Apparatus and method for three-dimensional relative movement sensing
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorThomas M. Walley
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Abstract
An apparatus for sensing three-dimensional relative movement includes a movable motion sensor including a first and a second two-dimensional array of photo detectors. At least one lens directs far-field images onto the first and the second arrays of photo detectors. The sensor is configured to generate digital representations of the far-field images and to generate three-dimensional relative movement data based on the digital representations of the far-field images. The movement data is indicative of motion of the sensor in three dimensions.
Claims18
An apparatus for sensing three-dimensional relative movement, the apparatus comprising:
- a movable motion sensor comprising a first and a second two-dimensional array of photo detectors;
- and
- at least one lens for directing far-field images onto the first and the second arrays of photo detectors, the sensor configured to generate digital representations of the far-field images and to generate three-dimensional relative movement data based on the digital representations of the far-field images, the movement data indicative of motion of the sensor in three dimensions.
A method of sensing relative three-dimensional movement comprising:
- providing a first and a second two-dimensional array of photo detectors;
- directing a first set of far-field images onto the first and the second arrays of photo detectors;
- digitizing outputs of the photo detectors in the first and the second arrays, thereby generating a first set of digital representations of the far-field images;
- allowing a first movement of the first and the second arrays of photo detectors;
- directing a second set of far-field images onto the first and the second arrays of photo detectors;
- digitizing outputs of the photo detectors in the first and the second arrays, thereby generating a second set of digital representations of the far-field images;
- correlating digital representations in the first set with digital representations in the second set;
- and
- generating a set of motion data based on the correlation indicative of relative motion in three dimensions of the first and the second arrays.
An apparatus for sensing three-dimensional relative movement, the apparatus comprising:
- a first and a second two-dimensional array of photo detectors constructed in a substantially perpendicular arrangement;
- a first lens for directing far-field images onto the first array of photo detectors;
- a second lens for directing far-field images onto the second array of photo detectors;
- and
- a controller coupled to the first and the second arrays of photo detectors, the controller configured to generate digital representations of the far-field images and to generate movement data based on the digital representations of the far-field images, the movement data indicative of motion of the first and the second arrays in three dimensions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.