Line projection system
AssigneeQunomic Virtual Technology, LLC
InventorTerry Murphy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser-based line projection system that is suitable for selectively placing lines on a floor surface, such as a factory floor. Several projectors are used in a typical installation. Each projector includes a laser directed through a diverging lens to create a planar projection of laser light. The planar projection creates a bright line when it falls on a surface. Each projector is optionally equipped with a movable mask that alters the angle of divergence for the laser light after it passes through the cylindrical lens. This component allows the projector to vary the length of the line projected.
Claims20
A method for guiding an automatically guided vehicle along a floor, comprising:
- a. providing an automatically guided vehicle, said automatically guided vehicle including,
- i. a sensor for sensing a line on said floor, and
- ii. a steering, mechanism that uses information from said sensor to steer said automatically guided vehicle along said line on said floor;
- b. providing a plurality of line projectors, wherein each of said line projectors includes,
- i. a laser emitting a beam,
- ii. a diverging lens in the path of said beam, wherein said diverging lens creates a diverging fan of coherent light from said laser;
- c. mounting said plurality of line projectors so that said diverging fan of each of said line projectors is oriented toward said floor;
- d. switching on said plurality of line projectors, so that each of said diverging fans produces a projected line on said floor, with said projected lines joining to form a defined path;
- locating said automatically guided vehicle on said defined path so that said automatically guided vehicle may then follow said defined path;
- and
- activating said automatically guided vehicle so that said automatically guided vehicle travels along said defined path.
A method for guiding an automatically guided vehicle along a floor, comprising:
- a. providing an automatically guided vehicle, said automatically guided vehicle including,
- i. a sensor for sensing a line on said floor, and
- ii. a steering mechanism that uses information from said sensor to steer said automatically guided vehicle along said line on said floor;
- b. providing a first line projector, including,
- i. a laser emitting a beam,
- ii. a diverging lens in the path of said beam, wherein said diverging lens creates a diverging fan of coherent light from said laser;
- c. providing a second line projector, including,
- i. a laser emitting a beam,
- ii. a diverging lens in the path of said beam, wherein said diverging lens creates a diverging fan of coherent light from said laser;
- d. mounting said first and second line projectors so that said diverging fan of each of said line projectors is oriented toward said floor;
- e. switching on said first and second line projectors, so that each of said diverging fans produces a projected line on said floor, with said projected lines joining to form a defined path;
- f. locating said automatically guided vehicle on said defined path so that said automatically guided vehicle may then follow said defined path;
- and
- g. activating said automatically guided vehicle so that said automatically guided vehicle travels along said defined path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.