Abstract: A non-contact measuring device for determining the dimensions of a cylindrical object, such as a pipe. The device may use a programmable industrial robot with an arm terminating in a rotary joint, or wrist. A non-contact measurement assembly, which preferably includes a triangulation laser, mounted to the robot's wrist. The wrist includes a binary wrist encoder for providing the angular position of the wrist to an attached computer. Likewise, the laser provides a signal representative of the distance from the laser to the surface of the pipe to the computer. The robot positions the measurement assembly in a predetermined location within the pipe and rotates the measurement assembly. The computer correlates the measurements from the lasers with the angular position at which they were taken, and it analyzes this data to determine the dimensions of the pipe, including the true profile of the surface and cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for filtering electronic mail. The method and apparatus allows the receiver of electronic mail to make a decision to accept, reject, prioritize, or expedite delivery of a piece of electronic mail based on the value of an attached electronic stamp. The apparatus consists of two complimentary parts: a sender side part with responsibility for attaching the electronic stamp; and a receiver side part with responsibility for removing the electronic stamp and filtering the electronic mail based on the value of the electronic stamp. The method and apparatus are used in a system for reducing or eliminating the amount of junk electronic mail in the electronic mail system.