US5294970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spatial positioning system
Assignee: Arc Second Inc
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Filing: 1991-09-06
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Granted: 1994-03-15
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Expires: 2011-09-06
Abstract
Abstract A spatial positioning system includes fixed referent stations which emit rotating, divergent laser beams and a portable reflector. Each fixed station also includes a detector and a processor. The portable reflector may include retroreflectors or transponders. When the rotation of the laser beam is such that it is in line with a portable reflector, the transmitted laser beam is reflected off the portable reflector and received at the fixed receiver. For any point which is crossed by the fanned laser beams of a fixed station, a horizontal angle can be determined. Once these horizontal angles are known for three fixed stations, the point of intersection of three planes, and thus the three-dimensional position of the point, is determined.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew W. Dornbusch
- 👤 Eric J. Lundberg
- 👤 Yvan J. Beliveau
- 👤 Timothy Pratt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C15/00; G01C15/002; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/16; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/481; G01S7/4811; G01S7/4813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A spatial positioning and measurement system for determining the instantaneous x-y-z position of an object in a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, said system comprising: a plurality of fixed referent stations located at known locations within a local coordinate system, each said referent station including emitter means for emitting at least two sweeping radiation beams which are divergent in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which they are swept; a portable reflector means for reflecting said beams toward said fixed referent stations; detecting means for detecting said beams, said detecting means generating a signal each time one of said beams is detected; and determination means for determining the x-y-z position of said portable reflector means and each of said other fixed referent stations relative to each other within said local coordinate system based upon said signals generated by said detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A spatial positioning and measurement system for determining the instantaneous x-y-z position of an object in a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, said system comprising: a plurality of fixed referent stations located at known locations within a local coordinate system, each said referent station including emitter means for emitting at least two sweeping radiation beams which are divergent in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which they are swept; a portable reflector means for reflecting said beams toward said fixed referent stations; detecting means for detecting said beams, said detecting means generating a signal each time one of said beams is detected; and determination means for determining the x-y-z position of said portable reflector means and each of said other fixed referent stations relative to each other within said local coordinate system based upon said signals generated by said detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said beams rotate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said beams oscillate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein three of said fixed referent stations are used, each said fixed station producing two rotating laser beams.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein three of said referent stations are used, each said fixed station producing a pair of counter-rotating laser beams.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said detecting means are disposed at each of said fixed referent stations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as in claim 6, wherein said determination means includes a processor which time-labels each of said signals generated by said detecting means, and a central processing system which receives said time-labelled signals generated by said processor and calculates all angle and position information therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system as in claim 7, wherein said reflecting means is a retroreflector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said reflecting means is a retroreflector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said reflecting means is a transponder, and said detecting means is a transponder receiver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as in claim 10, wherein said determination means includes a processor which time-labels each of said signals generated by said detecting means, and a central processing system which receives said time-labelled signals generated by said processor and calculates all angle and position information therefrom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 11, wherein said transponder receiver is disposed at said central processing system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein each of said fixed referent stations generates a pair of rotating laser beams and a third rotating laser beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 13, wherein the laser beams in said pair of laser beams rotate in opposite directions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system as in claim 13, wherein said laser beams pulse periodically.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 15, wherein a shutter is used to cause said laser beams to pulse periodically.
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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) | 1997-03-14 | 1997-09-13 | 1998-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-03-14 | 2001-09-13 | 2002-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-03-14 | 2005-09-13 | 2006-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |