Positional tracking system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11971483-B2
Application number	US-202217808884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2022
Priority date	Nov 9, 2018
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

A position tracking system has a laser transmitter, a control tracker and a layout indicator. The laser transmitter has a laser for emitting a laser beam, a controller controlling the laser, and a motor for rotating the emitted laser beam. The control tracker has a housing, at least two photo diodes disposed on the housing, and a laser assembly for generating a beam to be projected unto a surface. The layout indicator has a housing, and at least two photo diodes disposed on the housing. A network server communicates with at least one of the laser transmitter, the control tracker and the layout indicator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A position tracking system comprising:
a laser transmitter comprising a laser for emitting a laser beam, a controller controlling the laser, and a motor for rotating the emitted laser beam,
a control tracker comprising a housing, a power supply disposed within the housing that accepts power from a power tool battery pack connected thereto, a controller disposed within the housing, a memory connected to the controller, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor providing information to the controller, a transceiver disposed within the housing, at least two photo diodes disposed on the housing, and a laser assembly for generating a beam to be projected unto a surface,
a layout indicator comprising a housing, a controller disposed within the housing, a memory connected to the controller, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor providing information to the controller, a transceiver disposed within the housing, at least two photo diodes disposed on the housing, and a laser assembly,
a local server in communication with at least one of the laser transmitter, the control tracker and the layout indicator.

2. The position tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the layout indicator comprises a pole connected to the housing.

3. The position tracking system of claim 2 , wherein the pole has an end.

4. The position tracking system of claim 3 , wherein the end has a conical tip.

5. The position tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the laser transmitter projects V- or N-shaped beams.

6. The position tracking system of claim 5 , wherein at least one portion of the beams is modulated with azimuth angle data.

7. The position tracking system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one portion of the beam is modulated using pulse width modulation, frequency modulation or phase modulation.

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Forster Scott M
• Walter Christopher R
• Schell Craig A

Classifications

• G01S17/10 Primary

  using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves (determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32) · CPC title

• G01C15/002

  Active optical surveying means (optical plumbing G01C15/105) · CPC title

• G01S17/66 Primary

  Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves · CPC title

• G03H1/041

  Optical element in the object space affecting the object beam, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G03H1/0465

  Particular recording light; Beam shape or geometry (G03H1/06 takes precedence) · CPC title