Coordinate measurement system and method

1. A position detection system for detecting a three dimensional position of plurality of targets, including:

the plurality of targets, wherein each target is configured to act as a retro-reflector for light incident from any direction;

a plurality of detectors configured to detect and take measurements of light retro-reflected from the targets, individual targets of the plurality of targets being surrounded by at least a subset of the plurality of detectors;

at least one light emitter for illuminating the targets, the or each light emitter being for illuminating a plurality of the targets and including a diverging element, the diverging element being configured to direct the light from a light source to the plurality of targets and direct the light retro-reflected by at least one of the plurality of targets to at least one of the plurality of detectors; and

a processor configured to process measurements taken simultaneously by individual detectors of the plurality of detectors to determine the three dimensional position of the targets using absolute distance measurements determined from measurements from the at least one detector using frequency scanning interferometry.

2. A position detection system according to claim 1 , wherein each target is generally spherical.

3. A position detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the or each diverging element is configured to diverge emitted light to illuminate a generally conical region.

4. A position detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the or each light emitter includes a directing element for directing light configured to direct emitted light in a predetermined direction and to direct retro-reflected light to a detector.

5. A position detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the light which each light emitter is configured to emit has a wavelength within a predetermined range of wavelengths.

6. A position detection system according to claim 5 , wherein the or each target is spherical and comprises a material selected to act as a retro-reflector for light which is incident on the center of the or each target and which has a wavelength within the predetermined range of wavelengths.

7. A position detection system according to claim 5 , wherein:

each target is spherical and solid; and

at a wavelength within the predetermined range of wavelengths, each target has a refractive index in the range of from 1.9 to 2.1.

8. A method of determining a three dimensional position of one or more objects, including:

affixing a plurality of targets to one or more objects, wherein each target is configured to act as a retro reflector for light incident from any direction;

illuminating the targets with diverging light from at least one light emitter including a diverging element for diverging light, wherein the diverging element is configured to direct the light from a light source to the targets and direct the light retro-reflected by at least one of the plurality of targets to at least one of a plurality of detectors;

detecting and simultaneously taking measurements of light retro-reflected from the targets via the detectors, and determining absolute distances to the targets using frequency scanning interferometry, wherein individual targets of the plurality of targets being surrounded by at least a subset of the detectors; and

processing measurements of the retro-reflected light to determine the three dimensional position of the targets and thence determining the three dimension position of the one or more objects.

9. A position detection system according to claim 2 , wherein each target is a sphere.

10. A position detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the or each diverging element includes a lens.

11. A position detection system according to claim 4 , wherein the detector is a photodiode.

12. A position detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitter is a plurality of light emitters; the system including a light source for providing light to each of the plurality of light emitters via a fibre splitter tree, the frequency or wavelength of the light source being variable.

13. A method according to claim 8 , including:

providing the light from the light source to the at least one light emitter via a fibre splitter tree; and

varying the frequency or wavelength of the light source.

14. A position detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitter is arranged such that an optical path from the or each light emitter to a target at least partially coincides with an optical path from that target to the or a corresponding detector.

15. A position detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is operable to take measurements including angles at which retro-reflected light is received and wherein the processor is operable to use the angle measurements to correlate which absolute distance measurements relate to which target.

16. A position detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the or each target is surrounded by light emitters.

17. A method as in claim 8 , including directing with a light director emitted light in a predetermined direction and retro-reflected light to a detector.

18. A method as in claim 8 , wherein an optical path from the or each light emitter to a target at least partially coincides with an optical path from that target to the or a corresponding detector.

19. A method as in claim 8 , including:

taking measurements including angles at which retro-reflected light is received; and

using the angle measurements to correlate which absolute distance measurements relate to which target.