Patents by Inventor Alf D. Pettersen

Alf D. Pettersen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6389158
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining spatial coordinates of points, wherein the system involves a fixed array of a network (2) of control points (3), and a manually or mechanically manipulatable measuring probe (1; 1′) containing at least one camera (9′, 9″, 9′″), and wherein the measuring probe (1; 1′) is designed for physical contact with a measuring point on an object (4) which is to be measured via a fixedly mounted contact unit (14) projecting from the measuring probe, which has a known, defined position in the coordinate system of the measuring probe; and a system unit (5) which computes the position of the contact unit (14) relative to a coordinate system defined by said control points (3) on the basis of the measuring probe's (1; 1′) image of the control points (3), and the known position of the contact unit (14) in the coordinate system of the measuring probe (1; 1′).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Metronor AS
    Inventors: Alf D. Pettersen, Øyvind Røtvold
  • Patent number: 6166809
    Abstract: A system for point-by-point measurement of spatial coordinates comprising: one or more opto-electronic cameras (7, 8) arranged for measuring spatial direction to point-shaped light sources; one or more rangefinders (11) for measuring distance and optionally direction to light-reflecting targets (19, 28); a touch tool (18) having a minimum of three point-shaped light giving means (21-25) in known local coordinates relative to a local tool-fixed coordinate system, one or more light-reflecting points or targets (28) for the laser rangefinder, and having a contact point (30) in known position relative to said local coordinate system; and data processor (2) designed to compute the spatial position and orientation of said touch tool (18) relative to said camera (7, 8) and rangefinder (11) on the basis of knowledge of the position of said light giving means (21-25) relative to the tool's contact point (30), the measured directions from the cameras (7, 8) to the individual light giving means (21-25), and measured dis
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Metronor ASA
    Inventors: Alf D. Pettersen, .O slashed.yvind R.o slashed.tvold
  • Patent number: 5973788
    Abstract: A system for point-by-point measurement of spatial coordinates comprising: one or more opto-electronic cameras (7, 8) arranged for measuring spatial direction to point-shaped light sources; one or more rangefinders (11) for measuring distance and optionally direction to light-reflecting targets (19, 28); a touch tool (18) having a minimum of three point-shaped light giving means (21-25) in known local coordinates relative to a local tool-fixed coordinate system, one or more light-reflecting points or targets (28) for the laser rangefinder, and having a contact point (30) in known position relative to said local coordinate system; and data processor (2) designed to compute the spatial position and orientation of said touch tool (18) relative to said camera (7, 8) and rangefinder (11) on the basis of knowledge of the position of said light giving means (21-25) relative to the tool's contact point (30), the measured directions from the cameras (7, 8) to the individual light giving means (21-25), and measured dis
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Metronor ASA
    Inventors: Alf D. Pettersen, .O slashed.yvind R.o slashed.tvold