Patent ID: 9046346
Filing Date: 2015-06-02
Classification: B41J,G01B,G01C

Abstract:
1. A method of determining a position of a mobile apparatus comprising: firing a laser that is mounted on the mobile apparatus; rotating as a unit the laser and a first and second photo detector that are disposed proximate the laser while monitoring an amount of rotation; detecting a first amplitude of light received by the first photo detector and a second amplitude of light received by a second photo detector as a function of the amount of rotation; identifying a first orientation corresponding to perpendicularity of the laser to a position referencing structure; identifying a second orientation corresponding to perpendicularity of the laser to the position referencing structure; identifying a third orientation corresponding to perpendicularity of the laser to the position referencing structure; and calculating the position of the mobile apparatus based on the first orientation, the second orientation, the third orientation, and a predetermined distance that is associated with the position referencing structure.