Method and apparatus to measure the cross-sectional area of an object
AssigneeCarnegie Mellon University
InventorsSanjiv Singh, Bruce Digney, Herman Herman, Michael Joseph Rondinelli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for determining a cross-sectional area of an object. The apparatus includes a plurality of radiant energy sources, a plurality of radiant energy detectors oriented to receive radiant energy emitted by the plurality of radiant energy sources, a strobing module in communication with the plurality of radiant energy sources for strobing the plurality of light sources, and a profile determination module in communication with the plurality of radiant energy sources and the strobing module for determining the cross-sectional area of an object disposed between the plurality of radiant energy sources and the plurality of radiant energy detectors.
Claims20
An apparatus for determining a cross-sectional area of an object, comprising:
- a plurality of radiant energy sources;
- a plurality of radiant energy detectors oriented to receive radiant energy emitted by the plurality of radiant energy sources;
- a strobing module in communication with the plurality of radiant energy sources for strobing the plurality of light sources;
- and
- a profile determination module in communication with the plurality of radiant energy sources and the strobing module for determining the cross-sectional area of an object disposed between the plurality of radiant energy sources and the plurality of radiant energy detectors based on whether each cell of an evidence grid representative of the two-dimensional area between the plurality of radiant energy sources and the plurality of radiant energy detectors is occupied by the object.
An apparatus for determining a cross-sectional area of an object, comprising:
- a plurality of radiant energy sources;
- a plurality of radiant energy detectors oriented to receive radiant energy emitted by the plurality of radiant energy sources;
- means for strobing the plurality of radiant energy sources;
- and
- means for determining the cross-sectional area of the object disposed between the plurality of radiant energy sources and the plurality of radiant energy detectors based on whether each cell of an evidence grid representative of the two-dimensional space between the plurality of radiant energy sources and the plurality of radiant energy detectors is occupied by the object.
A method of determining a cross-sectional area of an object, comprising:
- strobing a plurality of radiant energy sources;
- sensing radiant energy emitted by each of the plurality of radiant energy sources when strobed with at least one of a plurality of radiant energy detectors;
- determining the cross-sectional area of the object disposed between the radiant energy sources and the radiant energy detectors based on whether the at least one of the plurality of radiant energy detectors senses radiant energy emitted from each of the plurality of radiant energy sources when strobed based on whether each cell of an evidence grid representative of the two dimensional space between the plurality of radiant energy sources and the plurality of radiant energy detectors is occupied by the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.