Triangulation Patents (Class 356/602)
  • Patent number: 8213022
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems of an optical sensor for spatially smart 3-D object measurements using variable focal length lenses to target both specular and diffuse objects by matching transverse dimensions of the sampling optical beam to the transverse size of the flat target for given axial target distance for instantaneous spatial mapping of flat target, zone. The sensor allows volumetric data compressed remote sensing of object transverse dimensions including cross-sectional size, motion transverse displacement, inter-objects transverse gap distance, 3-D animation data acquisition, laser-based 3-D machining, and 3-D inspection and testing. An embodiment provides a 2-D optical display using 2-D laser scanning and 3-D beamforming optics engaged with sensor optics to measure distance of display screen from the laser source and scanning optics by adjusting its focus to produce the smallest focused beam spot on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Nusensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Nabeel A. Riza, Frank Perez
  • Publication number: 20120149281
    Abstract: A distance measurement system comprises an optical distance sensor configured to generate a light beam, a first optical module, and a processor. The first optical module is configured to receive the light beam, and generate and selectively transmit a plurality of light beams having different light channels for projection onto one or more points of an object to generate one or more reflected light beams scattered from the respective one or more points of the object, and capture and transmit the one or more reflected light beams into the optical distance sensor to retrieve a plurality of distance data to the respective one or more points of the object. The processor is configured to process the distance data to determine position information of the respective one or more points of the object. A distance measurement method is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Xinjun WAN, Guju Song, Kevin George Harding, Shukuan Xu, Steven Robert Hayashi, Robert William Tait, James Joseph Hoffman, Charles Walter Muchmore, Matthew Michael Gluesenkamp
  • Publication number: 20120127480
    Abstract: A device for analyzing the topography of a surface (2) of a substrate (1) travelling on a substantially planar course with axes X, Y and Z defining an orthonormal frame of reference of the space. The surface (2) is substantially parallel to the plane XY. A device (10) for structured lighting of the surface (2) engages with a device (20) for measuring light backscattered by the surface (2) in order to analyze topography of the surface(2) during travel of the substrate (1). The lighting device (10) projecting a light beam (F) with an angle of incidence ‘a’ onto the surface (2), to form a plurality ‘n’ of luminous streaks (S1, S2, . . . Sn) thereon. Each luminous streak (S) forms an angle ‘b’ with the axis X1. The measurement device (20) includes a linear camera located in a plane P secant to the plane XY and the plane XZ, the intersection of the plane P with the plane XY forming angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: BOBST SA
    Inventors: Francis Pilloud, Matthieu Richard, Benoît Rosset
  • Publication number: 20120069351
    Abstract: An optical arrangement for the non-contact measurement or testing of properties of a solid's surface, such as curvature, shape, contour, roughness or alignment. An optical arrangement includes structure for establishing a gap between the solid's surface and a reference edge, structure for imaging the gap on a detector, and an analyzing system connected to the detector. The analyzing system is designed to determine gap widths lying adjacent to each other on the basis of the output signals of the detector, and to determine curvature, shape, contour or roughness of the solid's surface on the basis of the gap widths lying adjacent to each other. From the comparison of the images obtained from any two positions within a drilled hole, deductions can be made, among other things, about any tilt between the measuring object and the measuring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS AG
    Inventor: Carsten Glasenapp
  • Patent number: 8134719
    Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining 3-D surface contour image data of a tooth has a double telecentric optical system disposed to form an image of the surface of the tooth onto an image detector array. A focus adjustment mechanism is actuable to adjust the position of either or both the double telecentric optical system and the image detector array along an optical axis to each of a sequence of focus positions. A control logic processor is in control signal communication with the focus adjustment mechanism to adjust focus position, and is in image data communication with the image detector array for receiving image data obtained by the image detector array and with a memory for storing the received image data corresponding to each of the sequence of focus positions. The control logic processor is further responsive to stored instructions for computing 3-D surface contour image data from the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Rongguang Liang, Lawrence A. Ray
  • Patent number: 8130383
    Abstract: An optical signal analysis apparatus includes a photodetector and an analyzer. The photodetector is to detect light emitted from measurement points in a sample. The analyzer is to analyze a molecular interaction between two of the measurement points by using fluctuation signals corresponding to fluctuations of the light from the measurement points that are detected by the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Akemi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120044504
