Abstract: A zoom lens guide system employs air bearings to reduce mechanical shift of the zoom lens components, thus reducing measurement error. The air bearings provide greater stiffness, resulting in the reduction of mechanical shift. Orifice type or porous media air bearings can be used to provide a thin film between an external surface of the bearing and an inner surface of a barrel of the system, the bearing being mounted about a lens housing within the barrel. Guide pins include feed tubes connect the air bearings to an air supply while engaging a guide slot in the barrel and a cam slot in a zoom ring to effect selective axial motion of a lens housing.

Abstract: Nonlinear distortions of imaging optics within a computer vision system are quantified as corrective values within a viewing window defined by a pixel array. A test artifact is displaced within an object plane through increments of measured distances and the corresponding displacements of the test artifact within an image plane are recorded within the pixel array. Comparisons are made between the actual appearances of the test artifact within the image plane and predicted appearances of the test artifact within the image plane based on the measured displacements in the object plane for determining the corrective values.

Abstract: A method for generating a vertical section of an object surface under inspection by a digital optical-video inspection system movable along a vertical Z axis, comprising obtaining a video image of the object surface; overlaying over the video image on the object surface a sectioning band along a section vector to make a vertical section of the object, the band comprising a number of regions of pixels, the center of each region being a sampling point along the section vector; generating a series of video images of the object surface at several Z axis positions; computing a focus quality measurement Q(n) for each region at each Z axis position Z(n); computing a best focus quality measurement the series of Q(n); and generating a vertical cross-section of the object surface from a set of points x,y,z obtained at each best focus location.

Abstract: A breakaway unit sits atop a base plate of a coordinate measuring machine via a breakaway coupling system. A crash detection system including at least one crash detection sensor mounted on the breakaway unit and a crash detection controller stops the machine when vertical movement of the breakaway unit exceeds a threshold. Should collision occur, the breakaway coupling system allows the breakaway unit to separate from the base plate, preventing damage to instruments mounted thereon. The kinematic coupling system preferably comprises tooling balls engaging respective vee cones, vee grooves, and/or flats.

Abstract: A distance detecting arrangement employs at least two sensors having different ranges and resolutions of operation. Embodiments disclosed contemplate at least four modes of operation. In a first mode, only one sensor is employed. In a second mode, a longer range and lower resolution sensor is employed until a threshold value of distance is reached, at which point a shorter range and higher resolution sensor is employed. In a third mode, both the longer range and shorter range sensors are employed simultaneously. In a fourth mode, a low resolution profile is used to rescan the object with the high resolution sensor to provide a high resolution profile measurement. Embodiments facilitate the method disclosed by including a beam redirecting apparatus and preferably include a servo position system that can move the sensors and the object relative to each other.

Abstract: An optical metrological system having a heat-generating light source coaxially mounted near a heat-sensitive lens. The system uses a temperature sensor to monitor the lens temperature and a heating element to heat the lens such that the lens operating temperature is greater than a maximum operating temperature of the light source in order to stabilize the focal length of the lens.

Abstract: Measurement data collected within a measurement frame of reference is fitted to geometric tolerance zones having regard for the uncertainties of the measurement. Geometric freedoms for fitting the measurement data are exploited to fit uncertainty zones associated with the measurement data within the tolerance zones. Typically, the measurement data is multidimensional and the uncertainty zones have different sizes.

Abstract: An optical metrological system having a heat-generating light source coaxially mounted near a heat-sensitive lens. The system uses a temperature sensor to monitor the lens temperature and a heating element to heat the lens such that the lens operating temperature is greater than a maximum operating temperature of the light source in order to stabilize the focal length of the lens.

Abstract: Apparatus for sequentially imaging an object while maintaining focus includes a camera having a selectable image capture mode, an objective lens optically coupled to the camera, an optical range sensor operating through the objective lens, a strobe illuminator, and a controller coupled to the camera, the illuminator and the range sensor sequentially activating and deactivating the range sensor, selecting and deselecting the image capture mode only when the range sensor is deactivated, and activating and deactivating the strobe illuminator only when the image capture mode is active.

Abstract: Measurement data collected within a measurement frame of reference is fitted to geometric tolerance zones having regard for the uncertainties of the measurement. Geometric freedoms for fitting the measurement data are exploited to fit uncertainty zones associated with the measurement data within the tolerance zones. Typically, the measurement data is multidimensional and the uncertainty zones have different sizes.

Abstract: Measurement data collected within a measurement frame of reference is fitted to geometric tolerance zones having regard for the uncertainties of the measurement. Geometric freedoms for fitting the measurement data are exploited to fit uncertainty zones associated with the measurement data within the tolerance zones. Typically, the measurement data is multidimensional and the uncertainty zones have different sizes.

Abstract: An adapter and method for through the lens (TTL) laser range sensor probes enables use of a TTL probe of a given exit pupil size to be used with a shared objective lens requiring a entrance pupil size, as entered from the laser range sensor, that is different from the TTL probe exit pupil size. Embodiments of the adapter include optics, such as a first lens and a resolving second lens that expand or contract the TTL laser radiation depending on whether the first lens is a diverging, a negative focal length lens, or a converging, positive focal length lens, and the second lens is converging or diverging, respectively, in a Galilean arrangement. Embodiments also provide a Keplerian arrangement, can function with non-collimated radiation, and can include mirrors to yield a more compact adapter. Additional embodiments include at least one adjustable lens element between the first and second lenses, the at least one adjustable lens element being connected to an actuator for movement along the optical path.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for system-independent (off-line) programming of a measurement system for work pieces that includes a video measurement module and an evaluator. The arrangement according to the invention makes use of the evaluator of the measurement system or a similarly configured device. Instead of the video output signal of the video measuring unit that images actual work pieces, the video output signal of a system-independent programming apparatus is transferred to the evaluator of the measurement system. In a preferred embodiment, the programming apparatus is a personal computer with a display device, whereby the personal computer is loaded with a program for processing CAD data that describes a work piece, and for displaying on the display device various images of the work piece that are selected by the user.

Abstract: Nonlinear distortions of imaging optics within a computer vision system are quantified as corrective values within a viewing window defined by a pixel array. A test artifact is displaced within an object plane through increments of measured distances and the corresponding displacements of the test artifact within an image plane are recorded within the pixel array. Comparisons are made between the actual appearances of the test artifact within the image plane and predicted appearances of the test artifact within the image plane based on the measured displacements in the object plane for determining the corrective values.