US 5,289,261 A · Device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member

Abstract

A device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member which comprises a first image detector and a second image detector, a projected image computing device, and a center line computing device. The first image detector and the second image detector detect a two-dimensional image of an image of the elongate member projected onto a planar surface. The projected image computing device computes each central line of the projected image of the elongate member from each of the images detected by the first image detector and the second image detector. Then, the center line computing device detects a plane including the central line obtained from the first image detector and the position of the first image detector, and another plane including the other central line obtained from the second image detector and the position of the second image detector, thereby obtaining a center line of the elongate member along which the planes intersect each other.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of a bent elongate member, comprising:

a first image detector and a second image detector for detecting a two-dimensional image of said elongate member, supported on a planar surface, at measuring points of said elongate member, said first and second image detectors being located adjacent said planar surface and spaced from one another at predetermined positions;
detected image computing means for computing a central line for each detected image of said elongate member from each two-dimensional image of said elongate member detected by said first and said second image detectors;
and
center line computing means for computing a first plane which includes the central line obtained from said first image detector and the position of said first image detector, and a second plane which includes the central line obtained from said second image detector and the position of said second image detector, whereby a center line for at least a portion of said elongate member is obtained by an intersection of said first and second planes.

1 more element

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member having a plurality of substantially straight segments, each straight segment having a central point and end points, comprising the steps of:

providing a first image detector and a second image detector for detecting a two-dimensional image of said elongate member, supported on a planar surface, at measuring points of said elongate member, said first and second image detectors being located adjacent said planar surface and spaced from one another at predetermined positions;
providing a projected image computing means for computing a projected image on said planar surface and a central line for each projected image of said elongate member from each two-dimensional image of said elongate member detected by said first and said second image detectors;
and
providing center line computing means for computing a first plane which includes the central line obtained from said first image detector and the position of said first image detector, and a second plane which includes a central line obtained from said second image detector and the position of said second image detector, whereby a center line for said elongate member is obtained by an intersection of said first and second planes.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member

Life of this patent

Device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21