Method and apparatus for electro-optically determining the dimension, location and attitude of objects
AssigneeLMI-Diffracto
InventorsTimothy R. Pryor, Bernard Hockley, Nick Liptay-Wagner, Omer L. Hageniers, W. J. Pastorius
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims36
Apparatus for optically determining range to at least one point on an object, comprising:
- a laser based ranging sensor projecting a beam of laser radiation onto only a zone on the surface of said object,
- means for determining a dimension of said object based upon data including data from said sensor, and
- a tv camera directed toward said zone and a video display of the output thereof for providing a video display of the portion of the object surface surrounding and including said zone.
A measuring machine for measuring a dimension of an object, comprising:
- an optical ranging sensor projecting light onto only a zone on the surface of said object,
- a machine for moving said sensor with respect to said object,
- means for determining a dimension of said object based upon data including data from said sensor, and
- a tv camera directed toward said zone and a video display of the output thereof for providing a video display of the portion of the object surface surrounding and including said zone.
In a device for measuring a dimension of an object, a method for optically determining range to at least one point on said object, comprising;
- projecting a beam of laser radiation onto only a zone on the surface of said object at using a laser based ranging sensor,
- determining a dimension of said object based upon data including data from said sensor, and
- providing a video display of the portion of the object surface surrounding and including said zone using a TV camera directed toward said zone and a video display of the output thereof.
A method for measuring a dimension of an object, comprising;
- projecting light onto only a zone on the surface of said object at using an optical ranging sensor,
- moving said sensor with respect to said object,
- determining a dimension of said object based upon data including data from said sensor, and
- providing a video display of the portion of the object surface surrounding and including said zone using a TV camera directed toward said zone and a video display of the output thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.