Patent US3911588A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3911588A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical marker
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1973-05-07
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1993-05-07
Abstract
Abstract An optical marker for use in determining the position of a target point which is in alignment with a given or required point, which generally comprises a projector assembly supported by a substantially threelegged support by means of a gimbaled mechanism for movement in all directions. The projector assembly emits a pair of light beams from both ends thereof which are in alignment with respect to each other: one light beam being adapted to be centered with the given or required point and the other light beam carrying an image of a patterned chart to be projected on an object above the given or required point.
Inventors
- 👤 Shoichi Ohneda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C15/00; G01C15/10; G01C15/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
306 words
An optical marker for use in determining the position of a target point which is in alignment with a given or required point, which comprises: a support structure; a projector assembly including a cylindrical body accommodating therein a light source and a projecting lens unit and a probe downwardly extending from said cylindrical body and having a through hole in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical body, said light source being disposed between said projecting lens unit and said through hole, and said light source and the optical axis of said projecting lens unit also being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical body, said light source, when switched on, emitting a pair of first and second beams of light respeCtively passing through said projecting lens unit and said through hole, said first and second light beams emerging from said projector assembly in a linearly aligned relation with respect to each other in opposite directions; a gimbaled mechanism interposed between said projector assembly and said support structure for mounting said projector assembly on said support structure, said projector assembly thereby permitted to move with 2* of freedom; and a clamping structure carried by said support structure and adapted to clamp said projector assembly, said clamping structure including a pair of shutter members carried thereby for sliding movement towards and away from one another and forming a central opening therebetween through which said probe loosely downwardly extends and a manually operable member operable between first and second positions, said manually operable member being operatively connected to means for moving said shutter members away from one another to release said probe when said manual operable member moves to said first position and for moving said shutter members toward one another to clamp said probe when said manual operable member moves to said second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
306 words
An optical marker for use in determining the position of a target point which is in alignment with a given or required point, which comprises: a support structure; a projector assembly including a cylindrical body accommodating therein a light source and a projecting lens unit and a probe downwardly extending from said cylindrical body and having a through hole in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical body, said light source being disposed between said projecting lens unit and said through hole, and said light source and the optical axis of said projecting lens unit also being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical body, said light source, when switched on, emitting a pair of first and second beams of light respeCtively passing through said projecting lens unit and said through hole, said first and second light beams emerging from said projector assembly in a linearly aligned relation with respect to each other in opposite directions; a gimbaled mechanism interposed between said projector assembly and said support structure for mounting said projector assembly on said support structure, said projector assembly thereby permitted to move with 2* of freedom; and a clamping structure carried by said support structure and adapted to clamp said projector assembly, said clamping structure including a pair of shutter members carried thereby for sliding movement towards and away from one another and forming a central opening therebetween through which said probe loosely downwardly extends and a manually operable member operable between first and second positions, said manually operable member being operatively connected to means for moving said shutter members away from one another to release said probe when said manual operable member moves to said first position and for moving said shutter members toward one another to clamp said probe when said manual operable member moves to said second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical marker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for moving further includes a first spring means for biasing said shutter membes in the opposite, radially outward direction away from each other and thus for biasing said manually operable member towards said first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
130 words
An optical marker as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pair of shutter members have pin members respectively fixed thereon and wherein said means for moving further includes a rotatable disc formed with a central bore defining a pair of opposed cam surfaces, said pin members being in constant engagement with said respective cam surfaces by the biasing force of said first spring means, said shutter members, when said rotatable disc is rotated in one direction in response to the movement of said manually operable member from said first position to said second position, moving close to each other against said biasing force of said first spring member in response to said rotation of said rotatable disc while said pin members are respectively in sliding engagement with said cam surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
189 words
An optical marker as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for moving further includes a third pin member fixed on said rotatable disc and wherein said manually operable member comprises a wire spring member having one end portion fixed to said rotatable disc and the other end portion adapted to receive an external pushing force required to move said manually operable member, a substantially intermediate portion thereof being positioned adjacent said third pin member when said manually operable member is in said second position, said substantially intermediate portion, when said manually operable member is moved towards said first position, contacting said second pin member, thereby rotating said rotatable disc in a direction in which said shutter members are permitted to move away from each other to release said projector assembly and, when said manually operable member is moved in the opposite direction towards said second position, said disc rotating in a direction in which said shutter members move toward each other against the biasing force of said first spring means with said first pin members pressed by said cam surfaces to stationarily hold said projector assembly in position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |