US 6,191,856 B1Granted

Optical inspection device

AssigneeVolution

InventorsCharles S. Slemon, W. James Frandsen, James John Glover

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Abstract

An optical device for establishing a spatial orientation for a drill bit includes at least three light sources and two cameras. The first light source is used to silhouette the drill bit; a second light source is used to generate a reflection from a primary facet of the drill bit; and a third light source is used to generate a reflection from the margin of the drill bit. In sequence, the first camera responds to the first light source to establish an axial position for the drill bit on the axis. The second camera then responds to the second light source to establish a gross rotational position for the drill bit on its axis. Finally, the first camera is again used. This time it establishes a precise rotational position for the drill bit on its axis to establish the spatial orientation for the drill bit.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An optical device for establishing a spatial orientation for a drill bit, the drill bit defining a longitudinal axis and having a primary facet with a normal inclined at an angle α to the axis and having a margin extending generally on a helical path around the axis, said device comprising:

a first light source for generating a first light beam for silhouetting said drill bit;
a second light source for generating a second light beam for reflection from said primary facet at an angle of reflection a for travel substantially along said axis, wherein α=cos−1 (1/(1+tan2 (φ)+tan2 (ψ))), and where, in a cartesian coordinate system, α is an angle with the z axis (said longitudinal axis), φ is an angle of rotation about the x axis, and ψ is an angle of rotation about the y axis;
a third light source for generating a third light beam for reflection from said margin;
a means for responding to said first light beam to establish an axial position for the drill bit on said axis;
a means for responding to said second light beam to establish a gross rotational position for the drill bit on said axis;
and
a means for responding to said third light beam to establish a precise rotational position for the drill bit on said axis to establish said spatial orientation.

4 more elements

a first light source for generating a first light beam for silhouetting said drill bit with said drill bit in a first axial position;
a second light source for generating a second light beam for reflection from said primary facet at an angle of reflection a for travel substantially along said axis with said drill bit in a second axial position;
a third light source for generating a third light beam for reflection from said margin with said drill bit in said first axial position;
a means for responding to said first light beam to establish an axial position for the drill bit on said axis;
a means for responding to said second light beam to establish a gross rotational position for the drill bit on said axis;
and
a means for responding to said third light beam to establish a precise rotational position for the drill bit on said axis to establish said spatial orientation.

4 more elements

A method for establishing a spatial orientation for a drill bit, the drill bit defining a longitudinal axis and having a primary facet with a normal inclined at an angle α to the axis and having a margin extending generally on a helical path around the axis, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a first light beam for silhouetting said drill bit with said drill bit in a first axial position;
generating a second light beam for reflection from said primary facet at an angle of reflection α for travel substantially along said axis with said drill bit in a second axial position;
generating a third light beam for reflection from said margin with said drill bit in said first axial position;
responding to said first light beam to establish an axial position for the drill bit on said axis;
responding to said second light beam to establish a gross rotational position for the drill bit on said axis;
and
responding to said third light beam to establish a precise rotational position for the drill bit on said axis to establish said spatial orientation.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.