Position reference sensor
First Claim
1. A position reference sensor comprising an optical assembly including:
- a pulsed laser device for emitting laser light;
a lens arrangement comprising a lenticular lens for producing a vertically fanned beam of the laser light emitted by the pulsed laser device; and
a plurality of photodiode photodetectors for detecting laser light reflected by a retro-reflective target, the level of reflected laser light incident upon each photodetector being individually detectable;
the position reference sensor further comprising an actuator for varying the inclination of the optical assembly, the actuator being automatically controllable based on the level of reflected laser light incident upon each photodetector.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A position reference sensor for a marine vessel comprises an optical assembly including a pulsed laser device for emitting laser light, a lens arrangement comprising a lenticular lens for producing a vertically fanned beam (18) of the laser light emitted by the pulsed laser device and a photodiode (32) comprising a plurality of photodetectors Rx, Ry, Rz for detecting laser light (28) that has been emitted by the pulsed laser device and reflected by a retro-reflective target (22) towards the photodiode (32). The level of reflected laser light incident upon each photodetector is individually detectable and the position reference sensor further comprises an actuator for varying the inclination of the optical assembly. The actuator is automatically controllable based on the level of reflected laser light incident upon each photodetector Rx, Ry, Rz. A position reference sensor for a marine vessel comprises an optical assembly including a pulsed laser device for emitting laser light, a lens arrangement comprising a lenticular lens for producing a vertically fanned beam (18) of the laser light emitted by the pulsed laser device and a photodiode (32) comprising a plurality of photodetectors Rx, Ry, Rz for detecting laser light (28) that has been emitted by the pulsed laser device and reflected by a retro-reflective target (22) towards the photodiode (32). The level of reflected laser light incident upon each photodetector is individually detectable and the position reference sensor further comprises an actuator for varying the inclination of the optical assembly. The actuator is automatically controllable based on the level of reflected laser light incident upon each photodetector Rx, Ry, Rz.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A position reference sensor comprising an optical assembly including:
-
a pulsed laser device for emitting laser light; a lens arrangement comprising a lenticular lens for producing a vertically fanned beam of the laser light emitted by the pulsed laser device; and a plurality of photodiode photodetectors for detecting laser light reflected by a retro-reflective target, the level of reflected laser light incident upon each photodetector being individually detectable; the position reference sensor further comprising an actuator for varying the inclination of the optical assembly, the actuator being automatically controllable based on the level of reflected laser light incident upon each photodetector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for operating a position reference sensor comprising an optical assembly including a pulsed laser device, a lens arrangement comprising a lenticular lens, and a plurality of photodiode photodetectors, wherein the method comprises:
-
producing a vertically fanned beam of laser light using the pulsed laser device and lens arrangement and directing the vertically fanned beam towards one or more retro-reflective targets; detecting the level of reflected laser light incident upon each photodetector; and varying the inclination of the optical assembly, based on the detected level of reflected light incident upon each photodetector, by using an automatically controllable actuator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification