Arrangement for sensing the characteristics of a surface and determining the position of points thereon
US4508452A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 1979 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 1, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C11/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The surface to be sensed or scanned is placed in the path of a projector which is moved along an axis of the surface. The path of motion of the projector is subdivided into predetermined sections which are illuminated by the projector in accordance with a predetermined sequential pattern. This procedure of moving the projector is repeated a predetermined number of times, with a separate illuminating pattern prevailing each time that the projector is moved relative to the surface and traverses the entire surface to be scanned. The combinations of the patterns obtained from the repeated scannings of the projector define closely-spaced sections of the surface. The patterns are coded so that each section is uniquely defined in coded form. A camera having the entire surface within its field of view photographs the surface each time that the projector is moved along the axis of the surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.