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November 14, 2004: Ultra Electronics
Measurement Systems Inc has recently received a US patent
No. 10/267,062 for its State-of-the-Art Positioning
Indicating Device for Harsh Environments known as MAGTRACK™.
Ultra MSI has also taken steps to trademark the MAGTRACK
name by the end of 2004.
What differentiates MAGTRACK™
from other current trackball technologies is that it
uses magneto resistive sensors, encapsulated magnets
and utilizes electronics in place of encoders. Also,
there are no foam drive units to get worn.
MAGTRACK™ uses non-contact sensors,
which measure a magnetic field for positioning, that
are fully encapsulate along with the unit’s PCB
boards in a waterproof resin. This gives the product
the ability to be completely submersible.
Introduced as the first fully submersible
trackball, MAGTRACK™ can be used in military applications
that encounter wet environments such as amphibious vehicles
and naval vessels. Another consideration for this product
would be in commercial or industrial applications where
fluids like coffee, liquid cleaners or other types of
liquids can infiltrate existing electronic controls.
In medical applications such as ultrasound tests where
typical trackballs can become inoperable or faulty due
to the gel/lubricant penetrating the unit, MAGTRACK’s
patented approach features a "throw away"
compartment that allows the trackball to be easily replaced,
thereby saving the cost of a replacement unit and eliminating
the threat of the unit failing during use.
Ultra MSI expects to market this product initially to
its military customers and expects to launch the product
in the fourth quarter of 2005.
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