SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE CONFIGURATION OF OBSCURED STRUCTURE BY EMPLOYING PHASE PROFILOMETRY AND METHOD OF USE THEREFOR
First Claim
10. A system for determining the 3-D configuration of obscured portions of structure in motion, comprising:
- at least one device for modulating electromagnetic energy in a pre-specified form, wherein said structure is moved adjacent said at least one device while maintaining physical separation therefrom, and wherein said device enhances the contrast of said electromagnetic energy impinging on said structure;
at least one collector for acquiring, at a pre-specified sampling rate, electromagnetic energy reflected from said structure and providing said acquired electromagnetic energy as output, and at least one processor, having an input and an output, in operable communication with said at least one collector for manipulating said output of said at least one collector.
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Abstract
An application of phase profilometry to determine the 3-D configuration of normally obscured structure. In one application, the undercarriage of a vehicle is captured in a 3-D profile while the vehicle is operating normally. The system may use a digital camera; a computer for control, communications, processing, comparing configurations and database storage; a broadband light source; and a device positioned between the light and structure that enables an alternating strip or strips of light and shadows to impinge the obscured surface. A preferred embodiment uses a single straight edge as the device. In addition to profiling the undercarriage of a vehicle and comparing it to an expected configuration of a like vehicle, the system may be used for such diverse applications as determination of correct toll at toll booths, quality inspection in an assembly line, safety and security inspections, and access control.
37 Citations
26 Claims
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10. A system for determining the 3-D configuration of obscured portions of structure in motion, comprising:
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at least one device for modulating electromagnetic energy in a pre-specified form, wherein said structure is moved adjacent said at least one device while maintaining physical separation therefrom, and wherein said device enhances the contrast of said electromagnetic energy impinging on said structure;
at least one collector for acquiring, at a pre-specified sampling rate, electromagnetic energy reflected from said structure and providing said acquired electromagnetic energy as output, and at least one processor, having an input and an output, in operable communication with said at least one collector for manipulating said output of said at least one collector. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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22-1. The system of claim 10 in which said electromagnetic energy is provided as light in a form selected from the group consisting of:
- non-coherent visible light, non-coherent infrared (IR) light, non-coherent ultraviolet (UV) light, coherent visible light, coherent infrared (IR) light, coherent ultraviolet (UV) light, and any combination thereof.
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25. A system that determines the 3-D configuration of obscured parts of structure in motion and compares it to an expected 3-D configuration of said structure, comprising:
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at least one device for directing electromagnetic energy in a pre-specified form to said structure, wherein said structure is moved over said at least one device while maintaining physical separation therefrom, and wherein said device enhances the contrast of said electromagnetic energy impinging on said structure;
at least one collector for acquiring, at a pre-specified sampling rate, electromagnetic energy reflected from said structure and providing said acquired electromagnetic energy as output;
at least one processor, having an input and an output, in operable communication with said at least one collector for manipulating said output of said at least one collector;
at least one database, stored so as to be accessible from at least said at least one processor, containing at least one configuration of at least one said expected structure; and
at least one controller that facilitates storing, manipulating, and reporting said output of said processor, and comparing at least one of said at least one configurations with said output, wherein at least part of said system is embedded in or below a surface over which said structure moves.
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26. A system that facilitates the conduct of large scale 3-D modeling of the surface of structure in motion, comprising:
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at least one device for directing electromagnetic energy in a pre-specified form to said structure, wherein said structure is moved over said at least one device while maintaining physical separation therefrom, and wherein said device enhances the contrast of said electromagnetic energy impinging on said structure;
at least one collector for acquiring electromagnetic energy reflected from said structure and providing said acquired electromagnetic energy as output;
at least one processor, having an input and an output, in operable communication with said at least one collector for manipulating said output of said at least one collector; and
at least one controller that facilitates storing, manipulating, and reporting said output of said processor, wherein at least part of said system is embedded on or in a surface over which said structure moves.
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Specification