Method and system for creating a user-selectable arbitrary coordinate frame

A system for creating a user-seletable arhitrary coordinate system from position data generated by a position measurement apparatus comprising a position calculation engine, said system comprising:

• an input for receiving position data from said position measurement apparatus defining a position said position measurement apparatus in a default coordinate system;
• a user interface that allows a user to select position data from the position measurement apparatus in said default coordinate system to define an alternate coordinate system;
• and
• a processor that transforms the position data from the default coordinate system to the alternate coordinate system,
• wherein the processor includes
• a point collection module for receiving position data from the position measurement apparatus;
• a transformation module coupled to the point collection module that generates at least one transformation matrix corresponding to the alternate coordinate system, wherein the transformation matrix transforms position data from the default coordinate system to the alternate coordinate system;
• and
• an origin calculation module that determines a user-selected origin based on one point from the point collection module, and wherein the transformation module generates a transformation matrix corresponding to the user-selected origin.

A system for creating a user-selectable arhitrary coordinate system from position data generated by a position measurement apparatus comprising a position calculation engine, said system comprising:

• an input for receiving position data from said position measurement apparatus defining a position of said position measurement apparatus in a default coordinate system;
• a user interface that allows a user to select position data from the position measurement apparatus in said default coordinate system to define an alternate coordinate system;
• and
• a processor that transforms the position data from the default coordinate system to the alternate coordinate system,
• wherein the processor includes:
• a point collection module for receiving position data from the position measurement apparatus;
• a transformation module coupled to the point collection module that generates at least one transformation matrix corresponding to the alternate coordinate system, wherein the transformation matrix transforms position data from the default coordinate system to the alternate coordinate system;
• a plane calculation module that determines a user-selected plane based on at least three points from the point collection module;
• an origin calculation module that determines a user-selected origin based on one point from the point collection module;
• and
• an axis calculation module that determines a user-selected axis based on the origin and a second point from the point calculation module,
• wherein the transformation module generates at least one transformation matrix corresponding to the user-selected plane, origin and axis.

A system for creating a user-selectable arbitrary coordinate system from position data generated by a position measurement apparatus, comprising:

• a user interface that allows a user to select position data from the position measurement apparatus in a default coordinate system to define an alternate coordinate system;
• and
• a processor that transforms the position data from the default coordinate system to the alternate coordinate system;
• wherein the processor comprises:
• a plane calculation module that determines a user-selected plane based on at least three points identified with the position measurement apparatus;
• an origin calculation module that determines a user-selected origin based on one point identified with the position measurement apparatus;
• and
• an axis calculation module that determines a user-selected axis based on the origin and a second point identified with the position measurement apparatus, wherein the axis calculation module determines the user-defined axis by connecting the origin and the second point with a line and projecting the line to the user-defined plane;
• wherein the processor generates at least one transformation matrix corresponding to the user-selected plane, origin and axis.

A system for erecting user-selectable arbitrary coordinate system from position data generated by a position measurement apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving electronic position data from said position measurement apparatus defining a position of said position measurement apparatus in a default coordinate system;
• means for electronically selecting position data from the position measurement apparatus in said default Coordinate system to define an alternate coordinate system;
• processor means for transforming the position data from the default coordinate system to the alternate coordinate system;
• means for identifying at least three points in a measurement field to define a plane;
• and
• means for generating a first transformation matrix corresponding to the plane.