Position measurement device
First Claim
1. A position measurement device comprising:
- a) a light transmitter comprising;
i) a first light source that transmits a beam of light, which is a polarized beam of light;
b) a light receiver comprising;
i) an aperture for receiving light;
ii) a rotating polarizing optical platform comprising;
1) a polarizing optic;
2) a polarization platform rotation measurement device; and
3) a polarization platform motor;
wherein said polarizing optic, said polarization platform rotation measurement device and said polarization platform motor are coupled such that said polarization platform motor rotates said polarizing optic nominally around a polarizing optical axis of rotation;
whereby said polarization platform rotation measurement device provides feedback on a measured rotation position for said polarization platform rotation measurement device, which is a polarization rotation measurement angle;
iii) a reference coordinate system comprising;
1) a first radial measurement axis defined with respect to said polarizing optical axis of rotation;
2) a first transverse measurement axis that intersects and is perpendicular to said first radial measurement axis;
3) a second transverse measurement axis that intersects with and is perpendicular to both said first transverse measurement axis and said first radial measurement axis; and
4) a defined first measurement origin where said first radial measurement axis, said first transverse measurement axis, and said second transverse axis intersect;
iv) a first measurement photo sensor, which is a first measurement position sensing device comprising;
1) a first measurement intensity signal; and
2) a first measurement position signal;
v) a processor comprising;
1) a beam intensity calculation algorithm comprising;
a. a measurement intensity input; and
b. a polarization intensity output;
2) a beam position calculation algorithm comprising;
a. a measure beam position data input; and
b. a measure beam position output;
3) a polarization control algorithm comprising;
a. a polarization control reference;
b. a polarization beam intensity feedback; and
c. a polarization motor output signal;
4) a device position calculation algorithm comprising;
a. a polarization rotation measurement input;
b. a beam position input; and
c. a position output comprising a measurement selected from the group consisting of;
i. distance from said first measurement origin along said first radial measurement axis;
ii. distance from said first measurement origin along said first transverse measurement axis;
iii. distance from said first measurement origin along said second transverse measurement axis;
iv. rotation about said radial measurement axis;
v. rotation about said first transverse measurement axis; and
vi. rotation about said second transverse measurement axis;
vi) a communication interface;
wherein said polarized beam of light impinges on said polarizing optic which will transmit a first measurement beam of an intensity that is a function of said polarization rotation measurement angle;
wherein said first measurement beam impinges on said first measurement position sensing device producing said first measurement intensity signal and said first measurement position signal;
wherein said first measurement intensity signal is coupled to said measurement intensity input whereby said beam intensity calculation algorithm produces said polarization intensity output;
wherein said polarization intensity output is coupled to said polarization beam intensity feedback, which is coupled to said polarization control reference, whereby said polarization control algorithm generate said polarization motor output signal
wherein said polarization motor output signal is coupled to a motor input data of said polarization platform motor thus rotating said polarizing optic thereby changing the relationship of said polarizing optic to said polarized beam of light;
wherein said polarization platform rotation measurement device produces a first rotation signal that corresponds to the position of said polarizing optic; and
wherein said first rotation signal is coupled to said polarization rotation measurement input and said first measurement position signal is coupled to said beam position input whereby said device position calculation algorithm generates said position output.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device capable of measuring one or more degrees of freedom with respect to a beam of light is described. The angle of rotation around the beam is obtained with a polarized beam of light and a polarizing optic and a sensor. A control system holds a sensor reading to a predetermined value. Therefore as the device is rotated around the beam, the optic will be rotated to maintain the sensor reading and an encoder provides the measurement of the amount of rotation. A position sensing device provides transverse information about the location of the beam and rotation of the device around two other axes. A second position sensing device at a difference distance from the light transmitter allows for the separation of transverse and rotational measurements. Alternately, the transverse measurement can be obtained by a light transmitter capable of making the measurement on a reflected beam.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A position measurement device comprising:
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a) a light transmitter comprising; i) a first light source that transmits a beam of light, which is a polarized beam of light; b) a light receiver comprising; i) an aperture for receiving light; ii) a rotating polarizing optical platform comprising; 1) a polarizing optic; 2) a polarization platform rotation measurement device; and 3) a polarization platform motor;
wherein said polarizing optic, said polarization platform rotation measurement device and said polarization platform motor are coupled such that said polarization platform motor rotates said polarizing optic nominally around a polarizing optical axis of rotation;
whereby said polarization platform rotation measurement device provides feedback on a measured rotation position for said polarization platform rotation measurement device, which is a polarization rotation measurement angle;iii) a reference coordinate system comprising; 1) a first radial measurement axis defined with respect to said polarizing optical axis of rotation; 2) a first transverse measurement axis that intersects and is perpendicular to said first radial measurement axis; 3) a second transverse measurement axis that intersects with and is perpendicular to both said first transverse measurement axis and said first radial measurement axis; and 4) a defined first measurement origin where said first radial measurement axis, said first transverse measurement axis, and said second transverse axis intersect; iv) a first measurement photo sensor, which is a first measurement position sensing device comprising; 1) a first measurement intensity signal; and 2) a first measurement position signal; v) a processor comprising; 1) a beam intensity calculation algorithm comprising; a. a measurement intensity input; and b. a polarization intensity output; 2) a beam position calculation algorithm comprising; a. a measure beam position data input; and b. a measure beam position output; 3) a polarization control algorithm comprising; a. a polarization control reference; b. a polarization beam intensity feedback; and c. a polarization motor output signal; 4) a device position calculation algorithm comprising; a. a polarization rotation measurement input; b. a beam position input; and c. a position output comprising a measurement selected from the group consisting of;
