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US4488041A
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US
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Device for measuring the coordinates of a rotating sphere and process for manufacturing part of this device
Assignee: Societe Anonyme de Telecommunications SAT
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Filing: 1982-05-14
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Granted: 1984-12-11
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Expires: 2002-05-14
Abstract
Abstract Device for determining the orientation of an axis, mobile about a point, of a solid in rotation about this axis, particularly a gyroscopic spinner, wherein said device comprises a portion of sphere centered on said point of said axis, of which the surface comprises at least two parts which are respectively absorbent and reflecting for a given radiation, and sensor means sensitive to the radiation reflected by the sphere, the reflecting and absorbent parts being shaped so that the sensor means deliver signals characteristic of the orientation of said axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Jacques Baudot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/04; G01C19/28; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/12; Y10T74/1261; Y10T74/1264
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
Device for determining the orientation of an axis, mobile about a point, of a solid in rotation about this axis, particularly a gyroscopic spinner, wherein said device comprises a portion of sphere centered on said point of said axis, of which the surface of said portion of sphere comprises at least two parts which are respectively absorbent and reflecting for a given radiation and one of said two parts has alternately absorbent and reflecting meridian lines, and sensor means sensitive to the radiation reflected by the sphere, the reflecting and absorbent parts being shaped so that the sensor means deliver signals characteristic of the orientation of said axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
Device for determining the orientation of an axis, mobile about a point, of a solid in rotation about this axis, particularly a gyroscopic spinner, wherein said device comprises a portion of sphere centered on said point of said axis, of which the surface of said portion of sphere comprises at least two parts which are respectively absorbent and reflecting for a given radiation and one of said two parts has alternately absorbent and reflecting meridian lines, and sensor means sensitive to the radiation reflected by the sphere, the reflecting and absorbent parts being shaped so that the sensor means deliver signals characteristic of the orientation of said axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the surface of the sphere is divided into two parts by a curve of which the equation is a monotonic function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 2, wherein the surface of the portion of said sphere is divided into 2n parts by n curves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the two parts has a progressively variable albedo.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 2, wherein one of the two parts of the surface of the sphere comprises alternately absorbent and reflecting meridian lines.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 5, wherein said equation defining the latitude of a point of the curve is: ##EQU12## wherein θ is the rotation angle of the sphere.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the surface of the sphere is divided into 2n parts by n curves of which the equations are monotonic functions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 7, wherein the equations defining the latitude of a point of the curves are ##EQU13## wherein θ is the rotation angle of the sphere and i=0,1 . . . n-1 and ##EQU14##
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 8, wherein n for maximum precision is chosen to be close to the ratio ##EQU15##
Claim 11
Independent Claim
48 words
The device of one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the solid is animated by a movement of precession and two sensors are provided, located in the plane passing through the centre of the sphere and perpendicular to the axis of the cone of precession of the solid.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
39 words
The device of one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said equation, defining the latitude of a point of the curve is: ##EQU16## and two pairs of sensors are provided, wherein θ is the rotation angle of the sphere.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2959060A
Cited
US3328595A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-12-11 | 1988-06-11 | 1988-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-12-11 | 1992-06-11 | 1992-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-12-11 | 1996-06-11 | 1996-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |