Patent · US Expired

Method for three-dimensional inspection using patterned light projection

US7075662B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
13References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 16, 2001
Grant dateJul 11, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 16, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/8806
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A three-dimensional inspection system and method is used to obtain information about three-dimensional articles with specular surfaces having a shape and positive or negative height by projecting a pattern of light onto the articles at an oblique angle. The system includes a patterned light projector with optical axis disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the plane of the article being inspected, an extended light source, and an image detector disposed above the article to detect the image of the pattern on the article. The light pattern includes lines with a substantially equal thickness and spacing. The spacing of the lines is greater than a spacing or pitch of the specular elements. An image processor, coupled to the image detector, receives the image, locates the lines, and measures the lateral shift of the lines. Height information is determined from the lateral shift and projection angle using triangulation.

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