Patent US4583852A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4583852A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Attitude transfer system
Assignee: Applied Biosystems Inc
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Filing: 1983-03-31
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Granted: 1986-04-22
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Expires: 2003-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A system for measuring the relative orientation between two objects. A transmitter/receiver assembly on one of the objects transmits a beam of monochromatic light to a Ronchi-type retro-grating disposed on the other object. The grating reflects the light back to one or more charge transfer device area arrays in the transmitter/receiver assembly which provides orientation data to a computer which determines relative pitch, yaw and roll between the two objects.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence W. Cassidy
- 👤 Douglas R. Everhart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/26; G01C; G01C15/00; G01C15/002; G01C21/00; G01C21/24; G01C25/00; G01C25/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for determining attitude of a first object relative to a second object comprising: first means on said first object for transmitting a beam of monochromatic light, lines grating means on said second object disposed in the path of said beam of monochromatic light for reflecting said beam of monochromatic light as a diffracted fan of collimated light bundles back to said first means, said first means including sensor means having a face disposed in the path of said reflected bundles of light for determining pitch, yaw and roll based on the position of said light bundles falling on said face of said sensor means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for determining attitude of a first object relative to a second object comprising: first means on said first object for transmitting a beam of monochromatic light, lines grating means on said second object disposed in the path of said beam of monochromatic light for reflecting said beam of monochromatic light as a diffracted fan of collimated light bundles back to said first means, said first means including sensor means having a face disposed in the path of said reflected bundles of light for determining pitch, yaw and roll based on the position of said light bundles falling on said face of said sensor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said reflected bundles of light comprise one bundle of zero order and other bundles of ascending orders.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said reflected bundles of light form a line orthogonal to the lines of said line grating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein said sensor means includes, at least one charge transfer device area array disposed in the path of said reflected bundles of light for sensing the light intensity of said zero order and some of the other orders of said bundles of light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said first object is an inertial reference platform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein said sensor means includes second means for determining the centroid of selected ones of said reflected bundles of light falling on said face of said sensor means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein said first means includes, optical means for transmitting said beam of monochromatic light and focussing said reflected bundles of light on said face of said sensor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said line grating means comprises, a ruled reflection grating of the Ronchi type fixed to said second object in the path of said monochromatic beam of light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 8 wherein said face of said charge transfer device area array comprises, a matrix of light collecting pixel elements arranged in an X-Y coordinate system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system according to claim 9 wherein said second means comprises, a microprocessor for determining the position of said first order reflected light bundle relative to the coordinate system of said matrix and of the angle a line connecting the two extreme bundles of light falling on said matrix makes with the coordinate system of said matrix.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-21 | 1989-10-21 | 1990-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-21 | 1993-10-21 | 1994-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-21 | 1997-10-21 | 1998-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |