Claims
- 1. A transmitter and spatial positioning receiver for a spatial positioning system, comprising:
[a] a stationary portion and a rotating laser head in proximity to said stationary portion, said rotating laser head further comprising a first light emitting device emitting a divergent rotating light fan onto a field of measurement; [b] a synchronization strobe providing a synchronization strobe beam for communicating with said spatial positioning receiver operating in said field of measurement; [c] a detector in said spatial positioning receiver to detect said divergent rotating light fan and also said synchronization strobe beam; [d] a processor to determine at least one spatial coordinate of said detector in said spatial positioning receiver based on a time of receipt of said divergent rotating light fan and said synchronization strobe beam; said transmitter and spatial positioning receiver also comprising: [e] a field-deployable length standard for use with said spatial positioning receiver for spatial position-marking, setting, calibrating or referencing in said spatial positioning system, said field-deployable length standard comprising:
a reelable tape comprising at least one markable position; said reelable tape and said markable position each so positioned and oriented with respect to said spatial positioning receiver such that when said spatial positioning receiver is posed to a second location upon unreeling said reelable tape and using said markable position, a detector in said spatial positioning receiver is a known distance from a first location of said detector in said spatial positioning receiver prior to unreeling said reelable tape; said transmitter so constructed that said stationary portion and said rotating laser head are each individually positioned, shaped, and oriented such that there is defined an interface volume therebetween, said transmitter further comprising: [f] labyrinth seal, so sized, positioned and oriented so as to restrict the motion of contaminants through the interface volume between the rotating laser head and the stationary portion of said transmitter; [g] a strobe set to provide a spatial positioning transmitter synchronization strobe beam to improve energy distribution and operating range when communicating with said spatial positioning receiver operating in said field of measurement, said strobe set comprising: [h] a first strobe having an output distribution of a first value for half power beam angular width, oriented to provide output onto the field of measurement; [i] a second strobe having an output distribution of a second value for half power beam width higher than said first value for half power beam angular width, oriented to provide output onto the field of measurement; said first and second strobes further positioned and oriented such that said operating range of said spatial positioning receiver is increased with respect to said first and second strobes both having either said first value or said second value for half power beam angular width; [j] said transmitter comprising a sensor to sense when said transmitter is oriented so as to sweep said divergent rotating light fan in a substantially vertical plane, said sensor communicating said sense to said processor for a vertical coordinate determination.
- 2. A field-deployable length standard for use with a spatial positioning receiver for spatial position-marking, setting, calibrating or referencing in a spatial positioning system, said field-deployable length standard comprising:
a reelable tape comprising at least one markable position; said reelable tape and said markable position each so positioned and oriented with respect to said spatial positioning receiver such that when said spatial positioning receiver is posed to a second location upon unreeling said reelable tape and using said markable position, a detector in said spatial positioning receiver is a known distance from a first location of said detector in said spatial positioning receiver prior to unreeling said reelable tape.
- 3. The field-deployable length standard of claim 2, wherein said markable position comprises a detent operative upon said reelable tape.
- 4. The field deployable length standard of claim 2, wherein said reelable tape is reeled upon a reel assembly in mechanical communication with a housing.
- 5. The field-deployable length standard of claim 4, wherein said reel assembly is under a spring bias with respect to said housing so as to allow movement of said reel assembly with respect to said housing.
- 6. The field-deployable length standard of claim 5, wherein said spring bias allows for a desired force loading along said reelable tape.
- 7. The field-deployable length standard of claim 6, wherein said housing comprises an aperture so shaped, sized, positioned, and oriented so as to allow a viewing of said movement of said reel assembly, said viewing operative to allow a calibration of said force loading along said reelable tape.
- 8. The field-deployable length standard of claim 7, wherein said aperture comprises a lens so shaped, sized, positioned and oriented so as to allow said viewing of said movement of said reel assembly, said viewing operative to allow a calibration of said force loading along said reelable tape.
- 9. A field-deployable length standard for use with a spatial positioning receiver for spatial position-marking, setting, calibrating or referencing in a spatial positioning system, said field-deployable length standard comprising:
a reelable tape in mechanical communication with said spatial positioning receiver; said reelable tape comprising a first markable position, and a second markable position a known path length along said reelable tape from said first markable position when said reelable tape is unreeled; said first and second markable positions so positioned and oriented with respect to said spatial positioning receiver when said reelable tape is unreeled such that when said spatial positioning receiver is posed to a first location upon unreeling said reelable tape and using said first markable position, a detector in said spatial positioning receiver is a known distance with respect to the detector when said spatial positioning receiver is posed to a second location upon unreeling said reelable tape and using said second markable position of said reelable tape.
- 10. The field-deployable length standard of claim 9, wherein any of said first and second markable positions comprise a detent operative upon said reelable tape.
- 11. The field deployable length standard of claim 9, wherein said reelable tape is reeled upon a reel assembly in mechanical communication with a housing.
- 12. The field-deployable length standard of claim 11, wherein said reel assembly is under a spring bias with respect to said housing so as to allow movement of said reel assembly with respect to said housing.
- 13. The field-deployable length standard of claim 12, wherein said spring bias allows for a desired force loading along said reelable tape.
- 14. The field-deployable length standard of claim 13, wherein said housing comprises an aperture so shaped, sized, positioned, and oriented so as to allow a viewing of said movement of said reel assembly, said viewing operative to allow a calibration of said force loading along said reelable tape.
- 15. The field-deployable length standard of claim 14, wherein said aperture comprises a lens so shaped, sized, positioned and oriented so as to allow said viewing of said movement of said reel assembly, said viewing operative to allow a calibration of said force loading along said reelable tape.
- 16. A transmitter for a spatial positioning system, said transmitter having a stationary portion and a rotating laser head in proximity to said stationary portion, said stationary portion and said rotating laser head each individually positioned, shaped, and oriented such that there is defined an interface volume therebetween, said transmitter comprising:
a labyrinth seal, so sized, positioned and oriented so as to restrict the motion of contaminants through the interface volume between the rotating laser head and the stationary portion of said transmitter.
- 17. The transmitter of claim 16, wherein said labyrinth seal is so formed that a necessary path for said contaminants is serpentine.
- 18. The transmitter of claim 16, wherein said labyrinth seal is so formed that a necessary path for said contaminants is substantially straight.
- 19. The transmitter of claim 16, wherein said stationary portion and said rotating laser head are each individually positioned, shaped, and oriented such that said labryrinth seal is formed by at least a portion of said stationary portion and said rotating laser head, said labyrinth seal operative in said interface volume.
- 20. The transmitter of claim 16, wherein said stationary portion and said rotating laser head comprise a rotary transformer positioned proximate said interface volume and positioned, shaped, and oriented such that said labryrinth seal is formed by at least a portion of said rotary transformer, said labyrinth seal operative in said interface volume.
- 21. A method for dynamic leveling of a rotating body to bring a rotational axis of said rotating body into better alignment with a desired axis, said method comprising:
[a] aligning an operating axis of an autocollimator to said desired axis, said autocollimator designed to output a light ray along said operating axis, and said desired axis as a result of said aligning, and to monitor any reflected light rays from said light ray with respect to said desired axis; [b] affixing a mirror to said rotating body; [c] orienting the rotating body to within the field of view of said autocollimator; [d] noting the position of said reflected light rays monitored by said autocollimator, whereby a circular arc is formed by said reflected light rays; [e] determining the direction and magnitude of a deviation of a geometric center of said circular arc from the operating axis of said autocollimator; [f] changing the orientation of said rotating body in such a manner so as to bring said rotational axis into better alignment with said operating axis of said autocollimator, whereby said rotational axis will be put into better alignment with said desired axis.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said desired axis is a downward gravitational vector.
- 23. The method of claim 21, wherein said rotating body is a rotating laser head in a spatial positioning system.
- 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said mirror is affixed to said rotating laser head in such a manner that a normal axis of said mirror is substantially parallel with said desired axis.
- 25. The method of claim 23, wherein said mirror is affixed to said rotating laser head in such a manner that a normal axis of said mirror is within 90 degrees of said desired axis.
- 26. A method for forming a spatial positioning transmitter synchronization strobe beam to improve energy distribution and operating range when communicating with a spatial positioning receiver operating in a field of measurement, said method comprising:
[a] arraying a first strobe having an output distribution of a first value for half power beam angular width onto the field of measurement; [b] arraying a second strobe having an output distribution of a second value for half power beam width higher than said first value for half power beam angular width, onto the field of measurement; [c] said first and second strobes further positioned and oriented such that said operating range of said spatial positioning receiver is increased with respect to said first and second strobes both having either said first value or said second value for half power beam angular width.
- 27. The method of claim 26, wherein said first value for half power angular beam width is less than 15 degrees.
- 28. The method of claim 26, wherein said second value for half power angular beam width is more than 20 degrees.
- 29. The method of claim 26, wherein a plurality of first strobes are arrayed about a single second strobe, for output of said beam onto the field of measurement.
- 30. The method of claim 29, wherein said plurality is numerically three.
- 31. The method of claim 29, wherein said plurality of first strobes and a plurality of second strobes are arrayed in such a manner and orientation that each strobe of such first and second strobes is aimed at a distinct direction onto the field of measurement.
- 32. A strobe set to provide a spatial positioning transmitter synchronization strobe beam to improve energy distribution and operating range when communicating with a spatial positioning receiver operating in a field of measurement, said strobe set comprising:
[a] a first strobe having an output distribution of a first value for half power beam angular width, oriented to provide output onto the field of measurement; [b] a second strobe having an output distribution of a second value for half power beam width higher than said first value for half power beam angular width, oriented to provide output onto the field of measurement; [c] said first and second strobes further positioned and oriented such that said operating range of said spatial positioning receiver is increased with respect to said first and second strobes both having either said first value or said second value for half power beam angular width.
- 33. The strobe set of claim 32, wherein said first value for half power angular beam width is less than 15 degrees.
- 34. The strobe set of claim 32, wherein said second value for half power angular beam width is more than 20 degrees.
- 35. The strobe set of claim 32, wherein a plurality of first strobes are arrayed about a single second strobe, for output of said beam onto the field of measurement.
- 36. The strobe set of claim 35, wherein said plurality is numerically three.
- 37. The strobe set of claim 35, wherein said plurality of first strobes and a plurality of second strobes are arrayed in such a manner and orientation that each strobe of such first and second strobes is aimed at a distinct direction onto the field of measurement.
- 38. A transmitter and spatial positioning receiver for a spatial positioning system, said system capable of switching to a vertical mode, said system comprising:
[a] a stationary portion and a rotating laser head in proximity to said stationary portion, said rotating laser head further comprising a first light emitting device emitting a divergent rotating light fan onto a field of measurement; [b] a synchronization strobe providing a synchronization strobe beam for communicating with said spatial positioning receiver operating in said field of measurement; [c] a detector in said spatial positioning receiver to detect said divergent rotating light fan and also said synchronization strobe beam; [d] a processor to determine at least one spatial coordinate of said detector in said spatial positioning receiver based on a time of receipt of said divergent rotating light fan and said synchronization strobe beam; said transmitter and spatial positioning receiver also comprising: [e] said transmitter comprising a sensor to sense when said transmitter is oriented so as to sweep said divergent rotating light fan in a substantially vertical plane, said sensor communicating said sense to said processor for a vertical coordinate determination.
- 39. A field-deployable spatial positioning transmitter and receiver for spatial position-marking, setting, calibrating or referencing, the field-deployable spatial positioning transmitter and receiver comprising:
a transmitter kit comprising a rotating laser head emitting an angled fan of light, where angled means that the fan is neither orthogonal nor parallel to the plane through which the head rotates, and a strobe emitter that emits a light pulse in predetermined or programmed relation to the position of the laser head; a processor in data communication with a receiver; and the receiver adapted to be moved about a field of measurement and determine, in conjunction with the processor, distance and orientation, the receiver comprising a light detector, the receiver determining distance and orientation to the transmitter based on the timing of detections of light from the fan of light and from the strobe, the receiver further comprising a field-deployable length standard comprising:
a reelable tape comprising at least one markable position and a reel attached to or incorporated within a housing for the receiver, the reelable tape and the markable position each so positioned and oriented with respect to the receiver such that when the receiver is posed at a first location and then, upon unreeling the reelable tape and using the markable position, a second location, the processor makes its calculations using light detections at the first location and second location, and a known distance provided by the reelable tape.
- 40. The field-deployable spatial positioning transmitter and receiver of claim 39, wherein the processor is attached to or incorporated within the receiver housing.
- 41. The field-deployable spatial positioning transmitter and receiver of claim 39, wherein the rotating laser head and strobe emitter are incorporated into or attached to a common transmitter housing.
- 42. A transmitter for a spatial positioning system comprising:
the transmitter having a portion adapted to be stationary during operation and a rotating laser head mounted on the stationary portion; and a labyrinth seal between the rotating laser head and the stationary portion effective to restrict the motion of contaminants between the rotating laser head and the stationary portion.
- 43. A method for dynamic leveling of a rotating body to bring a rotational axis of the rotating body into better alignment with a desired axis, the method comprising:
aligning an operating axis of an autocollimator to the desired axis by outputting a light ray along the operating axis, and monitoring any reflected light rays from the light ray to identify any deflection from the desired axis; orienting the rotating body, said rotating body having an affixed mirror, to within the operating axis of the autocollimator; noting the position of the reflected light rays monitored by the autocollimator, whereby a point or circular arc is formed by the reflected light rays; determining the direction and magnitude of a deviation of a geometric center of the point or circular arc from the operating axis of the autocollimator; and changing the orientation of the rotating body to bring its rotational axis into better alignment with the operating axis of the autocollimator, whereby the rotational axis is put into better alignment with the desired axis.
- 44. A method for forming a spatial positioning transmitter synchronization strobe beam to improve energy distribution and operating range when communicating with a spatial positioning receiver operating in a field of measurement, the method comprising:
operating a rotating a laser head emitting an angled fan of light periodically operating, in connection with defined rotations of the laser head, a first strobe having an output distribution of a first value for half power beam angular width onto the field of measurement; and periodically operating, in connection with defined rotations of the laser head, a second strobe having an output distribution of a second value for half power beam width higher than the first value for half power beam angular width, onto the field of measurement.
- 45. A spatial positioning system, the system capable of switching between a horizontal and a vertical mode, the system comprising:
a transmitter kit comprising a rotating laser head emitting an angled fan of light, a transmitter processor and a strobe emitter that emits a light pulse in predetermined or programmed relation to the position of the laser head, and a sensor to sense when a housing containing the rotating laser head is oriented so as to sweep in a substantially vertical plane and communicate this information to the transmitter processor; a receiver kit comprising
a receiver processor, which can be the same as the transmitter processor, in data communication with a receiver, and the receiver adapted to be moved about a field of operation and determine, in conjunction with the receiver processor, distance and orientation, the receiver comprising a light detector, the receiver determining distance and orientation to the transmitter based on the timing of detections of light from the fan of light and from the strobe, wherein the transmitter processor signals the receiver processor of the orientation or modulates the transmitter kit light emissions or rotation in a manner detectable by the receiver kit.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/188,367, filed Mar. 10, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60188367 |
Mar 2000 |
US |