Method and apparatus for recording three-dimensional topographies

An apparatus for sampling data corresponding to a property of an object and generating a feedback code indicating the quality of the sampled data, said apparatus comprising

• (a) an input probe for generating digital data points at a plurality of sample points on the surface of the object, each digital data point comprising a property value and a position value corresponding to a particular sample point;
• (b) an output device arranged to provide the feedback code;
• and
• (c) a processor electrically connected to said input probe and said output device and arranged to analyze the digital data and provide a feedback code indicating the quality of the digital data points, wherein said processor is programmed to
• (i) assign each digital data point to one of a plurality of discrete compartments based on the position value of the data point, each compartment corresponding to a unique location on the object and comprising zero, one, or more digital data points;
• (ii) determine a quality value for each of said compartments based on the quality of the digital data points assigned to that compartment and assign to each compartment a feedback code representing said quality value;
• (iii) transmit said feedback code to the output device;
• (iv) assign new digital data points to each compartment that comprises a feedback code indicating an unacceptable quality value, said new data points corresponding to sample points on the object at a location corresponding to said compartment;
• (v) determine a new quality value for each compartment to which new digital data points have been assigned and assign to each compartment a new feedback code representing said new quality value;
• and
• (vi) transmit said new feedback code to the output device.

A computer program for analyzing the quality of sampled data points representing a property of an object and generating a feedback code indicating the quality of the sampled data points, said program residing on a computer-readable medium and comprising instructions for causing a processor to:

• (a) obtain digital data points representing a plurality of sample points on the surface of the object, each digital data point comprising a property value and a position value corresponding to a particular sample point;
• (b) assign each digital data point to one of a plurality of discrete compartments based on the position value of the data point, each compartment corresponding to a unique location on the object and comprising zero, one, or more digital data points;
• (c) determine a quality value for each of said compartments based on the quality of the digital data points assigned to that compartment and assign to each compartment a feedback code representing said quality value;
• (d) transmit said feedback code to an output device;
• (e) assign new digital data points to each compartment that comprises a feedback code indicating an unacceptable quality value, said new data points corresponding to sample points on the object at a location corresponding to said compartment;
• (f) determine a new quality value for each compartment to which new digital data points have been assigned and assign to each compartment a new feedback code representing said new duality value;
• and
• (g) transmit said new feedback code to the output device.