Patent ID: 6130663
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An apparatus for determining the position of an object in an area of free space adjacent to a plurality of reference points spaced along a reference line, comprising:radiant energy detectors located at each of the reference points;revolving scanning cylinders associated with each reference point, each of the cylinders including a slot extending therearound through which radiant passes for controlling the transmission of radiant energy to and from the radiant energy detectors along a scan line extending out from its associated reference point while such scan line is sweeping through an angle centered at its reference point from a starting position spaced from an object in the area to a position where it intercepts an object in the area,the radiant energy detectors being capable of producing a signal associated with each reference point when its scan line intercepts the object, whereby the time elapsed between each of said starting positions and the production of its respective signal is proportional to the magnitude of the angle traversed by its scan line;a converter capable of converting each signal into said magnitude of the angle traversed; anda calculator capable of calculating the coordinates of the object in the area from said angles and the distance between the reference points.