Apparatus and method for monitoring the surface character of circular objects
US4358202A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 1980 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/952
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus and method for optically scanning the circumference of a generally circular section of a test object, and especially for monitoring the surface character of cables and the like. An optical system has its apparent axis substantially concentric with the centerline of the path along which the cable moves relative to the scanning optics. A beam of radiation is caused to rotate or orbit about that axis and is then directed into near-normal incidence with the surface of the test object such that it is specularly reflected by the surface. The optical system redirects the reflected beam toward one or more detectors, the intensity of outputs of which provide an indication of the surface character of the object. In a preferred embodiment, a radiation source beam offset from the actual cable path is rotated by a pair of oscillating mirrors such that it describes a divergent conical shape. Certain optics direct a 180.degree. portion of that rotating beam along one path to intersect with a corresponding 180.degree. segment of the cable and a dividing mirror and similar optics direct the other 180.degree. portion of the beam along another path to intersect with the remaining or complem…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.