Gyroscopic system for boresighting equipment by optically acquiring and transferring parallel and non-parallel lines
US5438404A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 16, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C21/166
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A gyroscopic system and method is provided for translating parallel and non-parallel lines between a reference line and a device to be aligned with respect to the reference line. A first inertial sensor is provided that is configured to be substantially stationary. This inertial sensor is boresighted with respect to the reference line and includes at least two gyroscopes and a mirror having first and second nonplanar surfaces. A second, portable inertial sensor is provided that includes a gimbal, a gimbal drive system, an electronic energy beam generator, a collimator, and at least two gyroscopes. One or more of the electronic beam generator, collimator, and gyroscopes can optionally be mounted on a platform that is mounted on the gimbal and adapted to move in accordance with signals from the gimbal drive system. A control circuit is provided that is operable to measure output signals generated by the first and second inertial sensor gyroscopes and to determine relative orientations of the inertial sensors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.