Verifying the calibration status of an optical tracking system

1. A method for verifying a calibration status of an optical tracking system, comprising:

moving a calibration apparatus, which comprises a plurality of tracking markers, within a detection range of the tracking system;

using the tracking system to detect the plurality of tracking markers;

changing an arrangement of the plurality of tracking markers relative to each other to a state that causes the tracking system to experience a detection problem;

determining the arrangement of the tracking markers that causes the detection problem; and

concluding the tracking system has a calibration error when the arrangement that causes the detection problem does not correspond to a predetermined value or is not within a predetermined range of values.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the arrangement comprises using a measuring device assigned or attached to the calibration apparatus.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein determining the arrangement comprises directly obtaining the arrangement from the measuring device or the calibration apparatus from scales or value indicators arranged on the calibration apparatus.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the arrangement comprises measuring at least one of distances or geometric relationships between the plurality of tracking markers.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the arrangement comprises determining an arrangement of the plurality of tracking markers relative to each other or a configuration of the plurality of tracking markers.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein experiencing a detection problem comprises the occurrence of ambiguities in detecting markers, wherein a number of detected potential tracking markers is greater than an actual number of tracking markers present in the detection range.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein changing the arrangement of the plurality of tracking markers relative to each other to the state that causes the tracking to system experience a detection problem comprises setting the arrangement such that the tracking markers are situated substantially in an epipolar plane of the tracking system.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

pivoting the plurality of tracking markers substantially perpendicular to the epipolar plane; and

using the measuring device to determine an angular range within which the ambiguities occur, wherein when the angular range is greater than a predetermined angular range, the tracking system is determined to have a calibration error.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein experiencing a detection problem comprises insufficient resolution of individual markers during the determining step such that only a single marker is detected for two actual markers.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein moving the calibration apparatus comprises moving the calibration apparatus to a predetermined point within the detection range of the tracking system.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein changing the arrangement of the plurality of tracking markers comprises:

changing the arrangement such that a distance between the tracking markers is reduced; and

using the measuring device to determine the distance between the tracking markers at which the individual resolution is insufficient, wherein if the determined distance is greater than a predetermined maximum distance, the tracking system is determined to have a calibration error.

12. A device for verifying a calibration status of an optical tracking system, comprising:

a calibration apparatus including a plurality of tracking markers;

a tracking marker movement device operatively coupled to the plurality of tracking markers and configured to change a position of the plurality of tracking markers relative to each other;

a measuring device configured to detect the position of the plurality of tracking markers relative to each other; and

an evaluation unit configured to

compare the detected position of the plurality of tracking markers to a predetermined value or a predetermined range of values, and

ascertain the calibration status based on the comparison.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the measuring device is assigned or attached to the calibration apparatus.

14. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the measuring device comprises a display on which the detected position of the plurality of tracking markers can be displayed, and wherein the calibration apparatus comprises scales or value indicators for obtaining the arrangement of the tracking markers.

15. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the measuring device is configured to measure at least one of distances or angular positions of the plurality of tracking markers relative to each other.

16. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to detect a detection problem defined as the occurrence of ambiguities in detecting markers, wherein the number of detected potential tracking markers is greater than the number of actual tracking markers present in a detection range of a tracking system.

17. The device according to claim 16 , further comprising:

a mount, wherein the tracking markers are attached to the mount at a distance from each other, the mount pivotally arranged on the calibration apparatus; and

an angular scale arranged on the calibration apparatus and configured to indicate a pivoting angle of the mount.

18. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to detect a detection problem defined as the occurrence of an insufficient resolution of individual markers when detecting markers, wherein for two tracking markers which are actually present in a detection range of a tracking system the tracking system only detects a single marker as being present.

19. The device according to claim 18 , further comprising:

a mount, wherein the tracking markers are attached to the mount and spaced apart from each other; and

an adjusting device configured to change the spacing between the tracking markers.

20. The device according to claim 18 , wherein the calibration apparatus comprises a rail, and at least one tracking marker of the plurality of tracking markers is configured to be movable on the rail, wherein a spacing between the plurality of tracking markers is measured on the basis of a displacement path of the at least one tracking marker on the rail.