    Abstract: An observing apparatus includes a lighting device for irradiating a surface of a measuring target with light having a first light source distribution, and an imaging section for imaging the surface of the measuring target. Considering a first plane passing through a measurement point, the first light source distribution is set such that: (1) a radiance L11(?) changes in a continuous or stepwise manner according to an angle ?, and (2) the radiance L11(?) is not zero in a local region of a predetermined range of ±? having a point located at a predetermined angle ?c as a center on the first plane when viewed from the measurement point, and the following equation substantially holds for arbitrary a satisfying 0<a??; L11(?c?a)+L11(?c+a)=2×L11(?c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ohnishi, Masatoshi Kimachi, Masaki Suwa, Shree Nayar
  • Patent number: 8094321
    Abstract: A multi-target photogrammetric target assembly and related method of evaluating curvilinear surface character. The target assembly includes a first photogrammetric target disposed at a first support and a second photogrammetric target disposed at a second support. The first support and the second support are operatively connected such that the first target is in predefined lateral spaced relation to the second target. The method includes providing a structure having a curvilinear surface and affixing one or more multi-target photogrammetric target assemblies to the curvilinear surface. The position of the targets is measured by one or more imaging devices to define surface contour characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Nien L. Lee
  • Patent number: 8094322
    Abstract: In a method for the determination of the 3D coordinates of an object (2), a pattern is projected (1) onto the object (2) and the pattern reflected by the object (2) is taken (3) and evaluated. To improve such a method, a pattern is projected onto a first part region (12) of the object (2) in a first step and the pattern reflected by this part region (12) of the object (2) is taken. In a second step, a pattern is projected onto a second part region of the object (2) and the pattern reflected by this part region of the object (2) is taken. The patterns taken are evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Steinbichler Optotechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Mayer, Marcus Steinbichler, Alexander Frey
  • Patent number: 8064684
    Abstract: An interface that allows a user to explore complex three dimensional datasets. The user manipulates a physical modeling material that defines the geometry of a surface that intersects a voxel dataset and the intersected voxel values are projected back onto the surface of the physical material as image data. A position sensor captures position data specifying the geometry of the surface, a processor compares the array of data values with the captured position data to identify selected ones of these data values whose position in the array corresponds to the geometry of the surface, and a projector for illuminates the surface with an image representative of the data at the array/surface intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Carlo Filippo Ratti, Benjamin Tarquinn Fielding Piper, Yao Wang, Hiroshii Ishii
  • Patent number: 8035052
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for grouping individual products such as industrially baked products that travel past a visiometry station into lots for counting them. In a viewing zone of a conveyor belt, a laser triangulation visiometry system is used. The method and apparatus also uses a signal processor associated with the camera that deduces from the images acquired thereby at least one piece of information on the location of the products on the conveyor belt as well as height information thereon. This information is then used by the signal processor to automatically distinguish between the presence of a product and the presence of contaminating material (for example flour or chocolate particles) on the conveyor belt and to distinguish the presence of several partially or fully overlapping products from the presence of a single product on said conveyor belt. Preferably, two cameras are disposed symmetrically relative to a laser plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the viewing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: De La Ballina Freres
    Inventors: Helios De La Ballina, Emmanuel Dumas
  • Patent number: 8027530
    Abstract: Apparatus for optically surveying and/or examining a welding componentry, in particular a vehicle axle or instrument panel, includes a measuring space for accommodating a plurality of cameras for taking images of the welding componentry. The images are combined and evaluated in an evaluation unit. Disposed in the measuring space is a support unit for support of the welding componentry. The support unit includes a base plate and at least two vertically adjustable support columns on the base plate. Provided on the free end of each support column is a clamping unit which includes two clamping elements constructed for movement relative to one another for clamping the welding componentry. In addition, the support columns have each a pin which is movable in relation to the clamping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Relard, Rainer Lübbers, Cordt Erfling
  • Publication number: 20110188052
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining geometrical dimensions of a tyre, especially of an inner surface of the tyre and/or a tyre bead, by contact-less sensing, wherein the tyre (12) is received in a receiving means (10), wherein at least one light beam is emitted onto a peripheral area of the tyre surface (23, 24), especially on an inner surface (23) of the tyre (12) and/or on a tyre bead (24), wherein the light beam reflected at the impingement area is detected and the directions of the emitted and reflected light beams are evaluated for determining the shape and/or position of the respective impingement area on the tyre (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: Paolo SOTGIU
  • Publication number: 20110176147
