Patent · US Active

Determining a position of a mobile apparatus

US9046346B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
3References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 28, 2012
Grant dateJun 2, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 17, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01C3/08
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of determining a position of a mobile apparatus includes: firing a laser mounted on the mobile apparatus; rotating the laser and a first and second photo detector that are disposed proximate the laser while monitoring an amount of rotation; detecting a first amplitude of light received by the first photo detector and a second amplitude of light received by a second photo detector as a function of rotation; identifying a first orientation corresponding to perpendicularity of the laser to a position referencing structure; identifying a second orientation corresponding to perpendicularity of the laser to the position referencing structure; identifying a third orientation corresponding to perpendicularity of the laser to the position referencing structure; and calculating the position of the mobile apparatus based on the first orientation, the second orientation, the third orientation, and a predetermined distance associated with the position referencing structure.

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