RADIATION SENSITIVE OPTICAL TRACKER

• US 3,678,283 A
• Filed: 10/22/1970
• Issued: 07/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kenneth B. Labaw
• Original Assignee: Kenneth B. Labaw
• Inventors: LaBaw, Kenneth B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stolwein, Walter
• Application Number:
  US05/082,880
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221,272,216,203,215,217 356/152,172,138
• US Class Current: 250/216
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/225 Helmet sighting systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/163 Determination of attitude using inertial means G01C9/00; control of attitude G05D1/49

Abstract

An optical tracker system for determining the sight-line of a pilot within a cockpit. The system has at least two light sources and one photodetector mounted in the cockpit, and one light source and one photodetector mounted on the pilot'"'"''"'"'s helmet. Electrical signals from the photodetectors uniquely establish the position and orientation of the pilot'"'"''"'"'s helmet. When a helmet attached sight is included in the system the signals indicate the pilot'"'"''"'"'s line-of-sight.

Claims

1. An optical tracker system for determining the position and orientation of an object comprising:

first detection means coupled to said object for movement therewith, for providing a first output when illuminated;

first illumination means system spatially fixed at a distance from said object for illuminating said first detection means;

second detection means system spatially fixed at a distance from said object for providing a second output when illuminated; and

second illumination means coupled to said object for movement therewith, wherein said second illumination means is coupled so as to illuminate said second detection means;

such that said first and second outputs indicate the position and orientation of said object.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second detection means includes a lateral photodetector.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein;

each of said first and second detection means further includes imaging optics, and each of said first and second illumination means includes a Gallium Arsenide light emitting diode.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said second detection means comprises a plurality of lateral photodetectors.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said first detection means comprises a plurality of lateral photodetectors, and imaging optics for each said lateral photodetector; and

said second illumination means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein one of said lateral photodetectors is mounted adjacent each of said light emitting diodes to form a plurality of detector-diode pairs, and said light emitting diodes are mounted such that one of said plurality of lateral photodetectors will be illuminated by said first illumination means, and one of said plurality of light emitting diodes will illuminate said second detection means when the object is at any position and orientation within the system space.

6. An optical tracker system for determing the sight line of the operator comprising:

a sight coupled to the operator'"'"''"'"'s head such that when said operator superimposes his view of said sight on his view of an object the position and orientation of his head defines the said sight line;

first detection means coupled to said operator'"'"''"'"'s head for movement therewith, for providing a first output when illuminated;

first illumination means system spatially fixed at a distance from said operator'"'"''"'"'s head for illuminating said first detection means;

second detection means system spatially fixed at a distance from said operator'"'"''"'"'s head for providing a second output when illuminated; and

second illumination means coupled to said operator'"'"''"'"'s head for movement therewith, wherein said second illumination means is coupled so as to illuminate said second detection means;

such that said first and second outputs indicate the sight line of said operator.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein each of said first and second detection means includes a lateral photodetector.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein;

each of said first and second detection means further includes imaging optics, and each of said first and second illumination means includes a Gallium Arsenide light emitting diode.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein said second detection means comprises a plurality of lateral photodetectors.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein:

said first detection means comprises a plurality of lateral photodetectors, and imaging optics for each said lateral photodetector; and

said second illumination means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein one of said lateral photodetectors is mounted adjacent each of said light emitting diodes to form a plurality of detector-diode pairs, and said light emitting diodes are mounted such that one of said plurality of lateral photodetectors will be illuminated by said first illumination means, and one of said plurality of light emitting diodes will illuminate said second detection means when the operator'"'"''"'"'s head is at any position and orientation within the field of the system.