# US 10,365,161 B2 · Beam alignment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,365,161 B2 - Document ID: US10365161B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/624,088 - Filed: 2017-06-15 - Published: 2017-12-21 - Granted: 2019-07-30 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-15 - Assignees: FFE Limited - Applicants: FFE Limited - Inventors: Jacob Andelin; Gareth Dibden; Marcus Perch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10365161B2 ## CPC - G01J 5/0896: {using a light source, e.g. for illuminating a surface} - G01B 11/24: for measuring contours or curvatures - G08B 17/103: using a light emitting and receiving device - G08B 29/20: Calibration, including self-calibrating arrangements - G01J 5/80: Calibration (using comparison with reference sources G01J5/52) - G08B 17/10: Actuation by presence of smoke or gases {, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means} - G08B 29/18: Prevention or correction of operating errors (G08B29/02, G08B29/12 take precedence) - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract A method for aligning a projected beam on a reflector in a reflective-type beam detector, the method including adjusting the projected beam so as to: project on to substantially all, if not all, of a reflective surface of the reflector; or project on to at least a portion of a reflective surface of the reflector until a constant, or within a predetermined threshold of a constant, signal is received from the reflector; and detecting one or more edges of the reflective surface of the reflector and thereby: centering the projected beam, so as to align an approximate center of the projected beam on, or within a predetermined threshold of, an approximate center of the reflective surface of the reflector; and/or determining a shape or profile of the reflector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for auto-aligning a projected optical beam transmitted by an optical source onto a reflector in a reflective-type optical beam detector, the method comprising: (a) projecting a flat and wide optical beam providing illumination of a size larger than a reflective surface of the reflector; (b) adjusting the projected beam so as to project onto all of the reflective surface of the reflector; (c) detecting one or more edges of the reflective surface of the reflector, and wherein the method further comprising one or more of: (i) centering the projected beam while fully illuminating the reflective surface of the reflector, so as to align an approximate center of the projected beam on, or within a predetermined threshold of, an approximate center of the reflective surface of the reflector; and (ii) determining a shape or profile of the reflector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, prior to the step of adjusting the method comprises conducting visual targeting of the reflector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising projecting the beam to a first projected location in a vicinity of the reflector and, if no signal is detected from the reflector or a signal detected is less than an operable threshold, projecting the beam either constantly or intermittently while tracing at least part of a circumjacent pathway around the first projected location in order to detect a location of the reflector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein adjusting additionally comprises adjusting transmitter power and receiver gain. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steps of adjusting or detecting each comprises a series of one or more incremental movements of the projected beam in one or more of altitudinal and lateral directions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method as claimed in claim 5 additionally comprising, during adjusting or detecting, monitoring a signal received from the reflector after each incremental movement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of centering comprises calculating a number of incremental movements from one edge of the reflector to an opposed edge of the reflector and determining a median. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflective-type beam detector is configured to be an optical beam smoke detector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the circumjacent pathway incrementally increases in size after each full trace around the first projected location. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising, while tracing: if a signal is detected or any signal detected meets the operable threshold at a subsequently projected location, terminating the search as the reflector has been located; or if no signal is detected from the reflector or any signal detected is less than an operable threshold at a subsequently projected location, the method further comprises one or more of (i) continuing tracing the circumjacent pathway, and (ii) increasing a size of the circumjacent pathway. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein, the method comprises one or more of projecting the beam to: (i) a second projected location at a distance x from the first projected location, from which second projected location a first circumjacent pathway starts; (ii) a third projected location at a distance y, where y>x, from the first projected location, from which third projected location a second circumjacent pathway starts; and (iii) a fourth projected location at a distance z, where z>y>x, from the first projected location, from which fourth projected location a third circumjacent pathway starts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein distances x and y, y and z, or x, y and z have a linear relationship. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the search is terminated if no signal is detected from the reflector or a signal detected is less than the operable threshold, after three full traces around the projected location. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the circumjacent pathway is circumferential, quadrilateral, or box-like. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A non-transitory data carrier, disk, chip, computer, or tablet having software programmed to implement the method of claim 1. ### Claim 16 A beam detector apparatus, for auto-aligning a projected optical beam transmitted by an optical source onto a reflector, the beam detector apparatus configured to project a flat and wide optical beam capable of providing illumination of a size larger than a reflective surface of the reflector, the beam detector apparatus comprising: (a) an adjusting apparatus for adjusting the projected beam so as to project onto all of the reflective surface of the reflector; (b) a detecting apparatus for detecting one or more edges of the reflective surface of the reflector; and wherein the beam detector apparatus further comprises one or more of: (i) an apparatus configured to center the projected beam while fully illuminating the reflective surface of the reflector so as to align an approximate center of the projected beam on, or within a predetermined threshold of, an approximate center of the reflective surface of the reflector; and (ii) an apparatus configured to determine a shape or profile of the reflector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, the apparatus being configured to project the beam to a first projected location in a vicinity of the reflector and, if no signal is detected from the reflector or a signal detected is less than an operable threshold, project the beam either constantly or intermittently while tracing at least part of a circumjacent pathway around the first projected location in order to detect a location of the reflector, wherein the beam detector apparatus is configured to incrementally increase the circumjacent pathway in size after each full trace around the first projected location.