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Distance based position sensing

  • US 8,817,239 B2
  • Filed: 05/29/2012
  • Issued: 08/26/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:

  • first and second targets each comprising a retro reflector arrays;

    a laser distance meter (LDM) configured to emit a laser beam and to determine first and second distances between the LDM and the first and second targets, respectively, such that the targets reflect the laser beam back to the LDM, wherein the first and second targets have known positions in three dimensions with respect to a reference plane relative to which the LDM is located;

    a trilateration unit configured to compute a two dimensional position of the LDM relative to the targets based, at least in part, on the first and second distances; and

    where the first and second targets are configured to intermittently shield the retro reflector arrays from the laser beam.

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