Position tracking system

Details Position tracking system Position tracking system

1997-01-10

2000-03-28

Hellner, Mark

Optics: measuring and testing

Angle measuring or angular axial alignment

Relative attitude indication along 3 axes with photodetection

3561523, G01B 1126

Patent

active

060438738

ABSTRACT:
An optical position tracking system that tracks the position of objects, using light intensity and/or frequency with the application of geometry and ratios of detector responses, is provided, having light distributing and light detecting components that employ the concepts of constructive occlusion and diffuse reflection. Diffusely reflective cavities, masks and baffles are used to improve certain radiating characteristics of the distributing components and certain response characteristics of the detecting components, to tailor the radiation and detection profiles thereof, including them substantially uniform for all angles within a hemispheric area which the distributing and detecting components face. The distributing and/or detecting components are partitioned with specially-configured baffles. A partitioned distributor has distinct emission sections where the sections can emit spectrally-different or distinguishable radiation. A partitioned detector has distinct detection sections where the sections can detect radiation from different directions. The system may be variously configured, to use different combinations of partitioned and nonpartitioned devices. In most configurations, a single head module provides one set of directional data about two coordinates (e.g., .rho. and .THETA.) for one reflector. An additional head module remotely positioned from the first head module can provide a second set of directional data for the reflector (e.g., .rho..sub.2 and .THETA..sub.2), for cross-referencing with the first set of directional data to obtain positional data in three dimensions of the object being tracked. The system can also track multiple objects, using spectrally-different (or at least spectrally distinguishable reflectors) in conjunction with correspondingly spectrally-compatible sensors.

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