Patent ID: 6473167
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
A system for determining the position and orientation of an object within a space, comprising:a) at least three fixed sources of light beams, a plane of at least one of said sources being skewed with respect to a plane of at least another one of said sources; b) means for moving said light beams in said space in prescribed patterns of movement, said moving means comprising motor means for rotating drive shaft means comprising a single drive shaft, reflector means mounted on said drive shaft means for reflecting light from said at least three sources of light beams, said reflector means comprising a first reflective surface means for reflecting light from a plurality of light beam sources and at least a second reflective surface means for reflecting light from at least one additional light beam source; c) sensor means associated with an object in said space for sensing time of arrival of each light beam at said object, said sensor means sending arrival signals indicative of said times of arrival; d) control means for receiving said arrival signals, said control means being programmed with data regarding said patterns of movement and from said arrival signals and data calculating position and orientation of said object.