Bar coded retroreflective target
Abstract
This small, inexpensive, non-contact laser sensor can detect the location of a retroreflective target in a relatively large volume and up to six degrees of position. The tracker's laser beam is formed into a plane of light which is swept across the space of interest. When the beam illuminates the retroreflector, some of the light returns to the tracker. The intensity, angle, and time of the return beam is measured to calculate the three dimensional location of the target. With three retroreflectors on the target, the locations of three points on the target are measured, enabling the calculation of all six degrees of target position. Until now, devices for three-dimensional tracking of objects in a large volume have been heavy, large, and very expensive. Because of the simplicity and unique characteristics of this tracker, it is capable of three-dimensional tracking of one to several objects in a large volume, yet it is compact, light-weight, and relatively inexpensive. Alternatively, a tracker produces a diverging laser beam which is directed towards a fixed position, and senses when a retroreflective target enters the fixed field of view. An optically bar coded target can be read by the tracker to provide information about themore »
- Inventors:
-
- Fremont, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872825
- Patent Number(s):
- 6017125
- Assignee:
- Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02B - OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS
G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06K - RECOGNITION OF DATA
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- bar; coded; retroreflective; target; inexpensive; non-contact; laser; sensor; detect; location; relatively; volume; six; degrees; position; tracker; beam; formed; plane; light; swept; space; illuminates; retroreflector; returns; intensity; angle; time; return; measured; calculate; dimensional; retroreflectors; locations; enabling; calculation; devices; three-dimensional; tracking; heavy; expensive; simplicity; unique; characteristics; capable; compact; light-weight; alternatively; produces; diverging; directed; towards; fixed; senses; enters; field; view; optically; provide; information; ball; lens; code; moves; causes; scan; six degrees; laser beam; fixed position; relatively inexpensive; provide information; retroreflective target; unique characteristics; bar code; bar coded; target position; return beam; reflective target; directed towards; unique characteristic; six degree; /359/235/250/
Citation Formats
Vann, Charles S. Bar coded retroreflective target. United States: N. p., 2000.
Web.
Vann, Charles S. Bar coded retroreflective target. United States.
Vann, Charles S. Sat .
"Bar coded retroreflective target". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872825.
@article{osti_872825,
title = {Bar coded retroreflective target},
author = {Vann, Charles S},
abstractNote = {This small, inexpensive, non-contact laser sensor can detect the location of a retroreflective target in a relatively large volume and up to six degrees of position. The tracker's laser beam is formed into a plane of light which is swept across the space of interest. When the beam illuminates the retroreflector, some of the light returns to the tracker. The intensity, angle, and time of the return beam is measured to calculate the three dimensional location of the target. With three retroreflectors on the target, the locations of three points on the target are measured, enabling the calculation of all six degrees of target position. Until now, devices for three-dimensional tracking of objects in a large volume have been heavy, large, and very expensive. Because of the simplicity and unique characteristics of this tracker, it is capable of three-dimensional tracking of one to several objects in a large volume, yet it is compact, light-weight, and relatively inexpensive. Alternatively, a tracker produces a diverging laser beam which is directed towards a fixed position, and senses when a retroreflective target enters the fixed field of view. An optically bar coded target can be read by the tracker to provide information about the target. The target can be formed of a ball lens with a bar code on one end. As the target moves through the field, the ball lens causes the laser beam to scan across the bar code.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000}
}