Spatial positioning and measurement system
US5110202A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 31, 1990 |
| Grant date | May 5, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 31, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S5/16
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A spatial positioning and measurement system provides three-dimensional position and/or measurement information of an object using one or more fixed referent station systems, and one or more portable position sensor systems. Each fixed station produces at least one primary laser beam which is rotated at a constant angular velocity about a vertical axis. The primary laser beam has a predetermined angle of divergence or angle of spread which is inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical axis. Each fixed station also preferably includes at least one reflective surface for generating a secondary laser beam. The portable position sensor includes a light sensitive detector, computer, and a display. The light sensitive detector can be formed of at least one "axicon" which directs incoming light to a photosensitive detector. The photosensitive detector generates an electrical pulse when struck by crossing laser beam and sends this pulse to the computer. The computer time labels each received pulse, which corresponds to the time of a laser beam crossing the axicon. For any point which is crossed by the two laser beams, a horizontal angle can be determined from the time difference b…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.