Patent ID: 7038792
Filing Date: 2006-05-02
Classification: G01B,G02B,H01Q

Abstract:
1. A measurement system for measuring a shape of a flexible electromagnetic radiation structure, the measurement system comprising: a) a plurality of local sensors, each of the plurality of local sensors measuring a position of a portion of the flexible electromagnetic radiation structure and providing local sensor data indicative of the position; b) a central sensor, the central sensor measuring at least a part of an overall shape of the flexible electromagnetic radiation structure, the central sensor providing central sensor data indicative of the at least a part of an overall shape; c) a measurement processor, the measurement process combining the local sensor data from the plurality of local sensors and the central sensor data from the central sensor to determine the shape of the flexible electromagnetic radiation structure, and wherein the measurement processor comprises a plurality of local processors, with each of the plurality of local processors receiving local sensor data from at least one of the plurality of local sensors, and wherein each of the plurality of local processors is adjacent to a corresponding section of the flexible electromagnetic radiation structure.