Position detecting apparatus
First Claim
1. A tunneling machine having a cutting head adjustably supported by a member extending from said machine, and position detecting apparatus having(a) a target attached to said member in predetermined positional relationship to said cutting head, said target having identifying means for identifying therein at least four target points in non-coplanar relationship with each other;
- (b) a camera, having a focal plane at which images are formed, arranged to view the target so as to form on said focal plane images of at least three of said target points, said camera being adjustably positionable on a predetermined datum line and being disposed sufficiently close to said target to provide sensibly different angles to the points on said target which are being viewed by said camera; and
(c) a computer arranged to receive signals indicative of the positions of said images on the focal plane of the camera, and for calculating from said received signals the orientation of the target points corresponding to said images in relation to a given reference plane, and for calculating thereby the position of the said cutting head as projected onto any other plane defined in relation to said given reference plane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Position detecting apparatus having a target comprising radiation emittingeans for emitting radiation to define four points in non-planar relationship such that a first set of three of the points lies in a first target plane while a second set of three of the points lies in a second target plane which may for example be substantially normal to the first target plane; a camera having a focal plane on which images of objects presented to the camera are formed, the camera being arranged for viewing said target, and being provided at said focal plane with a two-dimensional array of photo sensitive elements which can receive radiation from the radiation emitting means of the said target; and a computer arranged to scan said two dimensional array to generate signals indicative of the position of images of the radiation emitting means on the array, whereby the position of the target, and hence of an object to which it is attached, may be determined in relation to a selected reference plane.
35 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A tunneling machine having a cutting head adjustably supported by a member extending from said machine, and position detecting apparatus having
(a) a target attached to said member in predetermined positional relationship to said cutting head, said target having identifying means for identifying therein at least four target points in non-coplanar relationship with each other; -
(b) a camera, having a focal plane at which images are formed, arranged to view the target so as to form on said focal plane images of at least three of said target points, said camera being adjustably positionable on a predetermined datum line and being disposed sufficiently close to said target to provide sensibly different angles to the points on said target which are being viewed by said camera; and (c) a computer arranged to receive signals indicative of the positions of said images on the focal plane of the camera, and for calculating from said received signals the orientation of the target points corresponding to said images in relation to a given reference plane, and for calculating thereby the position of the said cutting head as projected onto any other plane defined in relation to said given reference plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification