Method and system for adjusting a position of an object

• US 7,241,103 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Jonas, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Douglas A.
• Application Number:
  US11/555,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20070071588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 414778-776, 414/779, 414781-784, 414/816, 73/17.5, 702/94, 702150-153, 901 16- 18, 901/31, 901/33, 901/50
• US Class Current: 414/816
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2071 for panning and rolling F16M11/2078 takes precedence

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for adjusting a position of an object to compensate for tilt includes providing a rotatable base supporting an object and directing the object relative to the base such that the position of the object is controlled relative to a first axis. The object is stabilized along a second axis. The object is positioned relative to the base using first and second bearing arms. The first and second bearing arms movably couple the object to the base at a first position relative to a third axis and a fourth axis. The first bearing arm couples to the object at a first pivot point. The second bearing arm coupled to the object at a second pivot point. Each bearing arm includes a first portion and a second portion, which are coincident with the third axis and fourth axis, respectively. The object is adjusted to a second position using the first and second bearing arms to maintain the first axis when a tilt angle of the base is detected.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a position of an object to compensate for tilt, comprising:

providing a rotatable base supporting an object;

directing the object relative to the base such that the position of the object is controlled relative to a first axis, the object stabilized along a second axis;

positioning the object relative to the base using first and second bearing arms, the first and second bearing arms movably coupling the object to the base at a first position relative to a third axis and a fourth axis, the third axis perpendicular to the first axis, the base operable to control the rotation of the object about the second axis;

holding the object at first position at a deroll angle greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees relative to the third axis using the bearing arms, each bearing arm comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion coupled to the object and coincident with the third axis, the second portion to the base and coincident with the fourth axis; and

adjusting the object to a second position using the first and second bearing arms to maintain the first axis when a tilt angle of the base is detected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the object relative to the base comprises directing a sensor package along the first axis at a target.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensor package is operable to perform image sensory.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions of each bearing arm are rigidly fixed relative to one another.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first axis comprises a line of sight perpendicular to a target positioned some distance from the object;

the second axis comprises an azimuth axis representing a first degree of freedom;

the third axis comprises an elevation axis representing a second degree of freedom; and

the fourth axis comprises a deroll axis representing a third degree of freedom.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the bearing arms are operable to compensate for an amount of tilt angle that is relative to the deroll angle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling the base to a vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving global position satellite information at the base; and

detecting the tilt angle of the base based on the global position satellite information.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information from a system of one or more gyroscopes; and

detecting the tilt angle of the base based on the information received from the system of one or more gyroscopes.

10. A method for adjusting a position of an object to compensate for tilt, comprising:

providing a rotatable base supporting an object;

directing the object relative to the base such that the position of the object is controlled relative to a first axis, the object stabilized along a second axis;

positioning the object relative to the base using first and second bearing arms, the first and second bearing arms movably coupling the object to the base at a first position relative to a third axis and a fourth axis, the first bearing arm coupling to the object at a first pivot point, the second bearing arm coupled to the object at a second pivot point, the third axis perpendicular to the first axis, the base operable to control the rotation of the object about the second axis;

holding the object at first position relative to the third axis using the bearing arms, each bearing arm comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion coupled to the object and coincident with the third axis, the second portion to the base and coincident with the fourth axis; and

adjusting the object to a second position using the first and second bearing arms to maintain the first axis when a tilt angle of the base is detected.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein directing the object relative to the base comprises directing a sensor package along the first axis at a target.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor package is operable to perform image sensory.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second portions of each bearing arm are rigidly fixed relative to one another.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the first axis comprises a line of sight perpendicular to a target positioned some distance from the object;

the second axis comprises an azimuth axis representing a first degree of freedom;

the third axis comprises an elevation axis representing a second degree of freedom; and

the fourth axis comprises a deroll axis representing a third degree of freedom.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving global position satellite information at the base; and

detecting the tilt angle of the base based on the global position satellite information.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving information from a system of one or more gyroscopes; and

detecting the tilt angle of the base based on the information received from the system of one or more gyroscopes.

17. A method for adjusting a position of an object to compensate for tilt, comprising:

means for providing a rotatable base supporting an object;

means for directing the object relative to the base such that the position of the object is controlled relative to a first axis, the object stabilized along a second axis;

means for positioning the object relative to the base using first and second bearing arms, the first and second bearing arms movably coupling the object to the base at a first position relative to a third axis and a fourth axis, the third axis perpendicular to the first axis, the base operable to control the rotation of the object about the second axis;

means for holding the object at a first position at a deroll angle greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees relative to the third axis using the bearing arms, each bearing arm comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion coupled to the object and coincident with the third axis, the second portion to the base and coincident with the fourth axis; and

means for adjusting the object to a second position using the first and second bearing arms to maintain the first axis when a tilt angle of the base is detected.