i. distance from said first measurement origin along said first radial measurement axis;
ii. distance from said first measurement origin along said first transverse measurement axis;
iii. distance from said first measurement origin along said second transverse measurement axis;
iv. rotation about said radial measurement axis;
v. rotation about said first transverse measurement axis; and
vi. rotation about said second transverse measurement axis;vi) a communication interface;
wherein said polarized beam of light impinges on said polarizing optic which will transmit a first measurement beam of an intensity that is a function of said polarization rotation measurement angle;
wherein said first measurement beam impinges on said first measurement position sensing device producing said first measurement intensity signal and said first measurement position signal;
wherein said first measurement intensity signal is coupled to said measurement intensity input whereby said beam intensity calculation algorithm produces said polarization intensity output;
wherein said polarization intensity output is coupled to said polarization beam intensity feedback, which is coupled to said polarization control reference, whereby said polarization control algorithm generate said polarization motor output signal
wherein said polarization motor output signal is coupled to a motor input data of said polarization platform motor thus rotating said polarizing optic thereby changing the relationship of said polarizing optic to said polarized beam of light;
wherein said polarization platform rotation measurement device produces a first rotation signal that corresponds to the position of said polarizing optic; and
wherein said first rotation signal is coupled to said polarization rotation measurement input and said first measurement position signal is coupled to said beam position input whereby said device position calculation algorithm generates said position output. - 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)
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25. A position measurement device comprising:
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a) a light transmitter comprising; i) a first light source, which is a light source emitting linear polarized light beam of light wherein said first light source is a laser; ii) a polarization varying optic; and iii) a modulator that provides one or more electrical signals to the polarization varying optic; wherein said electrical signals from said modulator are couple with said polarization varying optic; wherein said light source emitting linear polarized light emits a beam with linear polarization; wherein said beam with linear polarization impinges on said polarization varying optic; and wherein said polarization varying optic emits a polarization modulated beam; b) a light receiver comprising; i) an aperture for receiving light; ii) a rotating polarizing optical platform comprising; 1) a polarizing optic wherein said polarizing optic is a linear polarizer; 2) a polarization platform rotation measurement device; and 3) a polarization platform motor;
wherein said polarizing optic, said polarization platform rotation measurement device and said polarization platform motor are coupled such that said polarization platform motor rotates said polarizing optic nominally around a polarizing optical axis of rotation;
whereby said polarization platform rotation measurement device provides feedback on a measured rotation position for said polarization platform rotation measurement device, which is a polarization rotation measurement angle;iii) a reference coordinate system comprising; 1) a first radial measurement axis defined with respect to said polarizing optical axis of rotation 2) a first transverse measurement axis that intersects and is perpendicular to said first radial measurement axis 3) a second transverse measurement axis that intersects with and is perpendicular to both said first transverse measurement axis and said first radial measurement axis; and 4) a defined first measurement origin where said first radial measurement axis, said first transverse measurement axis, and said second transverse axis intersect iv) a first measurement photo sensor, which is a first measurement position sensing device comprising; 1) a first measurement intensity signal; and 2) a first measurement position signal; v) a processor comprising; 1) a beam intensity calculation algorithm comprising; a. a measurement intensity input; and b. a polarization intensity output; 2) a beam position calculation algorithm comprising; a. a measure beam position data input; and b. a measure beam position output; 3) a polarization control algorithm comprising; a. a polarization control reference; b. a polarization beam intensity feedback; and c. a polarization motor output signal; 4) a device position calculation algorithm comprising; a. a polarization rotation measurement input; b. a beam position input; and c. position output comprising of one or more of the following measurements;
i. distance from said first measurement origin along said first radial measurement axis;
ii. distance from said first measurement origin along said first transverse measurement axis;
iii. distance from said first measurement origin along said second transverse measurement axis;
iv. rotation about said radial measurement axis;
v. rotation about said first transverse measurement axis; and
vi. rotation about said second transverse measurement axis;vi) a communication interface;
wherein said polarized beam of light impinges on said polarizing optic which will transmit a first measurement beam of an intensity that is a function of said polarization rotation measurement angle;
wherein said first measurement beam impinges on said first measurement position sensing device producing said first measurement intensity signal and said first measurement position signal;
wherein said first measurement intensity signal is coupled to said measurement intensity input whereby said beam intensity calculation algorithm produces said polarization intensity output;
wherein said polarization intensity output is coupled to said polarization beam intensity feedback, which is coupled to said polarization control reference, whereby said polarization control algorithm generate said polarization motor output signal;
wherein said polarization motor output signal is coupled to motor input data of said polarization platform motor thus rotating said polarizing optic thereby changing the relationship of said polarizing optic to said polarized beam of light;
wherein said first polarization platform rotation measurement device produces a first rotation signal that corresponds to the position of said polarizing optic; and
wherein said first rotation signal is coupled to said polarization rotation measurement input and said first measurement position signal is coupled to said beam position input whereby said device position calculation algorithm generates said position output.
