Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for photographically recording three-dimensional objects

US5903781A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
4References
14Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 14, 1998
Grant dateMay 11, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 14, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03B15/00
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a light projector emitting light rays along a central longitudinal axis and a light shaping device for creating a central symmetric geometric figure of light in a plane running perpendicular to the above mentioned central longitudinal axis. A mirror assembly having a central aperture deflects the central symmetric geometric figure of light towards the center of the aperture. In this way, a thin sheet of light is created extending perpendicular to that central axis and evenly illuminating the object. A support member holds the object in the center of the aperture and is movable along the central longitudinal axis for passing the object through the thin sheet of light. A photographic camera having an optical axis coinciding with the afore mentioned central longitudinal axis of the light projector is located behind the mirror assembly to capture the portions of the object illuminated by the thin sheet of light.

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