Methods and apparatus for position estimation using reflected light sources
US7996097B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 2010 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/0234
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention is generally related to the estimation of position and orientation of an object with respect to a local or a global coordinate system using reflected light sources. A typical application of the method and apparatus includes estimation and tracking of the position of a mobile autonomous robot. Other applications include estimation and tracking of an object for position-aware, ubiquitous devices. Additional applications include tracking of the positions of people or pets in an indoor environment. The methods and apparatus comprise one or more optical emitters, one or more optical sensors, signal processing circuitry, and signal processing methods to determine the position and orientation of at least one of the optical sensors based at least in part on the detection of the signal of one or more emitted light sources reflected from a surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.