Patent ID: 6388755
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
A direct input system for determining six dimensions of position and orientation of a movable object relative to a known location, said system comprising:(a) a first recording assembly fixed relative to said known location and including a first light source and a linear photodetector assembly, said first light source emitting first source light to said movable object; (b) a second recording assembly fixed relative to said known location and including a second light source and a two-dimensional photodetector assembly, said second light source emitting second source light to said movable object; (c) an optical transponder fixed to said movable object, said optical transponder receiving, modulating, and retransmitting said first source light as first retransmitted light with a first modulation code representing the direction of said first location relative to said movable object, and said optical transponder receiving, modulating, and retransmitting said second source light as second retransmitted light with a second modulation code representing the direction of said second location relative to said movable object; (d) said linear photodetector assembly receiving said first retransmitted light, and providing said first modulation code and a one-dimensional coordinate representing one dimension of the direction from which said first retransmitted light is received; (e) said two-dimensional photodetector assembly receiving said second retransmitted light, and providing said second modulation code and a two-dimensional coordinate pair representing the direction from which said second retransmitted light is received; and (f) a means for calculating said six dimensions of position and orientation of said movable object relative to said known location from said one-dimensional coordinate, said first modulation code, said two-dimensional coordinate pair, and said second modulation code.