# US 5,981,965 A · Method and apparatus for electro-optically determining the dimension, location and attitude of objects > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,981,965 A - Document ID: US5981965A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/462,382 - Filed: 1995-06-05 - Granted: 1999-11-09 - Earliest claimed: 1979-04-30 - Assignees: LMI-Diffracto - Inventors: Timothy R. Pryor; Bernard Hockley; Nick Liptay-Wagner; Omer L. Hageniers; W. J. Pastorius - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5981965A ## CPC - G01S 17/48: Active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves - G01B 11/002: {for measuring two or more coordinates} - G01B 11/24: for measuring contours or curvatures - G01B 11/2416: {of gears (optical projection profile comparators G01B9/08)} - G01B 11/245: using a plurality of fixed, simultaneously operating transducers ({G01B11/2408 - G01B11/2425, } G01B11/255 take precedence) - G01S 7/4811: {common to transmitter and receiver} - G01S 7/4813: {Housing arrangements} - G01S 17/87: Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves - G01S 17/89: for mapping or imaging - G01S 7/481: Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements - G01S 7/491: Details of non-pulse systems - G01S 17/46: Indirect determination of position data - G01S 17/88: Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said laser is a laser diode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said camera is a Solid state TV camera. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein camera is further used to provide said range measurement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a broad illumination source for illuminating said portion of said object surface surrounding said zone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said broad illumination source backlights said object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said ranging sensor comprises said tv camera directed toward said zone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said ranging sensor comprises a further tv camera. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said tv camera directed toward said zone provides data for measuring a further portion of said object. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said beam of laser radiation is substantially co-linear with at least a portion of the optical axis of said tv camera. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A measuring machine as in claim 11, further comprising a broad illumination source for illuminating said portion of said object surface surrounding said zone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A measuring machine as in claim 12, wherein said broad illumination source backlights said object. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A measuring machine as in claim 11, wherein said ranging sensor comprises said tv camera directed toward said zone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A measuring machine as in claim 11, wherein said ranging sensor comprises a further tv camera. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A measuring machine as in claim 11, wherein said tv camera directed toward said zone provides data for measuring a further portion of said object. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) A measuring machine as in claim 11, wherein said light projected from said sensor is substantially co-linear with at least a portion of the optical axis of said tv camera. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18 wherein said laser is a laser diode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18 wherein said camera is a solid state TV camera. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18 wherein said TV camera is further used to provide said range determination. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) A method as in claim 18, further comprising illuminating said portion of said object surface surrounding said area of incidence using a broad illumination source. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A method as in claim 22, wherein said object is backlit with said broad illumination source. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) A method as in claim 18, wherein said ranging sensor comprises said tv camera directed toward said zone. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) A method as in claim 18, wherein said ranging sensor comprises a further tv camera. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) A method as in claim 18, further comprising providing data for measuring a further portion of said object using said tv camera directed toward said zone. ### Claim 27 (depends on 18) A method as in claim 18, wherein said beam of laser radiation is substantially co-linear with at least a portion of the optical axis of said tv camera. ### Claim 28 (depends on 18) A method as in claim 18, wherein said laser radiation is projected onto a zone on an ledge of said object. ### Claim 29 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. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A method as in claim 29, further comprising illuminating said portion of said object surface surrounding said area of incidence using a broad illumination source. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A method as in claim 30, wherein said object is backlit with said broad illumination source. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) A method as in claim 29, wherein said ranging sensor comprises said tv camera directed toward said zone. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) A method as in claim 29, wherein said ranging sensor comprises a further tv camera. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) A method as in claim 29, further comprising providing data for measuring a further portion of said object using said tv camera directed toward said zone. ### Claim 35 (depends on 29) A method as in claim 29, wherein said light projected from said sensor is substantially co-linear with at least a portion of the optical axis of said tv camera. ### Claim 36 (depends on 29) A method as in claim 29, wherein said light is projected onto a zone on an edge of said object.