Multidirectional retroreflectors

• US RE41,877 E1
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
• Inventors: Parker, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben; Loha
• Application Number:
  US12/015,352
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 359/529, 359/578, 359/638, 359/872, 359/224, 356/517, 356/485, 356/3.07, 356/4.09, 356/364, 356/498, 356/124, 356/500, 356/632, 356/472, 356/510, 356/487, 356/615, 356/622, 356/508, 356/614, 356/620, 356/459, 356/139.08, 356/141.1, 356/455, 356/486, 356/3.11, 356/608, 356/613, 372/25, 372/26, 372/57, 372/94, 372/97, 250/221, 250/225, 250/203.2, 250/231.16, 250/237.G, 250/559.33, 455/67.16, 430/5, 430/30, 332/93, 367/178, 353/34, 353/82
• US Class Current: 359/529
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/74 Systems using reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/466 by Trilateration, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the distance to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, i.e. the distance between the antennas or sensors, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/122 cube corner, trihedral or triple reflector type

Abstract

Multidirectional retroreflectors and methods of reflecting light beams from multiple directions are provided. The multidirectional retroreflectors utilize a four-mirror retroreflector with a common virtual reflection point.

Claims

1. A multi-directional retroreflector comprising:

a first mirror;

a first retroreflector, wherein the first mirror is positioned to reflect a light beam onto the first retroreflector and wherein the optical path length to the first retroreflector from the first mirror is equal to the optical path length from the first retroreflector mirror to a virtual position point; and

a second retroreflector, wherein the second retroreflector is positioned at one of the virtual position or is positioned point and a position away from the virtual position at a position that has the same optical path length as the optical path length to a second mirror point, wherein, in the position away from the virtual point, the optical path length to the second retroreflector from a second mirror is equal to the optical path length from the second mirror to the virtual point.

2. The multi-directional retroreflector of claim 1, wherein the first retroreflector is a three-mirror retroreflector.

3. The multi-directional retroreflector of claim 1, wherein the first retroreflector is a cat'"'"'s eye retroreflector.

4. The multi-directional retroreflector of claim 1, wherein the first mirror and the first retroreflector are mounted together by a mount.

5. The multi-directional retroreflector of claim 4, wherein the mount is magnetic.

6. The multi-directional retroreflector of claim 1, wherein the first mirror and the first retroreflector are mounted on a flat, three ball, Kelvin or V foot mount.

7. A multi-directional retroreflector comprising:

a mirror;

a retroreflector, wherein the mirror is positioned to reflect a light beam onto the retroreflector and wherein the optical path length to the retroreflector from the mirror is equal to the optical path length from the retroreflector mirror to a virtual position; and

a cubic, spherical or cylindrical manifold, wherein the mirror and the retroreflector are adjustably mounted to the manifold by an adjustable mount.

8. The multi-directional retroreflector of claim 7, wherein the manifold is cubic.

9. The multi-directional retroreflector of claim 7, wherein the retroreflector is a three-mirror retroreflector.

10. The multi-directional retroreflector of claim 7, wherein the retroreflector is a cat'"'"'s eye retroreflector.

11. The multi-directional retroreflector of claim 7, wherein the adjustable mount is a V foot, three-point, or conical foot.

12. The multi-directional retroreflector of claim 7, wherein the manifold is spherical.

13. The multi-directional retroreflector of claim 7, wherein the manifold is cylindrical.

14. A method of reflecting one or more light beams from multiple directions comprising:

reflecting a light beam off of a mirror and onto a retroreflector mounted on a manifold at a first position; and

moving the retroreflector to a second position on the manifold and reflecting a light beam off of beam off of the mirror and the retroreflector mounted at the second position by an adjustable mount, wherein the retroreflector in the first position and the retroreflector in the second position have the same virtual point.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the manifold is cubic, spherical or cylindrical.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the retroreflector is a three-mirror retroreflector.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the retroreflector is a cat'"'"'s eye retroreflector.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the adjustable mount is a V foot, three-point, or conical foot.

19. A method of reflecting one or more light beams from multiple directions comprising:

reflecting a light beam off of a first mirror and onto a first retroreflector, wherein the optical path length to the first retroreflector from the first mirror is equal to the optical path length from the first retroreflector mirror to a virtual position point; and

reflecting a light beam off of a second retroreflector, wherein the second retroreflector is positioned at one of the virtual position or is positioned point and a position away from the virtual position at a position that has the same optical path length as the optical path length to a second mirror. point, wherein, in the position away from the virtual point, the optical path length to the second retroreflector from a second mirror is equal to the optical path length from the second mirror to the virtual point.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first retroreflector is a three-mirror retroreflector.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first retroreflector is a cat'"'"'s eye retroreflector.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the first mirror and the first retroreflector are mounted together by a mount.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the mount is magnetic.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the first mirror and the first retroreflector are mounted on a flat, three ball, Kelvin or V foot mount.

