Patent ID: 6242907
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: A61B,G01B,G01D,G01R

Abstract:
A method of determining the orientation of an object relative to a reference magnetic field, comprising the steps of:establishing adjacent to the object a modifiable magnetic field;changing the direction of the modifiable magnetic field among a plurality of predetermined, known orientations relative to the object;repeatedly measuring adjacent to the object a resultant magnetic field, including the reference magnetic field and the changing modifiable magnetic field, the step of measuring being directed outwardly from adjacent to the object in predetermined directions that are fixed relative to the object; anddetermining when the magnitude of the resultant magnetic field is minimized or maximized indicating that the direction of the modifiable magnetic field is parallel with that of the reference magnetic field, and thereupon correlating the orientation of the object to the known orientation of the modifiable magnetic field.