Patent ID: 6460004
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: G01B,G01S

Abstract:
A sensor calibration system for calibrating a non-contact sensor with respect to an external reference frame, the non-contact sensor of the type having a sensing zone associated with a sensor reference frame, comprising:a target calibration device having a calibration field of observation associated with a calibration device reference frame; a reference target for placement within the observation field of said target calibration device and within the sensing zone of said feature sensor, said reference target having at least three non-coplanar reflective surfaces; a reference indicia disposed in fixed relation to said external reference frame, such that the target calibration device is positionable at vantage point where the reference indicia is within the calibration field; a coordinate transformation system being adapted for coupling to said target calibration device for collecting data from said reference indicia and for establishing a first relationship between the calibration device reference frame and external reference frame; said coordinate transformation system further being adapted for coupling to said target calibration device and to said feature sensor for collecting data from the reference target and for establishing a second relationship between the calibration device reference frame and the feature sensor reference frame; and said coordinate transformation system determining a third relationship between the external reference frame and the feature sensor reference frame, whereby the feature sensor is calibrated with respect to the external reference frame.