Apparatus and method for examining the shape of gemstones
AssigneeSarin Technologies Ltd.
InventorAbraham Kerner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for examining a gemstone includes the steps of coating the gemstone with a removable diffusing coating and determining the silhouette of the gemstone in three dimensions. The method further includes performing structured light triangulation by using laser light to obtain an image of the surface of the gemstone, the gemstone being transparent and/or reflective to the laser light in the absence of the coating. The method further includes the step of using the silhouette in conjunction with the image to determine the location of any recesses on the surface.
Claims14
A method for examining a gemstone comprising the steps of:
- (a) coating said gemstone with a removable diffusing coating;
- (b) determining the silhouette of said gemstone in three dimensions;
- (c) performing structured light triangulation by using laser light to obtain an image of the surface of said gemstone, said gemstone being transparent and/or reflective to said laser light in the absence of said coating;
- and
- (d) using said silhouette in conjunction with said image to determine the location of any recesses on said surface.
An apparatus for examining a gemstone coated with a diffusing material by generating an image of the gemstone including the location of any recesses on the surface thereof, said image being suitable to uniquely identify the gemstone or, if the gemstone is unfinished, for determining the optimum finished stone which can be obtained therefrom, said apparatus comprising:
- means for holding the coated gemstone;
- a first light source for illuminating the gemstone from behind to create a silhouette;
- a second light source in the form of a laser for illuminating a point, line or grid on the gemstone to perform structured light triangulation, said second light source being such that said image can be obtained using said structured light triangulation only with said gemstone being coated with said material;
- a camera disposed in front of the gemstone and at a predefined acute angle from the second light source for scanning the gemstone, thereby obtaining signals corresponding to the shape of the gemstone;
- and
- a processor for generating said image of the gemstone from said signals by using said light triangulation in conjunction with said silhouette in order to determine the location of any recesses on the surface of the gemstone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.