    Abstract: There is described a scanner having a frame with a support, two lasers attached to the frame and two optical sensors attached to the frame, the lasers and optical sensors being positioned and oriented to reduce shadowing effects for the cameras and for the laser lines while covering close to 100% of the surface of an object to be imaged and reducing the scanning time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Francois Marcil, Christian Matz, Louis Geoffroy, Elmekki Ennajimi
  • Patent number: 7901096
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for illuminating an object and projecting its image on a ground glass screen. Optical comparators conventionally use incandescent illumination, either mercury arc or halogen. The use of an array of high intensity LED devices, provides many options for packaging the required optical components used in comparators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Dorsey Metrology International
    Inventor: Peter Donald Klepp
  • Publication number: 20110032538
    Abstract: A method for the measurement of the stock of a gear with an axis of rotation which has to be finished in the hardened state, wherein the gear has a gearing with a plurality of teeth at its outer and/or inner circumference and wherein the teeth have, compared with the finished geometry, a stock on their tooth flanks. To carry out a reliable measurement of the stock the invention proposes that the position of the surface of the tooth flank with the stock is detected by using optical distance measurement by means of a distance sensor, wherein a light beam is directed by the distance sensor onto the surface, wherein the light beam is guided onto the surface in such a way that it is perpendicular to the axis of rotation or that it is parallel to this direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: NILES WERKZEUGMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventors: Boris MASCHIROW, Frank REICHEL, Volker ZENKER
  • Patent number: 7884949
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a three-dimensional image measuring apparatus comprising: an XYZ shaft transfer means mounted onto a base member; a work stage mounted to the base member, for moving a measuring object to a measuring position and thereafter supporting it and having a predetermined reference surface set at a side thereof; an image obtaining means in which it is moved toward X,Y and Z shafts by the XYZ shaft transfer means, scans a grating image by the frequency of N times to a side of the measuring object supported and fixed to the work stage, obtains the changed grating image by the measuring object by N times; a light emitting means mounted to a side of the image obtaining means for generating and emitting light with a predetermined wavelength; and a control unit which irradiates light generated from the light emitting means mounted to a side of the image obtaining means to the reference surface set the side of the work stage, receives the changed grating image obtained from the image obtaini
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Koh Young Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Kwang-Ill Koh, Eun-Hyoung Seong, Moon-Young Jeon
  • Patent number: 7876455
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shape measuring apparatus includes a line laser light source (1) and an image capturing device (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: TechnoDream21 Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawasaki, Ryo Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7873488
    Abstract: A chromatic point sensor (CPS) calibration object and characterizing data are provided. The calibration object comprises a flat base plane with steps extending from it. Step measurement points provided by the steps and base plane measurement points provided by portions of the base plane are intermingled along a measurement track. The characterizing data characterizes known heights of the measurement points. A calibration method acquires measurement data such that some base plane measurement points should be at nearly the same measurement distance and therefore have the same common mode errors relative to known base plane measurement point heights. If such base plane measurement points exhibit minimal error variations, then measurements for those and proximate measurement points may provide reliable calibration data. In contrast, error variations outside an expected range indicate unreliable measurements that should be screened or replaced by new calibration measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Nahum, David William Sesko, Kim W. Atherton
  • Patent number: 7872764
    Abstract: A predictive suspension system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor, and energy source and a control. The imaging sensor is disposed at a vehicle and has a generally downward field of view, with the field of view encompassing an area forward of a tire of the vehicle. The energy source is operable to emit illumination in at least one linear pattern so that the linear pattern is projected onto a portion of the area forward of the tire of the vehicle that is encompassed by the field of view of the imaging sensor. The control processes image data captured by the imaging sensor and detects surface irregularities on a surface in front of the vehicle tire in response to the image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, Duane W. Gebauer
  • Patent number: 7841529
    Abstract: A method for imaging an article, the method includes: (i) providing short duration light pulses; (ii) directing the light pulses, by multiple optical heads, to illuminate multiple spaced apart areas of an article; and (iii) directing light from the multiple areas towards multiple two-dimensional light sensors; whereas (iv) imparting motion between the article and the multiple optical heads during the stages of providing and directing. An apparatus for inspecting an article that includes: (i) at least one pulsating source for providing short duration light pulses; (ii) multiple optical heads, adapted to direct the light pulses to illuminate multiple spaced apart areas of an article and to collect light from the multiple areas towards multiple two-dimensional light sensors; and (iii) a positioning device which is adapted to impart motion between the article and the multiple optical heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials Israel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Emanuel Elyasaf, Avishay Guetta
  • Patent number: 7840374
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for measuring an object for measurement, comprising at least one reference structure for the definition of an object coordinate system, fixed with relation to the object, by means of a measuring system, which comprises at least one sensor system for recording a contour of the object for measuring in a measurement coordinate system. According to the invention, the object for measurement is placed in a measuring position in the recording region of the sensor system, the position of the object coordinate system is fixed by means of the reference structure, the object coordinate system is linked to the measurement coordinate system, the sensor system is turned about a rotation axis relative to the object for measurement, in order to determine contour data and a processing of the contour data carried out in an analytical unit, taking into account the position of the object coordinate system. The invention further relates to an application for contour determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: Jan Bernd Lugtenburg
  • Publication number: 20100284024
    Abstract: A scanning microscope includes an acousto-optic scanner that produces a scanned beam. A beam separator based on total internal reflection or angle tuning of a dielectric filter separates an unscanned portion of an excitation light flux from a scanned portion. The scanned beam is directed to a specimen, and optical radiation generated in response to the scanned beam is directed to a detector that produces a detected signal that can be used to determine an image. The scanned beam can be directed to the specimen without formation of any intermediate focusing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Dejan Vucinic, Terrence J. Sejnowski
  • Patent number: 7812970
    Abstract: A method and system for inspecting parts utilizing triangulation are provided. The system includes a part support subsystem including a fixture for supporting a part to be inspected and a head apparatus. The head apparatus includes at least one radiation source for directing a plane of radiation at the part so that the part occludes the plane of radiation to create unobstructed planar portions of the plane of radiation wherein each of the unobstructed planar portions of the plane of radiation contains an amount of radiation which is representative of a respective geometric dimension of the part. The head apparatus also includes at least one receiver module for measuring the amount of radiation present in each of the unobstructed planar portions and a triangulation-based sensor to illuminate the part with a beam of electromagnetic energy to obtain a reflected beam of electromagnetic energy and to sense at least one portion of the reflected beam of electromagnetic energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: GII Acquisition, LLC
    Inventor: Michael G. Nygaard
  • Publication number: 20100231881
    Abstract: The invention provides a level sensor configured to measure a height level of a substrate comprising: a projection unit to project a measurement beam on the substrate, a detection unit to receive the measurement beam after reflection on the substrate, a processing unit to calculate a height level on the basis of the reflected measurement beam received by the detection unit, wherein the level sensor further comprises a tilt measuring device, wherein the tilt measuring device is arranged to receive at least partially the reflected measurement beam, and configured to provide a tilt signal representative for a tilt of the substrate with respect to a nominal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Arie Jeffrey DEN BOEF, Laurent Khuat Duy, Dimitra Sarri
  • Publication number: 20100220340
    Abstract: A method for height triangulation measurement particularly for measuring the height of an object on a surface, the method includes: a) illuminating said object from a known angle with a narrow strip of light, having a large numerical aperture along said light strip and a small numerical aperture perpendicular to said light strip; b) imaging said object from a known angle having a large numerical aperture along said light strip and a small numerical aperture perpendicular to said light strip, having an image of said object illuminated by said light strip; and c) calculating the height of said object from the location of said light strip on said image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2005
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Meir Ben-Levi
  • Patent number: 7768656
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for the 3D measurement of the shape of material objects using non-contact structured light triangulation. The system includes a light projector for projecting a structured light pattern onto the surface of any object and a camera for capturing an image of the structured light pattern acting on the surface of the object. The system further includes computing device for determining the 3D measurement of the surface shape of the illuminated object through a triangulation algorithm employed based on a calculated correspondence between the projected structured light and the captured image. The structured light includes coded elements that lie within planes passing through vertices of the central projection areas of both the projector and the camera also that pass through the space of the object being measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Artec Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolay L. Lapa, Yury A. Brailov
  • Publication number: 20100177192
    Abstract: A three-dimensional measuring device has an irradiation device that irradiates a light pattern having a striped light intensity distribution on a measurement object, an imaging device that images reflected light from the measurement object irradiated by the light pattern to obtain image data, an image processing device that performs measurement of height at various coordinate positions on the measurement object based on the image data imaged by the imaging device, and a correction calculation device that corrects of a distortion that occurs due to a field angle of a lens of the imaging device relative to height data and coordinate data of an measurement object point on the measurement object measured by the image processing device, by correction based on at least a height data of the imaging device and an irradiation angle data of the pattern light irradiated on the measurement object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishigaki
  • Publication number: 20100171962
    Abstract: A method for analyzing probe mark, the method includes: scanning the probe mark by multiple spots; evaluating a probe mark characteristic in response to detection signals generated by multiple sensors of the chromatic confocal system that is characterized by a sub-micron axial resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Meir Ben-Levi, Ilana Grimberg
  • Patent number: 7733503
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for measuring articles made of a material that is difficult to measure, such as glass. In the system, an elastic film (19) is arranged on top of an article (110). A number of measurement points have been arranged on the film that are imaged using a machine vision system. The location of the measurement points imaged are calculated with respect to one another, and based on this, the shape of the article can be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Oy Mapvision Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikko Himmi, Mikko Järvi, Antti Knuuttila
  • Patent number: 7717574
    Abstract: For objects with non-Lambertian surfaces, an object surface is mapped by effectively modifying the reflective properties of the object surface being sensed. By effectively making the surface Lambertian with high albedo, a calibration imaging task is achieved using a typical camera from a single or small number of camera positions. The calibration method temporarily modifies the surface properties of the imaged object by applying a thin and opaque layer, such as a coating, covering, or veneer, to the object for the duration of the calibration imaging task. The surface of this layer is a Lambertian reflector, with medium to high albedo. The layer is snugly applied, so a shape of the layer is as close as possible to that of the surface. Once the layer is applied, imaging of the layer surface essentially yields the same shape as the underlying object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Obscura Digital, Inc.
    Inventors: Niklas Lundback, Travis Threlkel, William C. Thibault
  • Patent number: 7715024
    Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of fitting or removing a motor vehicle tyre (4) comprising a rotatably supported wheel receiving device (2) to which the rim (3) is to be fixed, at least one fitting or removal tool (5), a rotary drive device (10) for the wheel receiving device and a sensing device (6), (7), (8) for sensing the radially outer rim contour (12), (14) along which the at least one fitting or removal tool is to be guided during the fitting or removal operation, wherein the sensing device (6), (7), (8) is a sensing device which contact-lessly senses the rim contour and the sensing signals of which are converted into electrical sensing signals, and connected to the sensing device (6), (7), (8) is a control device (9) which evaluates the electrical sensing signals and which controls the at least one fitting or removal tool (5) in the fitting or removal operation in dependence on the sensing signals without contact with the rim surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Snap-On Equipment SRL A. Unico Socio
    Inventor: Paolo Sotgiu
  • Patent number: 7692144
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assessing a height of a specimen includes an electron beam unit having an electron beam source, lenses, a table for setting a specimen and controllable in a height direction, and a detector, and a height detection system for detecting height of the specimen set on the table while the specimen is irradiated by an electron beam. The height detection system further includes an illumination system, a collection system, first and second detectors, a device configured to receive output signals from the first and second detectors while the specimen is irradiated by the electron beam and to generate a comparison signal from the output signals, wherein the comparison signal is responsive to the height of the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Watanabe, Takashi Hiroi, Maki Tanaka, Hiroyuki Shinada, Yasutsugu Usami
  • Patent number: 7684053
    Abstract: An optical displacement sensor for measuring distance or surface displacement of an object by surface profile scanning includes an optical source, a first optical detector and a second optical detector. The optical source is located intermediate the first and second optical detectors. The first and second optical detectors are arranged to collect light emitted by the optical source when scattered by and/or reflected from the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yeung Ming Chow
  • Patent number: 7679757
    Abstract: A non contact measurement system for in-process measurement of a work piece to is described. There is provided a sensor chassis that includes one or more contour sensors for capturing the profile of a work piece and outputting coordinate values describing one or more points representative of the profile of the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: BYTEWISE Measurement Systems LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Harris, Andy Hidle, Ben Burdette
  • Patent number: 7671999
    Abstract: A device for measuring components by a laser triangulation measuring device includes at least two triangulation sensors for determining the height profiles of components. The component is arranged on a movable support plane in a horizontal moving direction relative to the laser triangulation measuring device, whereby at least two triangulation sensors are arranged in a mutual measuring plane forming a positional offset, for determining the height profile and a cross-sectional profile of the component in the measuring plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Cordt Erfling, Rainer Lüebbers
  • Publication number: 20100014099
    Abstract: A method and device for the measurement of workpiece geometries with a coordinate measuring device. According to the invention, measuring tasks may be optimally carried out without a requirement for devices of differing types, by use of one or more sensors which are of optimal application for the relevant measuring task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: WERTH MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Christoph, Wolfgang Rauh, Matthias Andras, Uwe Wachter
  • Patent number: 7643159
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shape measuring system includes: a light projecting/receiving apparatus which causes a light receiver to receive light reflected on a surface of a measurement object onto a light receiving surface thereof at a predetermined cycle multiple times, while changing a projecting direction of the light; and a measuring apparatus for measuring a three-dimensional shape of the measurement object, utilizing light receiving data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Sensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinji Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Abe
  • Patent number: 7623702
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconstructing a surface shape of an object having contour lines, includes assigning points to each contour line. A first triangulation scheme is performed with respect to respective points on two adjacently-positioned contour lines, to determine a first surface shape for a portion of the object corresponding to the two contour lines. The first surface shape is checked to determine if the first surface shape is in error. If the first surface shape is not in error, the first surface shape is outputted for the portion of the object as determined by the first triangulation scheme, as a reconstructed surface shape for that portion of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Mako Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Louis K. Arata, Min Wu
  • Publication number: 20090284757
    Abstract: In a method for the determination of the 3D coordinates of an object (2), a pattern is projected (1) onto the object (2) and the pattern reflected by the object (2) is taken (3) and evaluated. To improve such a method, a pattern is projected onto a first part region (12) of the object (2) in a first step and the pattern reflected by this part region (12) of the object (2) is taken. In a second step, a pattern is projected onto a second part region of the object (2) and the pattern reflected by this part region of the object (2) is taken. The patterns taken are evaluated (FIG. 3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Mayer, Marcus Steinbichler, Alexander Frey
  • Patent number: 7602506
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for contactlessly and dynamically detecting the profile of a solid body. At least one light beam is generated by a laser device and expanded to form a linear light band projected onto the moving surface of the solid body. Light reflected from the surface of the solid body is focused in an imaging device whose optical axis is at a fixed triangulation angle to the direction of projection of the laser device and which is arranged at a fixed based distance from the laser device. The reflected light is detected by a planar light receiving element at a frequency that is high by comparison with a speed of movement (v) of the solid body after which the measured values of the profile are obtained as a function of the triangulation angle and the base distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Gutehoffnungshutte Radsatz GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Hoffmann, Michael J. Walter, Dieter Hoffmann, Andreas Brinkmann
  • Publication number: 20090251709
    Abstract: An apparatus for the representation of an area on the three-dimensional surface of a patient's body, with a control device which provides three-dimensional coordinates of at least one area to be represented on the surface of the patient's body, wherein the area pre-sets a desired intersection area of a radiation area on the surface of the patient's body, characterised in that at least one projection device featuring a laser is provided, by which the desired intersection area can be projected to the three-dimensional surface of the patient's body on the basis of the provided coordinates, while at least one laser beam generated by the laser can be guided along the contour of the desired intersection area sufficiently rapidly, so that the impression of a closed contour around the desired intersection area results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: LAP GmbH Laser Applikationen
    Inventor: Johann Kindlein
  • Publication number: 20090237677
    Abstract: A measuring device includes a light-sending part sending light in a first direction which is a depth direction of a hollow shape, a conversion part converting a direction of the light into a circumference direction approximately orthogonal to the first direction, a detection part detecting light reflected inside a measuring object, the direction of which is converted by the conversion part, and a shape measurement part measuring an inside shape of the measuring object by obtaining a shift from a reference position according to a detection result of the detection part. Thereby, it is possible to obtain the hollow shape of an object at one time without a need of rotating the object or a light source, and to carry out a highly accurate measurement using a simple device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Koichiro Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7586623
