Coordinate measurement system and method
AssigneeThe Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills
InventorsEdward Benjamin Hughes, Matthew Stuard Warden, Daniel Walton Veal
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Abstract
A position detection system is able to detect the three dimensional position of at least one target (10). Each target (10) is configured to act as a retro-reflector for light incident from any direction. At least one light emitter illuminates the at least one target (10) and at least one detector (24) is provided for detecting and taking measurements of light retro-reflected from a target (10). There is also provided a processor for processing measurements taken by each detector (24) to determine the three dimensional position of the at least one target (10).
Claims19
A position detection system for detecting a three dimensional position of plurality of targets, including:
- the plurality of targets, wherein each target is configured to act as a retro-reflector for light incident from any direction;
- a plurality of detectors configured to detect and take measurements of light retro-reflected from the targets, individual targets of the plurality of targets being surrounded by at least a subset of the plurality of detectors;
- at least one light emitter for illuminating the targets, the or each light emitter being for illuminating a plurality of the targets and including a diverging element, the diverging element being configured to direct the light from a light source to the plurality of targets and direct the light retro-reflected by at least one of the plurality of targets to at least one of the plurality of detectors;
- and
- a processor configured to process measurements taken simultaneously by individual detectors of the plurality of detectors to determine the three dimensional position of the targets using absolute distance measurements determined from measurements from the at least one detector using frequency scanning interferometry.
A method of determining a three dimensional position of one or more objects, including:
- affixing a plurality of targets to one or more objects, wherein each target is configured to act as a retro reflector for light incident from any direction;
- illuminating the targets with diverging light from at least one light emitter including a diverging element for diverging light, wherein the diverging element is configured to direct the light from a light source to the targets and direct the light retro-reflected by at least one of the plurality of targets to at least one of a plurality of detectors;
- detecting and simultaneously taking measurements of light retro-reflected from the targets via the detectors, and determining absolute distances to the targets using frequency scanning interferometry, wherein individual targets of the plurality of targets being surrounded by at least a subset of the detectors;
- and
- processing measurements of the retro-reflected light to determine the three dimensional position of the targets and thence determining the three dimension position of the one or more objects.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.