Lasergrammetry system and methods
AssigneeLaser Projection Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSteven P. Kaufman, Arkady Savikovsky, Joel Stave
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lasergrammetry system is disclosed, including: an aiming laser projector configured to direct a focused laser beam toward a designated point on a surface of an object thus producing a stationary laser light spot on the surface; and a sensing laser projector configured to scan, detect, and locate the laser light spot created by the aiming laser projector.
Claims44
A lasergrammetry system, comprising:
- an aiming laser projector configured to direct a focused laser beam toward a designated point on a surface of an object thus producing a stationary laser light spot on the surface;
- and
- a sensing laser projector configured to scan, detect, and locate the laser light spot created by the aiming laser projector;
- wherein the aiming and sensing laser projectors are associated with aiming and sensing optical paths, respectively.
The system of any of the preceding claims wherein the aiming laser projector includes a laser, a focusable beam expander, a beam steering system, a controller, and an optical feedback subsystem capable of detecting a portion of laser light reflected from a fiducial on the object.
The system of any of the preceding claims wherein the sensing laser projector includes a laser, a focusable beam expander, a beam steering system, a controller, and an optical feedback subsystem capable of detecting a portion of laser light reflected from a fiducial on the object.
The system of any of the preceding claims wherein the sensing laser projector is configured to allow object feature detection.
The system of any of the preceding claims wherein each of the aiming and sensing laser projectors is capable of functioning as the aiming laser projector or as the sensing laser projector.
The system of any of the preceding claims wherein the system is configured for reverse engineering applications and to provide 3D coordinate measurements a group of points utilizing a bundle solution.
The system of any preceding claim further comprising at least one auxiliary video camera configured to image at least a portion of the object, wherein the system is configured to use a signal from the video camera to at least partially control the operation of the sensing projector.
A lasergrammetry method comprising:
- using an aiming laser projector to direct a focused laser beam toward a designated point on a surface of an object thus producing a stationary laser light spot on the surface;
- and
- using a sensing laser projector to scan, detect, and locate the laser light spot created by the aiming laser projector;
- wherein the aiming and sensing laser projectors are associated with aiming and sensing optical paths, respectively.
The method of any preceding claim, comprising:
- providing a fixed set of fiducials on the object, and
- using the aiming and the sensing laser projectors to obtain optical feedback signals from the fiducials and to define the location and orientation of the aiming and sensing projectors in 3D space with respect to a coordinate system of the object.
The method of any preceding claim, wherein the aiming laser projector includes a laser, a focusable beam expander, a beam steering system, a controller, and an optical feedback subsystem, and further comprising:
- using the optical feedback system to detect a portion of laser light reflected from a fiducial on the object.
The method of any preceding claim, wherein the sensing laser projector includes a laser, a focusable beam expander, a beam steering system, a controller, and an optical feedback subsystem, and further comprising:
- using the optical feedback subsystem to detect a portion of laser light reflected from a fiducial on the object.
The method of claim preceding claim, comprising detecting one or more features using the sensing laser projector.
The method of any preceding claims wherein the object includes one or more inherent fiducials.
The method of any preceding claim, wherein each of the aiming and sensing laser projectors is capable of functioning as the aiming laser projector or as the sensing laser projector.
The method of any of the preceding claims comprising:
- implementing one or more reverse engineering applications;
- and
- providing 3D coordinate measurements a group of points utilizing a bundle solution.
The method any preceding claim further comprising:
- obtaining a video image of at least a portion of the object, and
- using a signal from the video camera to at least partially control the operation of the sensing projector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.