    Abstract: The profile of a single feature formed on a wafer can be determined by obtaining an optical signature of the single feature using a beam of light focused on the single feature. The obtained optical signature can then be compared to a set of simulated optical signatures, where each simulated optical signature corresponds to a hypothetical profile of the single feature and is modeled based on the hypothetical profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Joerg Bischoff, Xinhui Niu, Junwei Bao
  • Patent number: 7573583
    Abstract: An intra-oral laser digitizer system provides a three-dimensional visual image of a real-world object such as a dental item through a laser digitization. The laser digitizer captures an image of the object by scanning multiple portions of the object in an exposure period. The intra-oral digitizer may be inserted into an oral cavity (in vivo) to capture an image of a dental item such as a tooth, multiple teeth or dentition. The captured image is processed to generate the three-dimension visual image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: D4D Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Henley S. Quadling, Mark S. Quadling, Alan Blair
  • Patent number: 7559134
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention improve upon component level inspection performed by pick and place machines. Such improvements include using a position sensitive device that measures the position of the placement head relative to the workpiece as the placement head travels towards and away from the workpiece during a placement cycle. The output of this sensor is used to selectably trigger the acquisition of the images used to measure a placement characteristic of the component placement machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: CyberOptics Corporation
    Inventor: John D. Gaida
  • Patent number: 7551768
    Abstract: In an image recognition method, the image of a cream solder 9 printed on a rectangular electrode 16 having a solder leveler formed is picked up and recognized to identify the cream solder 9. An illuminating unit having white light source parts 35W arranged in the radial oblique directions of 45° is used to apply white color illumination lights from a light applying direction in which an angle of ?1 formed by the light applying direction and a horizontal plane in a vertical plane is 45° or smaller and from a light applying direction in which an angle of ?3 formed by the light applying direction and the boundary of the electrode 16 in a horizontal plane is 75° or smaller. Thus, regularly reflected lights from a solder leveler forming surface 16a with a glossiness are not received by an upper camera to identify a solder surface 9a and the solder leveler forming surface 16a with good accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuichi Okada, Kimiyuki Yamasaki, Masahiro Kihara
  • Patent number: 7545516
    Abstract: A method and system for full-field fringe-projection for 3-D surface-geometry measurement, referred to as “triangular-pattern phase-shifting” is disclosed. A triangular grey-scale-level-coded fringe pattern is computer generated, projected along a first direction onto an object or scene surface and distorted according to the surface geometry. The 3-D coordinates of points on the surface are calculated by triangulation from distorted triangular fringe-pattern images acquired by a CCD camera along a second direction and a triangular-shape intensity-ratio distribution is obtained from calculation of the captured distorted triangular fringe-pattern images. Removal of the triangular shape of the intensity ratio over each pattern pitch generates a wrapped intensity-ratio distribution obtained by removing the discontinuity of the wrapped image with a modified unwrapping method. Intensity ratio-to-height conversion is used to reconstruct the 3-D surface coordinates of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: University of Waterloo
    Inventors: Peirong Jia, Jonathan David Kofman, Chad English
  • Publication number: 20090120134
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a shape profile of a surface of a sheet of material includes a light source for providing a light beam to be directed at the surface of the sheet of material, a linear translation stage coupled to the light source for translating the light source over the surface of the sheet of material such that the light beam, when directed at the surface, is incident on the surface at multiple positions and produces a reflected light beam at each of the multiple positions, a plurality of light receivers located at predetermined positions for selectively intercepting the reflected light beam produced at each of the multiple positions, a data acquisition device configured to receive information related to position difference between the light source and a selected one of the plurality of light receivers intercepting the reflected light beam produced at each of the multiple positions, and a data analysis device configured to correlate the position difference information to a shape profile of the su
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Xin Chen, Anping Liu, Naiyue Zhou
  • Publication number: 20090116038
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring station, especially for a pipe cutting machine (2), with a first distance sensor (8) that can pivot about a transverse axis (16) by a drive (13) for generating a first scanning beam (6) that scans an object (4) during the continuous pivoting motion and measures first distance measured values in a clocked manner, and with a second distance sensor (19) that is stationary as regards the transverse axis (16) for generating a second scanning beam (22) that is directed onto a angle measuring apparatus (21) connected in a non-rotating manner to the first distance sensor (8) and that measures second distance measured values in a clocked manner, and with an electronic synchronization unit (17) comprising connections for the first and the second distance measured signals, and with a calculating unit (18) that calculates a profile of the object (4) to be measured from the synchronized distance measured signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Ulrich Rattunde