General method for determining the sensor readings of motion measurement systems by using skew-ray tracing method

• Published in: Optik (Stuttgart) 2009-03, Vol.120 (6), p.257-264
• Main Authors: Lin, Psang Dain, Jywe, Wenyuh, Chen, Chun-Jen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical applications; Exact sciences and technology; Finite-difference method; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Measurements common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Metrological applications; Metrology, measurements and laboratory procedures; Motion-measurement system; Optical instruments, equipment and techniques; Optics; Physics; Position-sensing detector; PSD; Skew ray; Spatial dimensions (e.g.: position, lengths, volume, angles, displacements, including nanometer-scale displacements)
• ISSN: 0030-4026; 1618-1336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijleo.2007.06.026

High-accuracy laser-based optoelectronic motion- and position-measuring systems typically utilize light rays that travel from one optical boundary surface to another to perform motion and/or position measurements. It is not a simple task to accurately determine the equations of these sensor readings in terms of positional/angular motions. This problem is addressed in this paper by application of the analytic skew-ray tracing methodology as computed by the finite-difference methodology. An illustrative example of a motion-measurement system and comparison of the position-sensing detector (PSD) readings are given to validate the proposed methodology. It is shown that the proposed methodology can provide accurate expressions of PSD readings. It is also shown that the performance of a corner-cube retro-reflector is better than a cat's eye retro-reflector in positional/angular motion measurement systems.