Optical coordinate measuring machine
US5920394A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 30, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/88
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method for directing a light beam onto a moving article. The apparatus comprises first and second mirrors for directing the light beam in an adjustable direction, first and second motors connected to the first and second mirrors to move those mirrors, and a tracking system connected to the first and second motors to operate those motors to move the first and second mirrors to maintain the light beam directed at the article as the article moves. Preferable, the tracking system includes coarse and fine tracking subsystems. The coarse tracking subsystem is used to operate the motors to move the mirrors to direct the light beam approximately onto the article, and the fine tracking subsystem is used to operate the motors to operate the mirrors to direct the light beam substantially directly onto the article.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.