Abstract: Improvements to the art of orientation measurement are disclosed whereby the phase angle of each of the plurality of orientation dependent radiation patterns is measured at a single common and unique point of measurement on the observation surface and correspondingly in the image of the observation surface, and whereby a central landmark is located at the point of measurement without loss of accuracy in the determination of the plurality of phase angles of orientation dependent radiation so that the precise point of measurement can be determined in the image without errors introduced by an offset between the positions of landmarks and the position of phase angle measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining location information associated with a source of radiation includes a generator configured to emit a pattern of radiation in response to radiation received from the source, and a radiation pattern sensor disposed in a substantially fixed orientation relative to the generator to sense the emitted pattern of radiation. The pattern of radiation has a least one intensity maximum characterized by a position that indicates a bearing of the source of radiation. A related method includes receiving radiation from a source of radiation, generating a pattern of radiation, and extracting data associated with the angular bearing of the source.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing orientation dependent radiation, and orientation detection systems are disclosed. An orientation dependent radiation source directs radiation to an observation area and facilitates a determination of the orientation of the orientation dependent source from the observation area. In particular, the orientation dependent source produces a radiation pattern having one or more detectable centroids that vary in position across an observation surface of the orientation dependent source as observed from the observation area, based on a rotation of the orientation dependent source about one or more axes of rotation. According to various embodiments, the orientation dependent radiation source may include one or more primary radiation sources or secondary sources, such as reflectors.