Patent US5579102A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5579102A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Transmitter and receiver units for spatial position measurement system
Assignee: Nikon Metrology NV
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Filing: 1995-10-05
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Granted: 1996-11-26
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Expires: 2015-10-05
Abstract
Abstract Improved transmitter and receiver units for use in spatial measurement system that are easy and inexpensive to manufacture while providing a high degree of reliability are disclosed. Specifically, the laser transmitter includes a laser emitter, a bearing/motor assembly coupled to the laser emitter, the bearing/motor assembly including a rotatable hollow spindle shaft through which a laser beam generated by the laser emitter passes and a motor for driving the spindle shaft, a prism assembly coupled to the spindle shaft, wherein the prism assembly divides the laser beam generated by the laser emitter into a pair of fanned laser beams, and reflecting means for reflecting the fanned laser beams generated by the prism assembly as counter-rotating fanned laser beams. The receiver unit preferably includes at least one optical receiver coupled to an extension member, a processing unit coupled to the optical receiver, and a receiver interface coupled to the processing unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy Pratt
- 👤 Andrew W. Dornbusch
- 👤 Yvan J. Beliveau
- 👤 Eric J. Lundberg
- 👤 Michael H. Sweeney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C15/00; G01C15/002; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/88; G01S17/89; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/481; G01S7/4811; G01S7/4813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A laser transmitter unit for a spatial measurement system comprising: a laser emitter; a bearing/motor assembly coupled to the laser emitter, the bearing/motor assembly including a rotatable hollow spindle shaft through which a laser beam generated by the laser emitter passes and a motor for driving the spindle shaft; a prism assembly coupled to the spindle shaft, wherein the prism assembly divides the laser beam generated by the laser emitter into a pair of fanned laser beams; and reflecting means for reflecting the fanned laser beams generated by the prism assembly as counter-rotating fanned laser beams.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A laser transmitter unit for a spatial measurement system comprising: a laser emitter; a bearing/motor assembly coupled to the laser emitter, the bearing/motor assembly including a rotatable hollow spindle shaft through which a laser beam generated by the laser emitter passes and a motor for driving the spindle shaft; a prism assembly coupled to the spindle shaft, wherein the prism assembly divides the laser beam generated by the laser emitter into a pair of fanned laser beams; and reflecting means for reflecting the fanned laser beams generated by the prism assembly as counter-rotating fanned laser beams.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laser transmitter unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical exit window through which the fanned laser beams are reflected by the reflecting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser transmitter unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflecting means comprises a 90 degree fold mirror.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laser transmitter unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prism assembly includes a first beam splitting prism coupled to a second reflective prism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A laser transmitter unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a light emitting side of the first beam splitting prism is offset from a light emitting side of the second reflective prism, with respect to an axis of rotation of the prism assembly, by an angle phi.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A laser transmitter unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the light emitting side of the first beam splitting prism and the light emitting side of the reflecting prism each include a cylindrical lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laser transmitter unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cylindrical lens of the first beam splitting prism is rotated with respect to the cylindrical lens of the second reflecting prism by an angle gamma.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laser transmitter unit as claimed in claim 6, further comprising dummy cylindrical lenses bonded to second sides of the first beam splitting prism and the second reflecting prism opposite to the light emitting sides thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser transmitter unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflecting means comprises a ninety degree fold mirror.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser transmitter unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing/motor assembly includes a hydrodynamic gas bearing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
140 words
A spatial measurement system comprising: at least two transmitter units and at least one receiver unit, wherein the transmitter units include a laser emitter; a bearing/motor assembly coupled to the laser emitter, the bearing/motor assembly including a rotatable hollow spindle shaft through which a laser beam generated by the laser emitter passes and a motor for driving the spindle shaft; a prism assembly coupled to the spindle shaft, wherein the prism assembly divides the laser beam generated by the laser emitter into a pair of fanned laser beams; and reflecting means for reflecting the fanned laser beams generated by the prism assembly as counter-rotating fanned laser beams; and wherein the receiver unit includes at least one optical receiver coupled to an extension member; a processing unit coupled to the optical receiver; and a receiver interface coupled to the processing unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
140 words
A spatial measurement system comprising: at least two transmitter units and at least one receiver unit, wherein the transmitter units include a laser emitter; a bearing/motor assembly coupled to the laser emitter, the bearing/motor assembly including a rotatable hollow spindle shaft through which a laser beam generated by the laser emitter passes and a motor for driving the spindle shaft; a prism assembly coupled to the spindle shaft, wherein the prism assembly divides the laser beam generated by the laser emitter into a pair of fanned laser beams; and reflecting means for reflecting the fanned laser beams generated by the prism assembly as counter-rotating fanned laser beams; and wherein the receiver unit includes at least one optical receiver coupled to an extension member; a processing unit coupled to the optical receiver; and a receiver interface coupled to the processing unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A spatial measurement system as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least two transmitter units are commonly mounted on a rotation device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A spatial measurement system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the receiver unit is a telescopic receiver unit.
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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) | 1999-11-26 | 2000-05-27 | 2000-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-26 | 2004-05-27 | 2004-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-26 | 2008-05-27 | 2008-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |