus (10) providing both substantially automated performance monitoring and audio entertainment features. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus (10) broadly comprises a portable housing (12); an attachment mechanism (14); a GPS component (16); a heart rate monitor component (17); an audio component (18); a user interface (20); a processor (26); and a power supply (30). The housing (12) may include a headset (1112a) wherein the GPS component (16) is located, and a second housing component (1112b) wherein the processor (26) is located, wherein the GPS component (16) communicates with the processor (26) in a wireless manner. The apparatus (10) is adapted to determine a number of laps or a distance, to provide an elapsed time, and to determine a speed.

The invention is a system and method for computing a result for a location, wherein the result indicates how novel it is for a wireless device to occupy a specific location. After determining the location of a wireless device through various means, a Novelty Index Value (NIV) is calculated for the location, and the NIV is then stored into a database. The NIV may then be subsequently used by application programs to compute a desired result from the NIV. Multiple users may utilize and / or share the same NIV values. The NIV may also be used to alter the configuration of a wireless device as well. A recommendation system is also disclosed, wherein user context is utilized along with NIV values to compute particular results for a user.

Systems are arranged to provide a user information which relates to objects of interest. A user may point a device toward an object to address it. The device determines which objects are being addressed by reference to an internal database containing preprogrammed information relating to objects. Information relating to objects being addressed can then be presented at a user interface. A device of the system may include a point reference, a direction reference, a position determining support, attitude determining support, a computer processor and database, and a user interface. Methods of systems include the steps of addressing an object, determining position and attitude, searching a database, and presenting information to a user.

A self-contained, integrated micro-cube-sized inertial measurement unit is provided wherein accuracy is achieved through the use of specifically oriented sensors, the orientation serving to substantially cancel noise and other first-order effects, and the use of a noise-reducing algorithm such as wavelet cascade denoising and an error correcting algorithm such as a Kalman filter embedded in a digital signal processor device. In a particular embodiment, a pair of three sets of angle rate sensors are orientable triaxially in opposite directions, wherein each set is mounted on a different sector of a base orientable normal to the other two and comprising N gyroscopes oriented at 360 / N-degree increments, where N≧2. At least one accelerometer is included to provide triaxial data. Signals are output from the angle rate sensors and accelerometer for calculating a change in attitude, position, angular rate, acceleration, and / or velocity of the unit.

A system and method for determining a position of a remote object comprising inertial sensors and three axis magnetic sensor, together with a target sighting device aligned with the observation platform to determine a target line of sight and a target range finder to determine a distance to the target along the line of sight. A GPS receiver may be included for determining an observation platform position and orientation, The three axis magnetic sensor provides both magnetic north and vertical attitude information for improved rapid initialization and operation in motion. Magnetic anomaly information is detected by comparing IMU and magnetic navigation information and by other methods. Target identification may be determined by a human operator and / or by computer. The system may be integrated with a weapon system to use weapon system sights. The system may be networked to provide target location and / or location error information to another identical unit or a command information system.

A fringing-field capacitive liquid level sensor comprising an electrically insulating substrate, having a first and a second pattern of conductive capacitance plates plated on the substrate. Each pattern constitutes a fringing-field capacitor having a capacitance the value of which is both dependent on the liquid level and dependent on the dielectric constant of the liquid. The ratio of the two capacitances, however, is proportional to the liquid level and independent of the dielectric constant of the liquid. The fringing-field capacitive liquid level sensor may be used for measurement of liquids of substantially any dielectric constant without requiring full-scale calibration or knowledge of, and calibration for, dielectric constant of the liquid to be measured. Compensation for tilt angle can be provided through the addition of a second level sensor.

A method and apparatus are provided to acquire direct thermal measurements, for example, from a LiDAR collecting vehicle or air vessel, of an overhead electrical conductor substantially simultaneous with collection of 3-dimensional location data of the conductor, and utilize temperature information derived from the direct thermal measurements in line modeling, line rating, thermal line analysis, clearance analysis, and / or vegetation management.

A system, apparatus and method for three-dimensional scanning and digitization of the surface geometry of objects are claimed. The system includes a hand-held apparatus that is auto-referenced. The system is auto-referenced since it does not need any positioning device to provide the 6 degree of freedom transformations that are necessary to integrate 3D measurements in a global coordinate system while the apparatus is manipulated to scan the surface. The system continuously calculates its own position and orientation from observation while scanning the surface geometry of an object. To do so, the system exploits a triangulation principle and integrates an apparatus that captures both surface points originating from the reflection of a projected laser pattern on an object's surface and 2D positioning features originating from the observation of target positioning features.