25. A distance measuring device comprising:

a first reflective surface;

a first reflector, wherein the first reflective surface is positioned to reflect electromagnetic waves onto the first reflector and wherein the path length to the first reflector from the first reflective surface is equal to the path length from the first reflective surface to a virtual point; and

a second reflector, wherein the second reflector is positioned at one of the virtual point and a position away from the virtual point, wherein, in the position away from the virtual point, a second reflective surface is positioned to reflect electromagnetic waves onto the second reflector and the path length to the second reflector from the second reflective surface is equal to the path length from the second reflective surface to the virtual point.

26. The distance measuring device of claim 25, wherein at least one of the reflectors is a retroreflector.

27. The distance measuring device of claim 26, wherein the retroreflector is a three-mirror retroreflector.

28. The distance measuring device of claim 26, wherein the retroreflector is a cat'"'"'s eye retroreflector.

29. The distance measuring device of claim 25, wherein at least one of the reflectors is a target.

30. The distance measuring device of claim 25, wherein the electromagnetic waves are light beams.

31. The distance measuring device of claim 25, wherein the electromagnetic waves are microwaves.

32. The distance measuring device of claim 25, wherein the electromagnetic waves are radio waves.

33. The distance measuring device of claim 25, wherein the first reflective surface and the first reflector are mounted together by a mount.

34. The distance measuring device of claim 33, wherein the mount is magnetic.

35. The distance measuring device of claim 25, wherein the first reflective surface and the first reflector are mounted on a flat, three ball, Kelvin or V foot mount.

36. The distance measuring device of claim 25, further comprising:

a probe located at the virtual point; and

a mount for mounting the first reflector, the first reflective surface, and the probe together.

37. A method of reflecting at least two electromagnetic waves from multiple directions comprising:

reflecting a first electromagnetic wave off of a first reflective surface and onto a first reflector, wherein the path length to the first reflector from the first reflective surface is equal to the path length from the first reflective surface to a virtual point; and

reflecting a second electromagnetic wave off of a second reflector, wherein the second reflector is positioned at one of the virtual point and a position away from the virtual point, wherein, in the position away from the virtual point, a second reflective surface is positioned to reflect electromagnetic waves onto the second reflector and the path length to the second reflector from the second reflective surface is equal to the path length from the second reflective surface to the virtual point.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the electromagnetic waves are reflected simultaneously.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the electromagnetic waves are reflected without adjusting the reflective surfaces and the reflectors.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein at least one of the reflectors is a retroreflector.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the retroreflector is a three-mirror retroreflector.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the retroreflector is a cat'"'"'s eye retroreflector.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein at least one of the reflectors is a target.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the electromagnetic waves are light beams.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein the electromagnetic waves are microwaves.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the electromagnetic waves are radio waves.

47. The method of claim 37, wherein the first reflective surface and the first reflector are mounted together by a mount.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the mount is magnetic.

49. The method of claim 37, wherein the first reflective surface and the first reflector are mounted on a flat, three ball, Kelvin or V foot mount.

50. A method of reflecting at least two electromagnetic waves in multiple directions virtually originating from a common point comprising:

reflecting a first electromagnetic wave from a first reflector off of a first reflective surface in a first direction beam, wherein the optical path length from the first reflector to the first reflective surface is equal to the optical path length from the first reflective surface to a virtual point; and

reflecting a second electromagnetic wave from a second reflector in a second direction beam, wherein the second reflector is positioned at one of the virtual point and a position away from the virtual point, wherein, in the position away from the virtual point, a second reflective surface is positioned to reflect the second electromagnetic wave onto the second reflector and the optical path length from the second reflector to the second reflective surface is equal to the optical path length from the second reflective surface to the virtual point;

wherein the first direction beam and the second direction beam intersect at the virtual point.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the electromagnetic waves are reflected simultaneously.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the electromagnetic waves are reflected without adjusting the reflective surfaces and the reflectors.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein at least one of the reflectors is a retroreflector.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the retroreflector is a three-mirror retroreflector.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the retroreflector is a cat'"'"'s eye retroreflector.

56. The method of claim 50, wherein at least one of the reflectors is a target.

57. The method of claim 50, wherein the electromagnetic waves are light beams.

58. The method of claim 50, wherein the electromagnetic waves are microwaves.

59. The method of claim 50, wherein the electromagnetic waves are radio waves.

60. The method of claim 50, wherein the first reflective surface and the first reflector are mounted together by a mount.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the mount is magnetic.

62. The method of claim 50, wherein the first reflective surface and the first reflector are mounted on a flat, three ball, Kelvin or V foot mount.

63. The method of claim 50, wherein a probe is located at the virtual point and the probe is mounted together with the first reflector and the first reflective surface.