Position determination using synthetic wave laser ranging
US9025141B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 8, 2013 |
| Grant date | May 5, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 8, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01B2290/45
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Systems and methods for determining the position of an object in a coordinate system. An exemplary system includes three or more laser ranging sensors each configured to direct a sensor beam of continuous-wave light toward a target. Light reflecting off the target interferes with the sensor beam creating an interference beam. The interference beam is combined with local oscillator beams in each laser ranging sensor to create a synthetic wave beam. Each of the laser ranging sensors also includes an array of photodetectors that sense the synthetic wave beam, and is able to measure a distance to the target based on output from the array of photodetectors. The system further includes a controller that receives a distance measurement from each of the laser ranging sensors, and calculates a position of the target in the coordinate system based on the distance measurements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.