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Shadow Sensing Apparatus

  • US 20110299095A1
  • Filed: 11/05/2009
  • Published: 12/08/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2008
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. Shadow sensing apparatus for use in measuring the cross-section and/or position of a tool or other subject at its intersection with a sensor plane, the apparatus comprising three or more sensor channels, each of which comprises a linear array of discrete light sources each of which provides a substantially point source of divergent light and a linear light sensor positioned opposite the light sources so as to receive light emitted therefrom, each of the channels intersecting each of the other channels and arranged so that the divergent light paths between each array of discrete light sources and the respective linear light sensor define a common sensor plane, the discrete light sources in each array being actuatable individually to direct a divergent beam of light towards a tool or other subject positioned to intersect said sensor plane and the respective linear sensor being arranged to sense the shadow cast thereon by the tool or other subject, whereby the sensors collectively detect up to n×

  • C shadow images, where n is the number of discrete light sources in each of the arrays and C is the number of channels, from which information regarding the cross-section and/or position of the tool or other subject can be determined.

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