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Computer aided positioning system and method

  • US 5,076,690 A
  • Filed: 05/14/1990
  • Issued: 12/31/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A system for determining the position of a point in a two-dimensional coordinate frame of reference, the system comprising:

  • at least three stationary retroreflective elements spaced apart from one another and stationed at known coordinates in the two-dimensional coordinate frame, each of said retroreflective elements including identification means thereon for reflecting light back toward a light source, said reflected light from each of said elements including information generated by said identification means for uniquely identifying each of said elements;

    light transmitting and detecting means, positionable at the point, for generating a rotating beam of light to illuminate said identification means on each of said stationary retroreflective elements during each rotation, and for detecting said reflected light from said identification means on each of said elements and generating an output signal in response thereto;

    angle determining means for detecting the angular orientation of said reflected light when said reflected light is detected by said transmitting and detecting means; and

    computer means for computing from said known coordinates of said retroreflective elements, the angular orientation of said reflected light detected by said angle determining means, and said output signal generated in response to said reflected light from said identification means on each of said elements, the coordinates of the position of the point in the two-dimensional coordinate frame of reference.

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