Patent · US Expired

Object orienting systems and systems and processes relating thereto

US5052799A · kind A · utility

40Cited by
9References
59Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 17, 1989
Grant dateOct 1, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 17, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05D1/0272
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A reference signal used for orienting an object has a beam of electromagnetic radiation with a first signal component that is a rotating component and also a second signalcomponent which is periodically generated when the first signal component is in a predetermined direction. The beam may be a linearly polarized laser light beam with a rotating plane of polarization, an unpolarized laser light beam with a rotating and shaped image of predetermined configuration, or a linearly polarized microwave beam with a rotating plane of polarization. The second signal component may be generated as a component of the beam bearing the first signal component or separately generated and propagated. Provisions are made for receiving and comparing the direction indicated by the reference signal with the direction of the object to be oriented and the information derived from the comparison is analyzed and processed to provide an output signal that useful in orienting the object. The orientation of video displays, vehicles and parts of vehicles are illustrated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.