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26. A position measurement device comprising:
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a) a light transmitter comprising; i) a first light source, which is a light source emitting linear polarized light beam of light wherein said first light source is a laser; ii) a polarization varying optic; and iii) a modulator that provides one or more electrical signals to the polarization varying optic; wherein said electrical signals from said modulator are couple with said polarization varying optic; wherein said light source emitting linear polarized light emits a beam with linear polarization; wherein said beam with linear polarization impinges on said polarization varying optic; wherein said polarization varying optic emits a polarization modulated beam; b) a light receiver comprising; i) an aperture for receiving light; ii) a rotating polarizing optical platform comprising; 1) a polarizing optic wherein said polarizing optic is a linear polarizer; 2) a polarization platform rotation measurement device; and 3) a polarization platform motor;
wherein said polarizing optic, said polarization platform rotation measurement device and said polarization platform motor are coupled such that said polarization platform motor rotates said polarizing optic nominally around a polarizing optical axis of rotation;
wherein said polarization platform rotation measurement device provides feedback on a measured rotation position for said polarization platform rotation measurement device, which is a polarization rotation measurement angle;iii) a reference coordinate system comprising; 1) a first radial measurement axis defined with respect to said polarizing optical axis of rotation; 2) a first transverse measurement axis that intersects and is perpendicular to said first radial measurement axis; 3) a second transverse measurement axis that intersects with and is perpendicular to both said first transverse measurement axis and said first radial measurement axis; and 4) a defined first measurement origin where said first radial measurement axis, said first transverse measurement axis, and said second transverse axis intersect; iv) a first measurement photo sensor, which is a first measurement position sensing device comprising; 1) a first measurement intensity signal; and 2) a first measurement position signal; v) a processor comprising; 1) a beam intensity calculation algorithm comprising; a. a measurement intensity input; and b. a polarization intensity output; 2) a beam position calculation algorithm comprising; a. a measure beam position data input; and b. a measure beam position output; 3) a polarization control algorithm comprising; a. a polarization control reference; b. a polarization beam intensity feedback; and c. a polarization motor output signal; 4) a device position calculation algorithm comprising; a. a polarization rotation measurement input; b. a beam position input; c. position output comprising of one or more of the following measurements;
i. distance from said first measurement origin along said first radial measurement axis;
ii. distance from said first measurement origin along said first transverse measurement axis;
iii. distance from said first measurement origin along said second transverse measurement axis;
iv. rotation about said radial measurement axis;
v. rotation about said first transverse measurement axis; and
vi. rotation about said second transverse measurement axis;vi) a communication interface; vii) one or more beam steering platforms each comprising; 1) a beam steering optic; 2) a beam steering position measurement device; and 3) a beam steering motor; viii) wherein said processor further comprises a beam steering control algorithm comprising; 1) a beam steering command; 2) a beam steering position feedback; and 3) a beam steering motor output signal;
wherein said beam steering position feedback is coupled to said measure beam position output;
wherein said beam steering motor output signal is coupled to motor input data of said beam steering motor;
wherein said beam of light impinges on said beam steering optic emitting a light beam directed along an output path;
wherein said device position calculation algorithm further comprises a beam steering position input;
wherein said beam steering position measurement device is coupled to said beam steering position input;
wherein said beam steering control algorithm drives said beam steering motor to control the orientation of direct said light beam directed along an output path toward said polarizing optic;
wherein said beam steering position measurement device is coupled to said beam steering position input whereby said device position calculation algorithm applies said beam steering position input to said position output;wherein said polarized beam of light impinges on said polarizing optic which will transmit a first measurement beam of an intensity that is a function of said polarization rotation measurement angle; wherein said first measurement beam impinges on said first measurement position sensing device producing said first measurement intensity signal and said first measurement position signal; wherein said first measurement intensity signal is coupled to said measurement intensity input whereby said beam intensity calculation algorithm produces said polarization intensity output; wherein said polarization intensity output is coupled to said polarization beam intensity feedback, which is coupled to said polarization control reference, whereby said polarization control algorithm generate said polarization motor output signal; wherein said polarization motor output signal is coupled to motor input data of said polarization platform motor thus rotating said polarizing optic thereby changing the relationship of said polarizing optic to said polarized beam of light; wherein said first polarization platform rotation measurement device produces a first rotation signal that corresponds to the position of said polarizing optic; and wherein said first rotation signal is coupled to said polarization rotation measurement input and said first measurement position signal is coupled to said beam position input whereby said device position calculation algorithm generates said position output.
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Specification