Flat location pad using nonconcentric coils

A method for producing a field generator, the method comprising:

• providing three coils;
• and
• arranging the coils such that the coils are non-concentric and the coils are wound and oriented in three mutually-orthogonal axes, each of the coils being configured so as to generate a magnetic field component in one direction out of three mutually-orthogonal directions,
• wherein the three non-concentric orthogonal coils comprise a first coil, a second coil, and a third coil, wherein in the field generator the first coil and the second coil are located side-by-side and the third coil is located around the first coil and the second coil,
• the first coil comprising first wires wrapped around a first core,
• the second coil comprising second wires wrapped around a second core,
• the third coil comprising third wires wrapped around the first coil, the second coil, and a third core,
• wherein the first coil and the second coil are disposed on the third core.

A method for generating magnetic fields, the method comprising:

• providing a field generator, comprising three non-concentric orthogonal coils;
• and
• driving electrical currents into the coils so as to generate respective magnetic field components having mutually-orthogonal directions,
• wherein the three non-concentric orthogonal coils comprise a first coil, a second coil, and a third coil, wherein in the field generator the first coil and the second coil are located side-by-side and the third coil is located around the first coil and the second coil,
• the first coil comprising first wires wrapped around a first core,
• the second coil comprising second wires wrapped around a second core,
• the third coil comprising third wires wrapped around the first coil, the second coil, and a third core,
• wherein the first coil and the second coil are disposed on the third core.