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US4840445A
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System for locating an object in space
Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et Aux Énergies Alternatives
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Filing: 1988-06-09
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Granted: 1989-06-20
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Expires: 2008-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A system for locating an object in latitude and longitude is disclosed. A rotating and oscillating mirror makes a laser beam deflect. A sensor fixed to the object indicates the locating instant. A screen that scatters and/or reflects towards a second sensor, on which are stretched reflecting and/or scattering cords, provides latitudinal and longitudinal position-identification of the deflection of the beam. The invention can be applied to robotics.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard Lerat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:31
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q17/00; B23Q17/24; B23Q17/2428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A system for locating an object, comprising a light emitting means emitting a light beam, a device that communicates, to the emitted light beam, a deflection that is variable as a function of time, making it perform scans along two directions, i.e. latitude and longitude, of a space in which the object is placed, a device enabling the measurement of this deflection, a first sensor which is fixed to the object and is sensitive to a first portion of the deflected light beam as well as a means to determine the direction of a second portion of the deflected light beam at the instant when the first portion of the deflected light beam sensitizes the first sensor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A system for locating an object, comprising a light emitting means emitting a light beam, a device that communicates, to the emitted light beam, a deflection that is variable as a function of time, making it perform scans along two directions, i.e. latitude and longitude, of a space in which the object is placed, a device enabling the measurement of this deflection, a first sensor which is fixed to the object and is sensitive to a first portion of the deflected light beam as well as a means to determine the direction of a second portion of the deflected light beam at the instant when the first portion of the deflected light beam sensitizes the first sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system for locating an object according to claim 1 wherein the device for communicating the deflection of the emitted light beam includes a rotational reflecting mirror.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system for locating an object according to claim 2 wherein the mirror has the shape of a cylinder with a regular polygon as its base, with a lateral surface consisting of reflecting facets and rotating on a longitudinal axis of symmetry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system for locating an object according to claim 3 comprising a device that makes the cylinder oscillate on a second axis which is substantially colinear with the axis of the emitted light beam between the light emitting means and the mirror.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A system for locating an object according to claim 1 wherein the device used to measure the reflection comprises a screen disposed after the device communicating the deflection, one part of the surface of which sends back by reflection and/or scattering, the second portion of the deflected light beam to a second sensor sensitive to the reflected and/or scattered light beams in order to determine the direction of the second portion of the deflected light beam according to the latitudinal and longitudinal deflections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system for locating an object according to claim 5 wherein the second portion of the deflected light beam simultaneously performs periodic longitudinal and latitudinal scans, the latitudinal scan having a frequency that is far higher than that of the longitudinal scan and wherein the reflecting and/or scattering surface of the screen comprises a first border reached by the second portion of the deflected light beam at extreme latitudinal deflections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system for locating an object according to claim 6 wherein the reflecting and/or scattering surface of the screen further comprises cords that are evenly distributed so that the second portion of the reflected light beam reaches at least one of said cords during a latitudinal scan, and the coordinates of points of impingement thereon, expressed in latitude and longitude, are governed by a linear equation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system for locating an object according to claim 7 wherein the cords reached by the second portion of the deflected light beam during a latitudinal scan are two in number.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system for locating an object according to claim 6 wherein the reflecting and/or scattering surface of the screen further comprises a second border reached by the second portion of the deflected light beam at extreme longitudinal deflections.
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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) | 1992-06-19 | 1992-12-19 | 1993-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-19 | 1996-12-19 | 1997-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-19 | 2000-12-19 | 2001-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |