Patents Assigned to Spatial Positioning Systems, Inc.
-
Patent number: 5579102Abstract: Improved transmitter and receiver units for use in spatial measurement system that are easy and inexpensive to manufacture while providing a high degree of reliability are disclosed. Specifically, the laser transmitter includes a laser emitter, a bearing/motor assembly coupled to the laser emitter, the bearing/motor assembly including a rotatable hollow spindle shaft through which a laser beam generated by the laser emitter passes and a motor for driving the spindle shaft, a prism assembly coupled to the spindle shaft, wherein the prism assembly divides the laser beam generated by the laser emitter into a pair of fanned laser beams, and reflecting means for reflecting the fanned laser beams generated by the prism assembly as counter-rotating fanned laser beams. The receiver unit preferably includes at least one optical receiver coupled to an extension member, a processing unit coupled to the optical receiver, and a receiver interface coupled to the processing unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1995Date of Patent: November 26, 1996Assignee: Spatial Positioning Systems, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Pratt, Andrew W. Dornbusch, Yvan J. Beliveau, Eric J. Lundberg, Michael H. Sweeney
-
Patent number: 5461473Abstract: Improved transmitter and receiver units for use in spatial measurement system that are easy and inexpensive to manufacture while providing a high degree of reliability are disclosed. Specifically, the laser transmitter includes a laser emitter, a bearing/motor assembly coupled to the laser emitter, the bearing/motor assembly including a rotatable hollow spindle shaft through which a laser beam generated by the laser emitter passes and a motor for driving the spindle shaft, a prism assembly coupled to the spindle shaft, wherein the prism assembly divides the laser beam generated by the laser emitter into a pair of fanned laser beams, and reflecting means for reflecting the fanned laser beams generated by the prism assembly as counter-rotating fanned laser beams. The receiver unit preferably includes at least one optical receiver coupled to an extension member, a processing unit coupled to the optical receiver, and a receiver interface coupled to the processing unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1993Date of Patent: October 24, 1995Assignee: Spatial Positioning Systems, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Pratt, Andrew W. Dornbusch, Yvan J. Beliveau, Eric J. Lundberg, Michael H. Sweeney
-
Patent number: 5294970Abstract: A spatial positioning system includes fixed referent stations which emit rotating, divergent laser beams and a portable reflector. Each fixed station also includes a detector and a processor. The portable reflector may include retroreflectors or transponders. When the rotation of the laser beam is such that it is in line with a portable reflector, the transmitted laser beam is reflected off the portable reflector and received at the fixed receiver. For any point which is crossed by the fanned laser beams of a fixed station, a horizontal angle can be determined. Once these horizontal angles are known for three fixed stations, the point of intersection of three planes, and thus the three-dimensional position of the point, is determined.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 1991Date of Patent: March 15, 1994Assignee: Spatial Positioning Systems, Inc.Inventors: Andrew W. Dornbusch, Eric J. Lundberg, Yvan J. Beliveau, Timothy Pratt
-
Patent number: 5247487Abstract: A spatial measurement recovery system and method which determining the position, orientation, shape and/or operational characteristics of an environment. The system includes a data gathering apparatus and a model building apparatus. The data gathered may then be transformed into a CADD model of an as-built or as-is environment, or to otherwise map the environment in three dimensions.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1991Date of Patent: September 21, 1993Assignee: Spatial Positioning Systems, Inc.Inventors: Yvan J. Beliveau, Eric J. Lundberg, Andrew Dornbusch, Timothy Pratt
-
Patent number: 5110202Abstract: A spatial positioning and measurement system provides three-dimensional position and/or measurement information of an object using one or more fixed referent station systems, and one or more portable position sensor systems. Each fixed station produces at least one primary laser beam which is rotated at a constant angular velocity about a vertical axis. The primary laser beam has a predetermined angle of divergence or angle of spread which is inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical axis. Each fixed station also preferably includes at least one reflective surface for generating a secondary laser beam.The portable position sensor includes a light sensitive detector, computer, and a display. The light sensitive detector can be formed of at least one "axicon" which directs incoming light to a photosensitive detector. The photosensitive detector generates an electrical pulse when struck by crossing laser beam and sends this pulse to the computer.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1990Date of Patent: May 5, 1992Assignee: Spatial Positioning Systems, Inc.Inventors: Andrew W. Dornbusch, Yvan J. Beliveau, Eric J. Lundberg, Timothy Pratt
-
Patent number: 5100229Abstract: A spatial positioning apparatus providing three-dimensional position information and methods to utilize the position information for improved surveying, construction layout, equipment operations, manufacturing control and autonomous vehicle control is disclosed. The spatial positioning apparatus includes at least three, preferably four, fixed referent stations. A minimum of two, preferably three, of the fixed stations sweeps a spread laser beam horizontally across the site of interest. The remaining fixed station sweeps a spread beam vertically across the site of interest. A strobe signal is emitted from each fixed station when the rotation mechanism actuates a rotation datum. The spatial positioning apparatus also includes one or more portable position sensors. The portable position sensor includes a light sensitive detector, a computer, and a display.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1990Date of Patent: March 31, 1992Assignee: Spatial Positioning Systems, Inc.Inventors: Eric Lundberg, Yvan Beliveau, Timothy Pratt