Allan G Rodgers

Address:

22 Tyler Pl, Jericho, VT 05465

VIN:

19UUA76547A011499

Make:

ACURA

Model:

TL

Year:

2007

US Patent:

7873491, Jan 18, 2011

Filed:

Jan 22, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/017392

Inventors:

Robert F. Higgins - Richmond VT, US
Allan G. Rodgers - Jericho VT, US

Assignee:

Alken, Inc. - Colchester VT

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

702150, 702 75, 33361

Abstract:

In an AC magnetic tracker one or more multi-axis field sources, each operating at a different frequency, or frequency set, are detected and tracked in three-dimensional space, even when wireless or otherwise not physically connected to the tracking system. Multiple sources can be tracked simultaneously as they each operate with their own unique detectable set of parameters. The invention not only provides the ability to uniquely identify one or more sources by their frequencies, but also to synchronize with these frequencies in order to measure signals that then allow tracking the position and orientation (P&O) of the source(s). Further, these sources need not be present at the time of system start-up but can come and go while being detected, discriminated and tracked. It also should be noted that application of such systems in multiples with more sensors not synchronized to a source or sources also could be employed to give the reverse appearance of a known source phase and incoherency with the sensors.

US Patent:

20050285590, Dec 29, 2005

Filed:

Jun 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/147888

Inventors:

Robert Higgins - Richmond VT, US
Herbert Jones - Williston VT, US
Allan Rodgers - Jericho VT, US

International Classification:

G01J001/20

US Classification:

324207170, 324207110

Abstract:

In an AC magnetic tracker one or more multi-axis field sources, each operating at a different frequency, or frequency set, are detected and tracked in three-dimensional space, even when wireless or otherwise not physically connected to the tracking system. Multiple sources can be tracked simultaneously as they each operate with their own unique detectable set of parameters. The invention not only provides the ability to uniquely identify one or more sources by their frequencies, but also to synchronize with these frequencies in order to measure signals that then allow tracking the position and orientation (P&O) of the source(s). Further, these sources need not be present at the time of system start-up but can come and go while being detected, discriminated and tracked. It also should be noted that application of such systems in multiples with more sensors not synchronized to a source or sources also could be employed to give the reverse appearance of a known source phase and incoherency with the sensors.

US Patent:

20050285591, Dec 29, 2005

Filed:

Jun 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/147977

Inventors:

Robert Higgins - Richmond VT, US
Mark Roussel - Milton VT, US
Herbert Jones - Williston VT, US
Allan Rodgers - Jericho VT, US

International Classification:

H01F005/00

US Classification:

324207170

Abstract:

A small, lightweight field source acts as a “pseudo-sensor” in an AC magnetic tracking system, facilitating wireless operation. Upon activation, the source sends out three continuous low-power magnetic signals, a separate frequency from each of three resonant orthogonal coils, without the need for switching to a receive mode or detecting a synchronizing signal to start the three signals simultaneously. This simple structure allows the source to be kept small and consume little power so that it can operate for over one hour before needing to be re-charged. This design approach thus allows a user or object being tracked to move about freely with no restricting cabling to a base station or even to a body-mounted electronics module and bulky battery. A family of frequencies can be used for each of several such pseudo-sensor sources in order for the base station sensors and electronics to track multiple sources.

US Patent:

20060012571, Jan 19, 2006

Filed:

Jul 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/175877

Inventors:

Allan Rodgers - Jericho VT, US
Robert Higgins - Richmond VT, US
Suzanne Gagnon - North Hero VT, US
James Farr - St. Albans VT, US

International Classification:

G09G 5/08

US Classification:

345157000

Abstract:

A magnetic tracker system for use on an operator's head makes “mouse”/cursor movements on a screen similar to that of the classic computer “mouse”/track ball/touchpad/joystick. Only head movements are used as opposed to lifting a hand from the keyboard for making such moves. The new “mouse” avoids interrupting the hands from their position on the keyboard and has no moving mechanical parts that become clogged and that need a special surface (mouse pad) or special surface measurements (optical mouse).

US Patent:

20060038555, Feb 23, 2006

Filed:

Aug 17, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/207098

Inventors:

Robert Higgins - Richmond VT, US
Herbert Jones - Williston VT, US
Allan Rodgers - Jericho VT, US
James Farr - St. Albans VT, US
Herschell Murry - Waterbury VT, US

International Classification:

G01B 7/30

US Classification:

324207170

Abstract:

Self-calibrating AC magnetic tracking systems and combination “outside-in” and “inside-out” architectures offer unique motion tracking capabilities. More area is covered with minimal distortion using the tracking system itself to determine overall P&O based on the P&O of an initial, reference marker. The output as anticipated and needed by the user is output without confusion and without costly and time-consuming metrology while covering a large region when distance from the reference may be great. A method according to the invention includes the steps of positioning a plurality of stationary AC magnetic “markers” in a tracking volume and moving a mobile AC magnetic marker proximate to a first one of the stationary markers designated as a reference marker. The position and orientation (P&O) of the mobile marker is determined relative to the reference marker, then moved so as to be proximate to a second one of the stationary markers. The P&O of the second marker is determined relative to the reference marker, allowing the P&O of the mobile marker to be determined relative to the reference marker based upon the P&O of the second marker relative to the reference marker. The stationary markers may be AC magnetic sensors, with the mobile marker being an AC source, or vice-versa.

US Patent:

20060170417, Aug 3, 2006

Filed:

Jan 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/339286

Inventors:

Allan Rodgers - Jericho VT, US
Robert Higgins - Richmond VT, US
Keith Hanf - Fairfax VT, US
James Farr - St. Albans VT, US

International Classification:

G01B 7/30

US Classification:

324207170

Abstract:

Magnetic tracking systems and methods confine source(s)/sensor(s) to a compact region, thereby facilitating enhanced precision without the need for distortion compensation or mapping. Several sensors placed in accurately known (or determined through algorithms within the tracker processor) locations allow a single small magnetic field source to be tracked by all of them simultaneously. Such a configuration allows an operator's head to be tracked accurately, as in a flight simulator, where coupling between field source and sensors is kept short, thereby eliminating the need for distortion mapping.

US Patent:

20060255795, Nov 16, 2006

Filed:

May 10, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/431470

Inventors:

Robert Higgins - Richmond VT, US
Allan Rodgers - Jericho VT, US
Donald Dickinson - Ridgecrest CA, US

International Classification:

G01B 7/30

US Classification:

324207170

Abstract:

The 3-axis field source coils and 3-axis sensor coils derived from off-the-shelf suppliers in a magnetic tracker are integrated with driving and sensing circuitry to provide a complete six-degree-of-freedom tracker in only two modules: a sensor module and a source module plus being able also to track with at least a second sensor of identical design. One or both of the basic tracker modules may be mounted on respective single printed-circuit boards, and the source module may take advantage of digital wave generation and tuned coil drivers for reduced hardware. One or both of the coil sets may be non-concentric, and the output for providing P&O updates to a host computer may take advantage of a connector that receives electrical power from the host computer, such as a USB/USB-2 connector. To further reduce system cost, the circuitry used to amplify the signals received by the sensor coils may be multiplexed under control of the processor on the source board.