Method and system for adjusting a position of an object

• US 8,393,849 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• 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:
  US13/036,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20110142587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 414774-776, 414/779, 414781-784, 73/17.5, 702/94, 702150-153, 901 16- 18, 901/31, 901/33, 901/50
• US Class Current: 414/784
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/123 the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. by using gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 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 at least one bearing arm. The at least one bearing arm movably couples the object to the base at a first position relative to a third axis and a fourth axis. The at least one 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 at least one bearing arms to maintain the first axis when a tilt angle of the base is detected.

Claims

1. A system for adjusting a position of a sensor package to compensate for tilt, the system comprising:

a sensor package having a first position controlled relative to a line of sight directed at a target, the sensor package stabilized along an azimuth axis;

a base operable to support the sensor package; and

a bearing arm movably coupling the sensor package to the base, the sensor package coupled to the base at a first position relative to an elevation axis and a deroll axis, the elevation axis perpendicular to the line of sight, the base controlling rotation of the sensor package about the azimuth axis;

wherein the bearing arm comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions of the bearing arm rigidly fixed relative to one another, the first portion coupled to the sensor package and coincident with the elevation axis, the second portion coupled to the base and coincident with the deroll axis, such that the bearing arm is operable to hold the sensor package at a deroll angle relative to the elevation axis, the deroll angle greater than zero degrees but less than ninety degrees, the bearing arm operable to adjust the sensor package to a second position to maintain the line of sight when a tilt angle of the base is detected.

2. A system for adjusting a position of an object to compensate for tilt, the system comprising:

an object having a first position controlled relative to a first axis, the object stabilized along a second axis;

a base operable to support the object; and

a bearing arm movably coupling the object to the base, the object coupled 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 controlling rotation of the object about the second axis;

wherein the bearing arm comprises 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, such that the bearing arm is operable to hold the object at a deroll angle relative to the third axis, the deroll angle greater than zero degrees but less than ninety degrees, the bearing arm operable to adjust the object to a second position to maintain the first axis when a tilt angle of the base is detected.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the object comprises a sensor package operable to be directed along the first axis at a target.

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

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the first and second portions of the bearing arm are rigidly fixed relative to one another.

6. The system of claim 2, 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.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the tilt angle is a function of the deroll angle.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the base is coupled to a vehicle.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising a director operable to adjust the bearing arm to adjust the object to the second position.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the director is further operable to receive global position satellite information to identify the tilt angle of the base.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the director is further operable to identify the tilt angle of the base from information received from a system of one or more tilt sensors.

12. A system for adjusting a position of an object to compensate for tilt, the system comprising:

an object having a first position controlled relative to a first axis, the object stabilized along a second axis;

a base operable to support the object; and

a bearing arm movably coupling the object to the base, the bearing arm coupled to the object at a pivot point, the object coupled 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 controlling rotation of the object about the second axis;

wherein the bearing arm comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion coupled to the object and coincident with the third axis, the second portion coupled to the base and coincident with the fourth axis, the bearing arm operable to adjust the object to a second position to maintain the first axis when a first tilt angle of the base is detected.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the object comprises a sensor package operable to be directed along the first axis at a target.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor package is operable to perform image sensory.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first and second portions of each bearing arm are rigidly fixed relative to one another.

16. The system of claim 12, 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.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising a director operable to adjust the first and second bearing arms to adjust the object to the second position.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the director is further operable to receive global position satellite information to identify the tilt angle of the base.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the director is further operable to identify the tilt angle of the base from information received from a system of one or more tilt sensors.

20. A system for adjusting a position of an object to compensate for tilt, the system comprising:

an object having a first position controlled relative to a first axis, the object stabilized along a second axis;

a base operable to support the object; and

at least one bearing arm movably coupling the object to the base, the object coupled 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 controlling rotation of the object about the second axis;

wherein the bearing arm is to adjust the object to a second position to maintain the first axis when a first tilt angle of the base is detected.