Patent · US Expired

Noncontact position and orientation measurement system and method

US6266142A · kind A · utility

99Cited by
17References
45Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 1999
Grant dateJul 24, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 20, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S1/70
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A noncontact position and orientation measurement system includes at least four beacons disposed on a first object. Each beacon is operable to generate an optical signal. The system also includes a beacon controller operable to sequentially activate and deactivate each of the beacons. The system also includes an electro-optical sensor disposed on a second object. The electro-optical sensor is operable to generate an output signal for each optical signal received from the beacons. The system further includes a signal con-roller coupled to the electro-optical sensor. The signal controller is operable to determine a position and an orientation of the second object relative to the first object using the output signals generated by the electro-optical sensor.

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