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Optical position location apparatus

  • US 4,420,261 A
  • Filed: 09/02/1980
  • Issued: 12/13/1983
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1980
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An optical position location and size determining apparatus for locating the positions of one or more objects along one or more coordinate axes of a defined sensing area, as well as for determining other measurable parameters of said one or more objects such as the sizes thereof relative to said one or more coordinate axes, said apparatus comprising:

  • radiant energy emission means;

    radiant energy detection means;

    means for distributing said radiant energy emitted by said radiant energy emission means over a location region from a position proximate to a first side of said region;

    one or more integrated collector means proximate to a second side of said location region, said integrated collector means cooperating with said distributor means to receive said radiant energy distributed by said distributor means and to transmit said radiant energy to said radiant energy detection means;

    signal output means operably connected to said radiant energy detection means;

    shield means, said shield means to prevent ambient or stray radiant energy not transmitted from said integrated collector means from impinging said radiant energy detection means;

    scanner means;

    said scanner means including optical element means, said optical element means operating to direct said radiant energy received from said integrated collector means to said radiant energy detection means;

    said scanner means further including motor means, said motor means being operably connected to said optical element means whereby said optical element means is made to rotate with respect to said integrated collector means;

    said scanner means further including apertured mask means, said apertured mask means having a dimensioned aperture therein;

    said apertured mask means cooperating with said optical element means and located in optical alignment with said optical element means and said radiant energy detection means;

    said shield means and said scanner means cooperating to restrict the radiant energy received by said radiant energy detection means to that portion of said distributed radiant energy received by the portion of said integrated collector means which is instantaneously in optical alignment with the combination of said rotating optical element means, said dimensioned aperture of said apertured mask means, and said radiant energy detection means, whereby the radiant energy received by said integrated collector means may be sequentially and selectively monitored by said radiant energy detection means.

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