Method and apparatus for electro optically determining the dimension location and attitude of objects
AssigneeSensor Adaptive Machines, Inc.
InventorsTimothy R. Pryor, Bernard Hockley, Nick Liptay-Wagner, Omer L. Hageniers, W. J. Pastorius
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for optically determining the dimension of part surfaces. Particular embodiments describe optical triangulation based coordinate measurement machines capable of accurate measurement of complex surfaces, such as gear teeth and turbine blades. Other embodiments provide highly useful sensors for robot guidance and related purposes. Up to 5 axis sensing capability is provided on surfaces of widely varying form.
Claims22
A method for obtaining data concerning an object using detector array based imaging systems, comprising the steps of:
- forming an optical image of at least a portion of the object on a photodetector array,
- scanning said image to provide data concerning said image,
- storing said image data,
- analyzing said stored data to determine a photodetector array light gathering related variable, and
- further analyzing said stored data as a function of said determined variable.
A method for determining data concerning an object comprising the steps of:
- illuminating said object,
- providing an image of said object,
- scanning said image with a photodetector array,
- storing the output data of said array,
- comparing said stored data with a threshold, and
- determining from said comparison data concerning said object.
Apparatus for obtaining data concerning an object comprising:
- means for forming an optical image of at least a portion of the object,
- photodetector array means for scanning said image to provide data concerning said image,
- means for temporarily storing said image data,
- means for analyzing said stored data to determine a light gathering related variable, and
- means for further analyzing said stored data as a function of said determined variable.
Apparatus for determining data concerning an object comprising:
- means for illuminating said object,
- means for providing an image of said object,
- photodetector array means for scanning said image,
- means for storing output data of said array scan,
- means for comparing said stored data with a signal threshold, and
- means for determining from said comparison data concerning said object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.