Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for edge detection and location

US5220177A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
25References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 24, 1991
Grant dateJun 15, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 24, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B11/046
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Method and apparatus are provided of a variety wherein a linear array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are positioned at one side of a material having an edge to be detected. A photoresponsive receiver is positioned on the opposite side of the material at a predetermined stand-off distance from the LED array. The visual LEDs of the array are energized by a drive current which is pre-selected such that light emitting from each exhibits substantially uniform intensity at the photodetecting receiver when non-attenuated by the material. Additionally, the photodetector at the receiver is configured having a length of at least 6 cm to substantially improve edge related data collection. The improvements provide for substantially enhanced measurement accuracy and permit the detection of edges of transparent and semi-transparent materials.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.