System and method for the measurement of full relative position and orientation of objects

• US 20070001051A1
• Filed: 08/03/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Inventors: Rastegar, Jahangir S., Pereira, Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 7,425,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/3.100
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/001 Devices or systems for testing or checking
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/34 based on predetermined target position data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0247 Determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/024 using polarisation effects in waveguides H01P1/165; for aerials H01Q, e.g. H01Q15/22, H01Q15/24, H01Q19/195

Abstract

Methods are provided where: a signal is transmitted from an illuminating source and received cavity waveguides disposed on an object; a position and/or orientation of the object is determined based on the signal received in the waveguides; and data representing the determined position and/or orientation is transmitted to a remote location or generated for use in the object. The illuminating source can also be moved to indicate a change in a predetermined trajectory or target position where a new position and/or orientation of the object is determined based on the signal received in the waveguides and the object is controlled to change the predetermined trajectory or target position to the indicated new predetermined trajectory or new target position. A change can also be detected in the predetermined trajectory or target position and the object controlled to correct the change.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data from a moving object to a remote location, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal from an illuminating source;

receiving the signal at three or more cavity waveguides disposed on the object;

determining a position and/or orientation of the object relative to the illuminating source based on a strength of the signal received in the three or more cavity waveguides; and

transmitting data representing the determined position and/or orientation to the remote location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the transmitted data at the object.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising digitizing the data prior to transmission.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the transmitted data at the remote location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote location is a location from which the signal is transmitted.

6. A method for generating data representing a determined position and/or orientation of a moving object, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal from an illuminating source;

receiving the signal at three or more cavity waveguides disposed on the object;

determining a position and/or orientation of the object relative to the illuminating source based on a strength of the signal received in the three or more cavity waveguides; and

generating data representing the determined position and/or orientation for use in the object.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising utilizing the data for guidance and control of the object.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising utilizing the data for validating position and/or orientation data from another system.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising utilizing the data for setting and/or resetting inertia based sensors in the object.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising utilizing the data for carrying out a command associated with the object.

11. A method for changing a predetermined trajectory or target position of a moving object, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal from an illuminating source;

receiving the signal at three or more cavity waveguides disposed on the object;

determining a position and/or orientation of the object relative to the illuminating source based on a strength of the signal received in the three or more cavity waveguides;

moving the illuminating source to indicate a change in the predetermined trajectory or target position to a new predetermined trajectory or new target position;

determining the new position and/or orientation of the object relative to the illuminating source based on a strength of the signal received in the three or more cavity waveguides; and

controlling the object to change the predetermined trajectory or target position to the indicated new a predetermined trajectory or new target position.

12. A method for correcting a predetermined trajectory or target position of a moving object, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal from an illuminating source;

receiving the signal at three or more cavity waveguides disposed on the object;

determining a position and/or orientation of the object relative to the illuminating source based on a strength of the signal received in the three or more cavity waveguides;

detecting a change in the predetermined trajectory or target position; and

controlling the object to correct the change in the predetermined trajectory or target position.