Method and apparatus for determining the position of a retroreflective element
US5301005A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 1993 |
| Grant date | Apr 5, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/06
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and system for determining the position of at least one position retroreflective element in a predetermined frame of reference using two benchmark positions of known coordinates. A light transmitting and detecting means and a reference retroreflective element are oppositely positioned at a primary benchmark position located at known first coordinates and a secondary benchmark position located at known second coordinates. The light transmitting and detecting means takes angular measurements by sensing a reflected light beam from the position and reference retroreflective elements. After taking angular measurements in the above configuration, the light transmitting and detecting means and the reference retroreflective element are transposed and additional angular measurements are taken. From the angular measurements, the position of the position retroreflective element is determined in the coordinate frame of reference. In addition, the light transmitting and detecting means may be further positioned at an intermediate benchmark position having unknown coordinates. After determining the coordinates of the intermediate benchmark position, angular measurements taken at the int…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.