Precise, no-contact, position sensing using imaging

Abstract

A contact free optical motion sensor for an inertial reference system. One or more image acquisition systems are adapted to produce a series of overlapping images of a gas bearing supported spherical inertial sensor assembly. A controller coupled to receive the series of overlapping images applies a delta detection algorithm to the series of overlapping images to determine the distance, the direction of movement of the inertial sensor assembly and the resulting relative position of the gas bearing supported spherical inertial sensor assembly. The controller further calculates the rotational velocity of the inertial sensor assembly based on a time sequence between the received series of image signals and the distance moved.

1 . A motion detection system comprising: 
 one or more optical sensors, each optical sensor adapted to generate image signals of an object; and    a controller coupled to receive the image signals from each optical sensor, the controller adapted to apply a delta detection algorithm to a series of the image signals to determine the distance and direction the object has moved, the controller further adapted to calculate the velocity of the object's movement based on a time sequence between the received series of image signals and the distance moved.    
   
   
       2 . The motion detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further adapted to calculate the resulting position of the object relative to the original position of the object.  
   
   
       3 . The motion detection system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 one or more housings, each optical sensor located in an associated housing.    
   
   
       4 . The motion detection system of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a solid mounting surface, each housing attached to the solid mounting surface.    
   
   
       5 . The motion detection system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is located in one of the housings.  
   
   
       6 . The motion detection system of  claim 5 , where the object is an inertial sensor assembly for an inertial navigation system.  
   
   
       7 . A motion detection system comprising: 
 one or more image acquisition systems, each image acquisition system adapted to produce a series of overlapping images of the object; and    a controller coupled to receive the series of overlapping images from each image acquisition system, the controller adapted to measure the elapsed time between images received in the series, the controller further adapted to apply a delta detection algorithm to the series of overlapping images to determine the distance and direction the object has moved, and further adapted to calculate the velocity of the object's movement based on the elapsed time between images and the distance moved.    
   
   
       8 . The motion detection system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further adapted to calculate the resulting position of the object relative to the original position of the object.  
   
   
       9 . The motion detection system of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 one or more housings, each optical sensor located in an associated housing.    
   
   
       10 . The motion detection system of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a solid mounting surface, each housing attached to the solid mounting surface.    
   
   
       11 . The motion detection system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is located in one of the housings.  
   
   
       12 . The motion detection system of  claim 11 , wherein the object is an inertial sensor assembly for an inertial navigation system.  
   
   
       13 . A motion detection system comprising: 
 one or more optical computer mouses, each optical computer mouse adapted to generate image signals of an object;    a computer coupled to receive x-axis and y-axis displacement data communicated by the one or more optical computer mouses, the computer adapted to accumulate the x-axis and y-axis displacement data from the one or more optical computer mouses over a time interval, the computer further adapted to calculate at least one of the distance and direction of movement of the object, the average velocity of movement, and the resulting relative position of the object.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the computer is coupled to one or more of the optical computer mouses through input/output ports.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the computer is coupled to one or more of the optical computer mouses through universal serial bus ports.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the computer is coupled to one or more of the optical computer mouses through standard PS2/Mouse ports.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the computer is coupled to one or more of the optical computer mouses through wireless ports.