A short range radiolocation system and associated methods that allow the location of an item, such as equipment, containers, pallets, vehicles, or personnel, within a defined area. A small, battery powered, self-contained tag is provided to an item to be located. The tag includes a spread-spectrum transmitter that transmits a spread-spectrum code and identification information. A plurality of receivers positioned about the area receive signals from a transmitting tag. The position of the tag, and hence the item, is located by triangulation. The system employs three different ranging techniques for providing coarse, intermediate, and fine spatial position resolution. Coarse positioning information is provided by use of direct-sequence code phase transmitted as a spread-spectrum signal. Intermediate positioning information is provided by the use of a difference signal transmitted with the direct-sequence spread-spectrum code. Fine positioning information is provided by use of carrier phase measurements. An algorithm is employed to combine the three data sets to provide accurate location measurements.

An attitude indicator device for detecting, indicating, and / or logging the positional attitude of an individual in response to deviation from a set of one or more reference angles. By way of example and not of limitation, the device is mounted on the thigh of a patient and measurements are taken from an acceleration sensor within the device. The acceleration measurements are communicated to a receiver when the measurements deviate from acceptable thresholds, whereby the receiver indicates an alert condition. The device may be employed within numerous medical related applications, for example, to facilitate preventing patient egress and the prevention / detection of patient falls.

The present invention provides an electromagnetic tracking system that includes a field generator and a field sensor arranged to generate and detect, respectively, an electromagnetic field. Both the transmitter and receiver coils are connected to signal conditioning and processing circuitry to provide outputs indicative of the coil signals. A processor operates on the signals to determine the coordinates of the sensing assembly relative to the generator assembly. The signal processor produces ratiometric outputs, and applies a mutual inductance model to solve for position / orientation coordinates. In some embodiments, a disturber in the form of a conductive ring or a sheath is disposed about an interfering piece of equipment to moderate and standardize disturbances due to eddy currents.

A portable coordinate measurement machine for measuring the position of an object in a selected volume includes a positionable articulated arm having a plurality of jointed arm segments. The arm includes a measurement probe having an integrated line laser scanner mounted thereon. The laser may be a thermally stabilized laser.

A highly miniaturized electronic data acquisition system includes MEMS sensors that can be embedded onto moving device without affecting the static / dynamic motion characteristics of the device. The basic inertial magnetic motion capture (IMMCAP) module consists of a 3D printed circuit board having MEMS sensors configured to provide a tri-axial accelerometer; a tri-axial gyroscope, and a tri-axial magnetometer all in communication with analog to digital converters to convert the analog motion data to digital data for determining classic inertial measurement and change in spatial orientation (rho, theta, phi) and linear translation (x, y, z) relative to a fixed external coordinate system as well as the initial spatial orientation relative to the know relationship of the earth magnetic and gravitational fields. The data stream from the IMMCAP modules will allow the reconstruction of the time series of the 6 degrees of freedom for each rigid axis associated with each independent IMMCAP module.

A method and system for extensible positioning that uses a primary reference node at a known first position and a secondary reference node at a second position, where a range is measured between the secondary reference node and the primary reference node. The second position is determined based upon the first position and the measured range. A second range is measured between the secondary reference node and a non-fixed node. A third position corresponding to the non-fixed node is determined based upon the second position and the second range.

Provided is a device for monitoring the orientation of a hand-held surgical or dental tool. The device includes one or more orientation sensors that generate signals indicative of an orientation of the device. A processor calculates from the signals a current orientation of the device, where the current orientation is specified by a unit vector defined by a first angle formed between the unit vector and a predetermined first fixed axis and a second angle formed by the unit vector and a second predetermined axis. The processor compares a current orientation of the device with a predetermined reference orientation of the device stored in the memory and provides an indication of the deviation between a current orientation of the device and the reference orientation.

A method for tracking an object includes producing energy fields at a plurality of different frequencies in a vicinity of the object, and receiving signals that are generated at a location of the object at the different frequencies in response to the energy fields. Multiple computations are made of spatial coordinates of the object based on the signals received at the different frequencies. Convergence of the computations is tested in order to ascertain whether the energy fields have been perturbed by an article in the vicinity of the object.