Patent ID: 6417663
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: A63F,G01B,G01D,G01L,H03K

Abstract:
A position detection system for determining a state of a physical object, comprising:a platform having an antenna that is arranged to output an excitation signal; a physical object positioned adjacent to the platform, the physical object having an object state that is changeable; a first resonator having a first resonator position state, wherein the first resonator position state is a position selected from the group consisting of an x position, a y position, a z position, a rotation position, and a tilt position, and the object state is an identifier of the physical object, the first resonator being arranged such that a change in the object state causes a change in the first resonator position state and such that the first resonator position state is different from the object state, the first resonator being further arranged to output a resonator signal that is associated with the first resonator position state when the excitation signal with a predetermined frequency range is received by the first resonator; wherein the first resonator is mounted on a first spring that is attached to the platform, and when the physical object is engaged with the first resonator, the known shape of the physical object causes the first resonators to move one or more associated predetermined distances from their nonengaged position; a translation mechanism for translating the object state into the first resonator position state; and a computer system arranged to output an excitation signal at the predetermined frequency range to the first resonator and receive the first resonator position state that is associated with the resonator signal that is output from the first resonator in response to the predetermined frequency range.