Patent Document ID: 10030358
Application ID: 14180302
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A system for non-contact location and orientation determination for an implement coupled with a mobile machine comprising: first and second sensors mounted at first and second known locations on different positions of the mobile machine, the first and second sensors are configured to detect an orientation of respective first and second recognized features of the implement and for determining respective range measurements from the first and second sensors to the first and second recognized features, each of the first and second sensors comprising: an orientation module to provide orientation information for the recognized feature of the implement; and a range determiner to provide the respective range measurement from one of the first and second sensors to the respective first or second recognized feature of the implement, wherein each of the first and second sensors comprise a laser source configured to sweep a plurality of laser beams in a single line along at least one directional axis beginning from a region on the implement and ending at a region past the implement through the respective recognized feature such that a first portion of the plurality of laser beams hit the implement while a second portion of the plurality of laser beams pass the implement, and wherein the respective range measurement comprises the measured ranges from the first and second portion of the plurality of laser beams and is used for determining an orientation of the implement; an implement evaluator to access a database and obtain known operating envelope characteristics of the implement coupled with the mobile machine, wherein the known operating envelope characteristics of the implement comprises range of motion characteristics of the implement; and an implement location and orientation determiner to combine the orientation information, the range measurements and the known operating envelope characteristics to provide a position of the implement with respect to the mobile machine.