System for position and orientation determination of a point in space using scanning laser beams
First Claim
1. A system for position and orientation measurement of a point in a prescribed space, comprising:
- a) a source of light including three scanning, non-coplanar fan-shaped rotating light beams, each beam having known position and orientation at any particular time;
b) at least two of said light beams being uniquely polarized at angles of polarization different from one another;
c) a sensor device movable within said space and carrying sensor means for sensing said light beams;
d) said sensor means comprising three separate detectors including;
i) a first detector always exposed to light from said light beams;
ii) second and third detectors at least partially exposed to light from said light beams; and
iii) one of said three detectors being polarized at a particular angle of polarization; and
e) computer means for receiving signals from said detectors and, therefrom, measuring position and orientation of said point.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for position and orientation determination of a point in space employs, in a preferred embodiment, three scanning laser beams that rotate at a high rate of speed within a prescribed space. At least two of the beams are polarized and a sensor with two or three detectors is located within the prescribed space. In each embodiment, at least one of the detectors has an unobscured, clear view of all of the scanning light beams at all times and at least another of the sensors is partially obscured. In the preferred embodiments, at least one sensor is polarized as well. Computer means is provided to facilitate calculation of position and orientation of a point within the prescribed space.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A system for position and orientation measurement of a point in a prescribed space, comprising:
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a) a source of light including three scanning, non-coplanar fan-shaped rotating light beams, each beam having known position and orientation at any particular time;
b) at least two of said light beams being uniquely polarized at angles of polarization different from one another;
c) a sensor device movable within said space and carrying sensor means for sensing said light beams;
d) said sensor means comprising three separate detectors including;
i) a first detector always exposed to light from said light beams;
ii) second and third detectors at least partially exposed to light from said light beams; and
iii) one of said three detectors being polarized at a particular angle of polarization; and
e) computer means for receiving signals from said detectors and, therefrom, measuring position and orientation of said point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A system for position and elevation measurement of a point in a prescribed space, comprising:
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a) a source of light including three scanning, non-coplanar fan-shaped rotating light beams, each beam having known position and orientation at any particular time;
b) at least two of said light beams being uniquely polarized at angles of polarization different from one another;
c) a sensor device movable within said space and carrying sensor means for sensing said light beams;
d) said sensor means comprising two separate detectors including;
i) a first detector always exposed to light from said light beams; and
ii) a second detector at least partially exposed to light from said light beams and polarized at a particular angle of polarization; and
e) computer means for receiving signals from said detectors and, therefrom, measuring position and orientation of said point. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A system for position and orientation measurement of a point in a prescribed space, comprising:
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a) a source of light including three scanning, non-coplanar fan-shaped rotating light beams, at least two of said beams having spaced sources and at least one of said beams being skewed with respect to an axis of rotation thereof, each beam having known position and orientation at any particular time;
b) at least one of said light beams being uniquely polarized at a particular angle of polarization and at least one other beam being either unpolarized or circularly polarized;
c) a sensor device movable within said space and carrying sensor means for sensing said light beams;
d) said sensor means comprising three separate detectors including;
i) a first detector always exposed to light from said light beams;
ii) second and third detectors at least partially exposed to light from said light beams; and
iii) two of said detectors being polarized at different angles of polarization; and
e) computer means for receiving signals from said detectors and, therefrom, measuring position and orientation of said point.
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53. A system for position and at least one angle of orientation measurement of a point in a prescribed space, comprising:
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a) a source of light including three scanning, non-coplanar fan-shaped beams, at least two beams having separated sources and at least one beam being skewed with respect to an axis of rotation thereof, each beam having known position and orientation at any particular time;
b) a sensor device movable in said space and carrying sensor means for sensing said light beams;
c) said sensor means comprising a position sensing detector; and
d) computer means for receiving signals from said position sensing detector and, therefrom, measuring position and orientation of said point, said computer means including means for measuring angle of incidence of said beams and, therefrom, measuring orientation of said sensor device. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification