In a first embodiment, a single linear array of bi-cell optical detectors
is arranged with each bi-cell optical detector having a rectangular
aperture located a prescribed distance above the surface of the bi-cell
optical detector. In the first embodiment, in calculating the position of
a point source emitter, it is understood that each detector receives light
from the point source emitter at a unique angle different from the angles
at which the other detectors receive light from the point source emitter.
A plot of detector ratios is made by taking the best fit line through the
ratios from each detector and the location of the point where the detector
ratio is zero yields the point of perpendicularity between the emitter and
the linear detector array. Another embodiment contemplates a three
dimensional detector having three linear arrays of bi-cell detectors
arranged at the periphery of a measuring space mutually orthogonal to one
another. Calculation of the x, y and z intercepts through calculations of
lines of regression or planar intercepts allows one to calculate the x, y
and z coordinates of the point source emitter.
