US4488173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of sensing the position and orientation of elements in space
Assignee: Acuity CiMatrix Inc
•
Filing: 1983-02-04
•
Granted: 1984-12-11
•
Expires: 2003-02-04
Abstract
Abstract The invention discloses a method of determining the position and orientation of an element (such as a platform) in space by determining the intersection of a line with a plane (or with another line). Three different implementations are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Di Matteo
- 👤 Paul Rademacher
- 👤 Howard Stern
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/002; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S5/00; G01S5/16; G01S5/163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of sensing the positional orientation of elements in space, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of light sensors on an element which is movable in space; said element comprising a transparent plate having patterns projected thereon; providing a pair of light projectors at positions spaced from said element; directing light beams from said projectors at said light sensors; modulating the angular position of said light beams over time; and correlating the time of illumination of each sensor with the position of the projected beam at the time of such illumination, so as to determine the angular position of each sensor with respect to each of said projectors.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of sensing the positional orientation of elements in space, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of light sensors on an element which is movable in space; said element comprising a transparent plate having patterns projected thereon; providing a pair of light projectors at positions spaced from said element; directing light beams from said projectors at said light sensors; modulating the angular position of said light beams over time; and correlating the time of illumination of each sensor with the position of the projected beam at the time of such illumination, so as to determine the angular position of each sensor with respect to each of said projectors.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of sensing the positional orientation of elements in space, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of light sensors on an element which is movable in space; said light sensors comprising solid state TV chip means; providing a pair of light projectors at positions spaced from said element; directing light beams from said projectors at said light sensors; modulating the angular position of said light beams over time; and correlating the time of illumination of each sensor with the position of the projected beam at the time of such illumination, so as to determine the angular position of each sensor with respect to each of said projectors.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of sensing the positional orientation of elements in space, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of light sensors on an element which is movable in space; said light sensors comprising solid state TV chip means; providing a pair of light projectors at positions spaced from said element; directing light beams from said projectors at said light sensors; modulating the angular position of said light beams over time; and correlating the time of illumination of each sensor with the position of the projected beam at the time of such illumination, so as to determine the angular position of each sensor with respect to each of said projectors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 2, and rotating a color wheel for simultaneous transmission of projector codes.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of sensing the positional orientation of elements in space, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of light sensors on an element which is movable in space; said light sensors comprising an object having a predetermined shape; providing a pair of light projectors at positions spaced from said element; directing light beams from said projectors at said light sensors; modulating the angular position of said light beams over time; and correlating the time of illumination of each sensor with the position of the projected beam at the time of such illumination, so as to determine the angular position of each sensor with respect to each of said projectors.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of sensing the positional orientation of elements in space, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of light sensors on an element which is movable in space; said light sensors comprising an object having a predetermined shape; providing a pair of light projectors at positions spaced from said element; directing light beams from said projectors at said light sensors; modulating the angular position of said light beams over time; and correlating the time of illumination of each sensor with the position of the projected beam at the time of such illumination, so as to determine the angular position of each sensor with respect to each of said projectors.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of sensing the positional orientation of elements in space, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of light sensors on an element which is movable in space; said light sensors comprising rotating light detector means; providing a pair of light projectors at positions spaced from said element; directing light beams from said projectors at said light sensors; modulating the angular position of said light beams over time; and correlating the time of illumination of each sensor with the position of the projected beam at the time of such illumination, so as to determine the angular position of each sensor with respect to each of said projectors.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of sensing the positional orientation of elements in space, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of light sensors on an element which is movable in space; said light sensors comprising rotating light detector means; providing a pair of light projectors at positions spaced from said element; directing light beams from said projectors at said light sensors; modulating the angular position of said light beams over time; and correlating the time of illumination of each sensor with the position of the projected beam at the time of such illumination, so as to determine the angular position of each sensor with respect to each of said projectors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3793481A
Cited
US4396945A
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 |