Tracking separation between an object and a surface using a reducing structure
US7189985B2 · kind B2 · utility
22Cited by
5References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0317
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Tracking separation between an object and a surface involves illuminating the surface and reducing the collection angle of light that reflects off of the surface in response to a change in separation between the object and the surface. Reducing the collection angle of light that reflects off of the surface causes the amount of light that is detected to be dependent on the separation distance between the object and the surface. The amount of detected light is then used as an indication of the separation distance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.