Noncontact position measurement system using optical sensors

US5552883A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US

Inventors

• Ilene J. Busch-Vishniac · Baltimore, US
• Alvin B. Buckman · Austin, US
• Janardhan K. Pavuluri · Austin, US
• Wanjun Wang · Baton Rouge, US
• Dahong Qian · Westford, US
• Vladimir Mancevski · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 21, 1994
• Grant date: Sep 3, 1996
• Expiry date: Nov 21, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/88
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Optical and computational components are combined to form a high precision, six degree-of-freedom, single-sided, noncontact position measurement system. Reflective optical targets are provided on a target object whose position is to be sensed. Light beams are directed toward the optical targets, producing reflected beams. Electrical signals are produced indicating the points of intersection of the reflected beams and the position-sensitive detectors. The position sensitive detectors may be lateral-effect photodiodes. The signals are transformed to provide measurements of translation along and rotation around three nonparallel axes which define the space in which the target object moves.