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US 5,280,179 AGranted
Method and apparatus utilizing an orientation code for automatically guiding a robot
AssigneeSensor Adaptive Machines, Inc.
InventorsTimothy R. Pryor, Bernard Hockley, Nick Liptay-Wagner, Omer L. Hageniers, W. J. Pastorius
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A machine-readable orientation code is provided on the surface of an object to enable determination of the orientation of the object. The orientation code is imaged onto a scanning matrix photodetector array and the output of the array is used to guide a robot to manipulate the object in accordance with the location of the image of the orientation code on the array.
Claims14
Apparatus for automatically guiding a robot for manipulating an object comprising:
- a) means for providing an object to be manipulated by a robot, said object having on a surface thereof a machine-readable orientation code capable of determining the x y orientation of said object, said orientation code being provided on the object surface in a known position on the object surface such that when the orientation code is in said known position, the object is in known position relative thereto;
- b) means for automatically reading said orientation code, said reading means comprising means for imaging said orientation code onto a scanning matrix photodetector array;
- c) means for scanning said array to determine the location of the image of said orientation code on said array;
- and
- d) means for guiding said robot for manipulating said object in accordance with the location of said orientation code image on said array.
2 more elements
A method of automatically guiding a robot for manipulating an object comprising:
- a) providing an object to be manipulated by a robot, said object having on a surface thereof a machine-readable orientation code capable of determining the x y orientation of said object, said orientation code being provided on the object surface in a known position on the object surface such that when the orientation code is in said known position, the object is in known position relative thereto;
- b) automatically reading said orientation code, said ready being effected by imaging said orientation code onto a scanning matrix photodetector array;
- c) scanning said array to determine the location of the image of said orientation code on said array;
- and
- d) guiding said robot for manipulating said object in accordance with the location of said orientation code image on said array.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.