Patent · US Active

Methods of automatic geometric calibration using laser scanning reflectometry

US8237788B2 · kind B2 · utility

47Cited by
29References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 22, 2008
Grant dateAug 7, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 27, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/0037
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for calibrating a solid-imaging system (10) are disclosed. A calibration plate (110) having a non-scattering surface (140) with a plurality (150) of light-scattering fiducial marks (156) in a periodic array is disposed in the solid-imaging system. The actinic laser beam (26) is scanned over the fiducial marks, and the scattered light (26S) is detected by a detector (130) residing above the calibration plate. A computer control system (30) is configured to control the steering of the light beam and to process the detector signals (SD) so as to measure actual center positions (xA, yA) of the fiducial marks and perform an interpolation that establishes a calibrated relationship between the angular positions of the mirrors and (x,y) locations at the build plane (23). The calibrated relationship is then used to steer the laser beam in forming a three-dimensional object (50).

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