Position Sensor; Figure 1-2 Polaris Vicra System Setup - Northern Digital Polaris Vicra User Manual

• 75Mb free disc space
• Windows 200/XP or Linux 2.6.8 or greater
• Screen resolution 1024x768 (1280x1024 recommended)
1.2

Position Sensor

The Position Sensor is the main component of the Polaris Vicra System. An overview of its
operation is as follows:
1. The Position Sensor emits infrared (IR) light from its illuminators, similar to the flash on a
conventional camera.
2. The IR light floods the surrounding area and reflects back to the Position Sensor off passive
sphere markers (passive mode) or triggers markers to activate and emit IR light (active wireless
mode).
3. The Position Sensor then measures the positions of the markers, and calculates the
transformations (the positions and orientations) of the tools to which the markers are attached.
4. The Position Sensor transmits the transformation data, along with status information, to the host
computer for collection, display, or further manipulation.
Note
For a more detailed description of how the Position Sensor detects markers, see
Tracking" on page
The Position Sensor can operate in two modes; passive mode and active wireless mode. The mode is
automatically selected, controlled by settings in the tool definition file. (A tool definition file stores
information about a tool.)
Polaris Vicra User Guide - Revision 2
Position Sensor
Host USB Converter
Power Adapter Cable
Power Adapter

Figure 1-2 Polaris Vicra System Setup

28.
Polaris Vicra System Overview
Position Sensor Cable
To Computer
USB Cable
"Marker Detection and Tool
7