초록 ▼

A system for measuring relative angular position about a roll-axis, a yaw-axis, and a pitch-axis includes a source assembly and a receiver assembly. A source assembly emits a rotationally polarized carrier wave laser beam. A laser beam from a laser diode is directed through a linear polarizer and th

A system for measuring relative angular position about a roll-axis, a yaw-axis, and a pitch-axis includes a source assembly and a receiver assembly. A source assembly emits a rotationally polarized carrier wave laser beam. A laser beam from a laser diode is directed through a linear polarizer and then through the center of a rotating half-wave plate. The plate is secured to a hollow shaft of an electric motor. The beam travels through the plate and through the hollow shaft. A reference signal corresponding to the rotational modulation imposed by the rotating plate is obtained using a flag which is secured to the shaft and positioned to actuate an optical encoder. After leaving the source assembly and reaching the receiver assembly, the beam travels through another linear polarizer, a neutral density filter, and an aplanatic achromatic lens to a two-dimensional position sensing detector. In response to the beam, the position sensing detector produces output signals that correspond to the position of the beam. The signals are routed to a microprocessor by way of additional electronics. The microprocessor also receives the reference signal from the optical encoder adjacent the rotating motor shaft. The microprocessor then uses the various signals to accurately determine the roll, yaw, and pitch of the receiver assembly relative to the source assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for measuring relative angular position, comprising: a source assembly capable of producing modulated light by imposing a modulation on light produced by a light source, said source assembly also capable of producing a phase reference signal corresponding to said modulation, said source ass

A system for measuring relative angular position, comprising: a source assembly capable of producing modulated light by imposing a modulation on light produced by a light source, said source assembly also capable of producing a phase reference signal corresponding to said modulation, said source assembly located along a roll-axis; a polarizer capable of producing polarized light by polarizing modulated light produced by said source assembly, said polarizer located along the roll-axis at a distance from said source assembly; a receiver assembly capable of detecting the power of polarized light produced by said polarizer and capable of producing in response a corresponding power signal; and an analyzer capable of analyzing said phase reference signal and said power signal and using a time difference between said phase reference signal and said power signal to produce a roll position signal corresponding to the angular position of said source assembly relative to said polarizer about the roll-axis.