US 7,859,655 B2 · Method involving a pointing instrument and a target object

Abstract

A first method determines a position of a point of interest on a target object surface in a target object coordinate system using orientation and distance measurements of a pointing instrument in an instrument coordinate system. A second method determines an orientation of a pointing instrument in an instrument coordinate system for the instrument to be aligned with a point of interest on a target object surface having a target object coordinate system, wherein a position of the point of interest in the target object coordinate system is known. A third method controls orientation of a laser beam of a laser in an instrument coordinate system for the laser beam to trace an image on a target object surface having a target object coordinate system, wherein positions of points for the image on the surface of the target object in the target object coordinate system are known.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for determining a position of a point of interest on a surface of a target object having a target object coordinate system using a pointing instrument having an aim point axis and having an instrument coordinate system, wherein the method comprises:

a) measuring an orientation of the aim point axis in the instrument coordinate system when the aim point axis of the instrument is in turn aligned with each of three calibration points on the surface of the target object, wherein positions of the three calibration points in the target object coordinate system are known;
b) measuring a distance substantially along the aim point axis from the instrument to each of the three calibration points;
c) calculating a calibration matrix which transforms a position defined in the instrument coordinate system to a position defined in the target object coordinate system using at least the measured orientation and distance in the instrument coordinate system corresponding to the three calibration points and the known positions of the three calibration points in the target object coordinate system;
d) measuring an orientation of the aim point axis in the instrument coordinate system when the aim point axis of the instrument is aligned with the point of interest;
e) calculating a position of the point of interest in the target object coordinate system using at least the measured orientation of the aim point axis in the instrument coordinate system corresponding to the point of interest, the calibration matrix, and at least one of a distance substantially along the aim point axis from the instrument to the point of interest and a model of the surface of the target object in the target object coordinate system;
and
f) storing the calculated position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method involving a pointing instrument and a target object

Life of this patent

Method involving a pointing instrument and a target object

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20