Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for color-coded optical profilometer

US5880846A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
3References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 19, 1997
Grant dateMar 9, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 19, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B2210/50
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A triangulation optical system and method for determining at least one coordinate of a surface of an object, along at least one coordinate axis which is substantially transverse to the surface. The method includes the steps of providing incident light of a substantially wide wavelength bandwidth propagating along the axis. Passing the light through an axially dispersing optics so that the light of different wavelengths is focussed at different locations relative to the axis. The different locations defining a multi-colored measuring area and a distance between extreme locations along the axis defining a depth of measuring range. Further, off-axis imaging of the measuring area, detecting intensity of the image and determining the coordinate of the intersection of the surface with the measuring area.

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