Positioning system for single or multi-axis sensitive instrument calibration and calibration system for use therewith

• US 7,467,536 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Parker, Peter A., Finley, Tom D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers; David A.
• Application Number:
  US11/428,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20080202199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 73/13.7, 73/13.8, 73 175- 181, 335/34
• US Class Current: 73/1.38
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/005 initial alignment, calibration or starting-up of inertial devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups

Abstract

A positioning and calibration system are provided for use in calibrating a single or multi axis sensitive instrument, such as an inclinometer. The positioning system includes a positioner that defines six planes of tangential contact. A mounting region within the six planes is adapted to have an inclinometer coupled thereto. The positioning system also includes means for defining first and second flat surfaces that are approximately perpendicular to one another with the first surface adapted to be oriented relative to a local or induced reference field of interest to the instrument being calibrated, such as a gravitational vector. The positioner is positioned such that one of its six planes tangentially rests on the first flat surface and another of its six planes tangentially contacts the second flat surface. A calibration system is formed when the positioning system is used with a data collector and processor.

Claims

1. A positioning system used in the calibration of a single or multi axis sensitive instrument, comprising:

a rigid cuboidal frame defining six planes and a mounting region within said six planes adapted to have an axis sensitive instrument coupled thereto such that each axis of sensitivity of said instrument is approximately parallel to four planes of said six planes and perpendicular to two opposing ones of said six planes that are not included in said four planes;

a plurality of feet mounted on said frame to define a resting plane associated with each of said six planes, each said resting plane offset from said frame and parallel to one of said six planes; and

means for defining first and second flat surfaces that are approximately perpendicular to one another with said first surface adapted to be oriented relative to a local or induced reference field, wherein said frame with said inclinometer coupled thereto is positioned such that said feet associated with one of said resting planes tangentially contact said second flat surface and said feet associated with another of said resting planes tangentially rest on said first flat surface.

2. A positioning system as in claim 1 wherein said instrument is at least one of:

an inclinometer, a magnetometer, a gyro and an optical system.

3. A position system as in claim 1 wherein said local or induced reference field is one of:

a local gravitational vector, a local magnetic field, a local rotational field, an induced rotational field, a local light field, and an induced light field.

4. A positioning system as in claim 1 wherein each said resting plane is defined by three of said feet.

5. A positioning system as in claim 1 wherein each of said feet is spherical.

6. A positioning system as in claim 1 wherein said first and second flat surfaces are separable from one another.

7. A positioning system as in claim 1 wherein said first and second flat surfaces are joined to one another.

8. A positioning system as in claim 1 further comprising means, coupled to said first flat surface, for leveling said first flat surface.

9. A positioning system used in the calibration of a single or multi axis sensitive instrument, comprising:

first means defining six planes of tangential contact and a mounting region within said six planes adapted to have an axis sensitive instrument coupled thereto such that each axis of sensitivity of said device is approximately parallel to four planes of said six planes and perpendicular to two opposing ones of said six planes that are not included in said four planes; and

second means for defining first and second flat surfaces that are approximately perpendicular to one another with said first surface adapted to be oriented relative to a local or induced reference field of interest, wherein said first means is positioned such that one of said six planes tangentially contacts said second flat surface and another of said six planes tangentially contact said first flat surface.

10. A positioning system as in claim 9 wherein said instrument is at least one of:

an inclinometer, a magnetometer, a gyro and an optical system.

11. A position system as in claim 9 wherein said local or induced reference field is one of:

a local gravitational vector, a local magnetic field, a local rotational field, an induced rotational field, a local light field, and an induced light field.

12. A positioning system as in claim 9 wherein each of said six planes of tangential contact is defined by three protuberances.

13. A positioning system as in claim 9 wherein said first and second flat surfaces are separable from one another.

14. A positioning system as in claim 9 wherein said first and second flat surfaces are joined to one another.

15. A positioning system as in claim 9 further comprising means, coupled to said first flat surface, for leveling said first flat surface.

16. A system for calibrating a single or multi axis sensitive instrument, comprising:

a rigid cuboidal frame defining six planes and a mounting region within said six planes adapted to have an inclinometer coupled thereto such that each axis of sensitivity of said instrument is approximately parallel to four planes of said six planes and perpendicular to two opposing ones of said six planes that are not included in said four planes;

a plurality of feet mounted on said frame to define a resting plane associated with each of said six planes, each said resting plane offset from said frame and parallel to one of said six planes;

means for defining first and second flat surfaces that are approximately perpendicular to one another with said first surface adapted to be oriented relative to a local or induced reference field, wherein said frame with said inclinometer coupled thereto is positioned such that said feet associated with one of said resting planes tangentially contact said second flat surface and said feet associated with another of said resting planes tangentially rest on said first flat surface; and

data collection and processing means adapted to be coupled to said instrument for acquiring data generated by said instrument and for generating calibration data using said data so-generated.

17. A positioning system as in claim 16 wherein said instrument is at least one of:

a inclinometer, a magnetometer, a gyro and an optical system.

18. A position system as in claim 16 wherein said local or induced reference field is one of:

a local gravitational vector, a local magnetic field, a local rotational field, an induced rotational field, a local light field, and an induced light field.

19. A system as in claim 16 wherein said data collection and processing means employs a linear model and multiple linear regression in generating said calibration data.

20. A system as in claim 16 wherein each said resting plane is defined by three of said feet.

21. A system as in claim 16 wherein each of said feet is spherical.

22. A system as in claim 16 wherein said first and second flat surfaces are separable from one another.

23. A system as in claim 16 wherein said first and second flat surfaces are joined to one another.

24. A system as in claim 16 further comprising means, coupled to said first flat surface, for leveling said first flat surface.

25. A system for calibrating a single or multi axis sensitive instrument, comprising:

first means defining six planes of tangential contact and a mounting region within said six planes adapted to have an axis sensitive instrument coupled thereto such that each axis of sensitivity of said instrument is approximately parallel to four planes of said six planes and perpendicular to two opposing ones of said six planes that are not included in said four planes;

second means for defining first and second flat surfaces that are approximately perpendicular to one another with said first surface adapted to be oriented relative to a local or induced reference field, wherein said first means is positioned such that one of said six planes tangentially contacts said second flat surface and another of said six planes tangentially contact said first flat surface; and

data collection and processing means adapted to be coupled to said instrument for acquiring data generated by said instrument and for generating calibration data using said data so-generated.

26. A positioning system as in claim 25 wherein said instrument is at least one of:

an inclinometer, a magnetometer, a gyro and an optical system.

27. A position system as in claim 25 wherein said local or induced reference field is one of:

a local gravitational vector, a local magnetic field, a local rotational field, an induced rotational field, a local light field, and an induced light field.

28. A system as in claim 25 wherein said data collection and processing means employs a linear model and multiple linear regression in generating said calibration data.

29. A system as in claim 25 wherein each of said six planes of tangential contact is defined by three protuberances.

30. A system as in claim 25 wherein said first and second flat surfaces are separable from one another.

31. A system as in claim 25 wherein said first and second flat surfaces are joined to one another.

32. A system as in claim 25 further comprising means, coupled to said first flat surface, for leveling said first flat surface.