Measurement device for determining the three-dimensional orientation of a body relative to a reference direction

• US 20020165688A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PRÜFTECHNIK Dieter Busch AG (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: PRÜFTECHNIK Dieter Busch AG (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Hermann, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,718,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/153
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/22 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/166 Mechanical, construction or arrangement details of inertial navigation systems

Abstract

The three-dimensional orientation of a body relative to a reference direction is determined with increased accuracy by using a gyro-based azimuth and elevation measurement device which has at least four and preferably eight individual gyros. The individual gyros are positioned such that they react to rotary motions in different directions of space. In a first step all orientation measurement values are determined which are made available by three gyros at a time combined into a so-called triad. In a second step these measured values are combined in evaluated or unevaluated form into an overall measurement value of higher precision.

Claims

1. Measurement device for determining the three-dimensional orientation of a body relative to a reference direction, with a housing for resting on the surface or one edge of a body to be measured, and with a plurality of gyro systems for determining the proportional rotary motion around one axis of symmetry at a time assigned to them, characterized in that at least four, preferably other individual gyros are present within the housing and are oriented to different three-dimensional directions, and all combinations of three individual gyros at a time which can be combined into a so-called gyro triad yielding one first measurement result at a time which identifies the three-dimensional angular orientation of the measurement device or a body which has made contact with it so that a plurality of initial measurement results is made available and from the plurality of initial measurement results an overall measurement result is determined which has a more accurate angular orientation of the measurement device or of a body which has made contact with it.

2. Measurement device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the different three-dimensional directions relate to one point of symmetry and correspond essentially to the directions of the surface normals of a regular polyhedron in the form of a tetrahedron or an octahedron.

3. Measurement device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the different three-dimensional directions relate to one line of symmetry and correspond essentially to the directions which are defined by the normals of the lateral surfaces of an at least 4-sided pyramid.

4. Measurement device as claimed in claim 2, wherein there are eight individual gyros with predominant axes of symmetry which are aligned parallel to the surface normals of a regular octahedron.