Read-out means for locating and positioning objects with respect to a laser beam reference

Claim 1

Means for remotely locating and positioning objects with respect to a fixed parametric guideline comprising: means generating and projecting a laser beam in space to define a parametric guideline; an object to be positioned with respect to said guideline; optical means mounted on said object and having a reference index therein at a know relative orientation therewith; and remote control means for positioning said object such that said reference index is impinged by said laser beam when said object is properly positioned with respect to said guideline; said optical means comprising at least one elongated fiber optic bundle having an input end and an output end, said input end comprising said reference index and said bundle extending from said object to a point at which said output end thereof is adjacent said remote control means; said optical means further including a plurality of said elongated fiber optic bundles having input and output ends substantially coterminate with said one bundle; said input ends being arranged in a predetermined array about said reference index and said output ends being arranged in a like array about the output end of said one bundle adjacent said control means; each of said plurality of bundles, when its respective input end is impinged by said laser beam, transmitting said illumination of said laser beam to its respective output end in like manner to said one bundle to provide a visual display at said control means of the relative position of said laser beam and said reference index; each said bundle comprising a plurality of coterminate optical fibers in random relative orientation; said input ends being impinged by said laser beam when said object is properly referenced to said guideline; and said fiber optic bundles transmitting the illumination of said laser beam to said output ends with the same apparent brightness as a direct in-line viewing of said beam at said input ends and precluding collimated coherent emission of said illumination at said output ends, thereby providing a visual indication at said control means of said proper reference of said object to said guideline.