Scanning system and method which utilizes continuous motion control and data acquisition triggering

A method for scanning an object, the method comprising:

• continuously moving a motion control device, wherein said continuously moving the motion control device continuously moves one or more of a sensor and the object to allow the sensor to scan the object;
• a measurement device periodically receiving measurement data from the sensor;
• the measurement device triggering a motion control device each time measurement data is received;
• and
• the motion control device recording its current position in response to each trigger by the measurement device.

A system for scanning an object, comprising:

• a computer system;
• a sensor for acquiring measurements of the object;
• a motion stage coupled to one or more of the sensor and the object to move one or more of the sensor and the object to allow the sensor to scan the object;
• a motion control device coupled to the motion stage for controlling movement of the motion stage, wherein the motion control device is operable to move the motion stage in a continuous fashion;
• a measurement device coupled to the sensor for receiving measurements from the sensor;
• wherein the measurement device is directly coupled to the motion control device to allow direct communication between the measurement device and the motion control device;
• wherein the measurement device is operable to periodically take measurements of the object from the sensor, wherein the measurement device is operable to trigger the motion control device each time a measurement is taken;
• wherein the motion control device is operable to record a position of the motion stage when a trigger is received from the measurement device;
• wherein the computer system is operable to receive measurement data from the measurement device and position data from the motion control device and is operable to correlate the measurement data and the position data to determine scanning information for the object.

A system for scanning an object, comprising:

• a device under test;
• a sensor operable to sense characteristics of the device under test;
• a chassis;
• a measurement device housed in the chassis and coupled to the sensor, wherein the measurement device is operable to acquire measurement data from the sensor;
• a motion control device housed in the chassis, wherein the motion control device is operable to continuously move one or more of the sensor and the device under test;
• wherein the chassis includes a communication channel directly coupling the measurement device to the motion control device;
• wherein the measurement device is operable to periodically acquire measurement data from the sensor, wherein the measurement device is operable to trigger the motion control device via the communication channel each time measurement data is acquired;
• wherein the motion control device is operable to record a position of one or more of the sensor and the device under test in response to said measurement device triggering the motion control device via the communication channel each time measurement data is acquired.

An automated method for aligning a first fiber optic cable to a second fiber optic cable, the method comprising:

• routing a beam of light from the first fiber optic cable to the second fiber optic cable, wherein a sensor is operable to sense intensity of light emitted from the second fiber optic cable;
• a motion control device continuously moving the first fiber optic cable relative to the second fiber optic cable, wherein said continuously moving the first fiber optic cable relative to the second fiber optic cable causes fluctuations in the intensity of light emitted from the second fiber optic cable;
• a measurement device periodically acquiring measurement data from the sensor, wherein the measurement data is indicative of the intensity of light emitted from the second fiber optic cable;
• the measurement device triggering the motion control device each time the measurement device acquires measurement data;
• the motion control device recording its current position each time in response to said measurement device triggering the motion control device;
• and
• correlating measurement data received from the measurement device and position data received from the motion control device to align the first fiber optic cable to the second fiber optic cable.