Optical receiver for area location system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical location system for locating the position of a moving object in a defined area, comprising:
- an optical transmitter for attachment to the moving object;
a number of optical sensors for receiving a signal from said transmitter,wherein one of said sensors is a full-view sensor having a field of view of all of said defined area; and
an opaque template for each of said sensors other than said full view sensor,wherein each of said templates has at least one horizontal or vertical blocking strip for partially blocking the field of view of said sensors other than said full-view sensor, such that each of said sensors other than said full-view sensor is a horizontal or vertical partial view sensor having a field of view of approximately one-half of said defined area, as determined by at least one horizontal or vertical window where said at least one blocking strip does not cover the field of view,and wherein said blocking strips or said windows vary in size and number with respect to each of said horizontal or vertical partial view sensors, such that the detection or non detection of a signal from said transmitter can be used to form a digital code that represents a resolution of said defined area of 2n where n is the number of said partial view sensors and having not more than n+1 sensors.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical location system for locating the position of a moving object in a defined area. An optical transmitter is attached to the moving object. A stationary receiver has a number of sensors for receiving a signal from the transmitter. One sensor has a field of view of the entire area. Other sensors have partially blocked fields of view, with the blocking being accomplished with nonopaque strips of decreasing width. These strips are arranged so that the detection or nondetection of light by the sensors can be digitally coded in a manner that corresponds to sections of the area.
104 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An optical location system for locating the position of a moving object in a defined area, comprising:
-
an optical transmitter for attachment to the moving object; a number of optical sensors for receiving a signal from said transmitter, wherein one of said sensors is a full-view sensor having a field of view of all of said defined area; and an opaque template for each of said sensors other than said full view sensor, wherein each of said templates has at least one horizontal or vertical blocking strip for partially blocking the field of view of said sensors other than said full-view sensor, such that each of said sensors other than said full-view sensor is a horizontal or vertical partial view sensor having a field of view of approximately one-half of said defined area, as determined by at least one horizontal or vertical window where said at least one blocking strip does not cover the field of view, and wherein said blocking strips or said windows vary in size and number with respect to each of said horizontal or vertical partial view sensors, such that the detection or non detection of a signal from said transmitter can be used to form a digital code that represents a resolution of said defined area of 2n where n is the number of said partial view sensors and having not more than n+1 sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12)
-
-
8. A method of locating a moving target in a defined area, comprising the steps of:
-
attaching an optical transmitter to a target whose movement is within a defined area; receiving optical signals from said transmitter using a number of sensors; using one of said sensors to view all of said defined area; partially blocking the field of view of one or more of said sensors by placing an opaque strip or strips over said one or more of said sensors, such that each is a partial view sensor having a field of view of approximately one-half said defined area, as determined by at least one nonopaque horizontal or vertical window over each of said partial view sensors where said at least one blocking strips does not cover the field of view, and such that said blocking strips or said windows vary in size and number with respect to each of said horizontal or vertical partial view sensors, and such that the detection or non detection of a signal from said transmitter can be used to form a digital code that represents a resolution of said defined area of 2n where n is the number of said partial view sensors and having not more than n+1 sensors. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
13. An optical receiver for receiving an optical signal from a moving transmitter in a defined area, and generating digital code indicating the location of said transmitter within said area, comprising:
-
a number of optical sensors for receiving a signal from said transmitter, wherein one of said sensors is a full-view sensor having a field of view of all of said defined area; and a template for each of said sensors other than said full view sensor, wherein each of said templates has at least one horizontal or vertical blocking strip for partially blocking the field of view of said sensors other than said full-view sensor, such that each of said sensors other than said full-view sensor is a horizontal or vertical partial view sensor having a field of view of approximately one-half of said defined area, as determined by at least one horizontal or vertical window where said at least one blocking strip does not cover the field of view, and wherein said blocking strips or said windows vary in size and number with respect to each of said horizontal or vertical partial view sensors, such that the detection or non detection of a signal from said transmitter can be used to form a digital code that represents a resolution of said defined area of 2n where n is the number of said partial view sensors and having not more than n+1 sensors. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification