Arrangement for rapid depth measurement using lens focusing
First Claim
1. A method for simultaneously acquiring the three-dimensional co-ordinates relative to a sensor of at least two spatially separated points on a surface that may be devoid of detail, comprising the steps of:
- projecting a pattern of light with a projector from a light source;
imaging reflected light from said pattern with a lens onto a light-sensitive detector array;
focusing said image sharply by said lens within a narrow object plane;
calibrating the image on said detector array for each unique location of the said sharply focused narrow object plane;
storing calibration data from said calibration in a memory;
adjusting said object plane focal distance with said lens to intersect the surface of an object to be measured at an intersection;
said intersection containing at least two spatially separated points;
comparing each measured response to a threshold value; and
conveying each response above threshold value into a three-dimensional measurement report from said calibration data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pattern of light is projected upon a surface to be measured which may be devoid of surface detail. A sharply focused image of the surface provides distance discrimination. Although the projected pattern may be separate from the imaging optics, a common optics path removes distortion, provides maximum sensitivity and eliminates processing for misalignment between projector and imager. Parallel detection of regions within the image receiving light intensities above a threshold enables rapid availability of measurements. Optical cross-correlation and Fourier transform processing methods may be employed to enhance image processing with no processing delay. Three-dimensional co-ordinate measurements relative to the sensor are reported for all in-focus regions of the image. Refocusing the lens provides depth coverage.
56 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method for simultaneously acquiring the three-dimensional co-ordinates relative to a sensor of at least two spatially separated points on a surface that may be devoid of detail, comprising the steps of:
- projecting a pattern of light with a projector from a light source;
imaging reflected light from said pattern with a lens onto a light-sensitive detector array;
focusing said image sharply by said lens within a narrow object plane;
calibrating the image on said detector array for each unique location of the said sharply focused narrow object plane;
storing calibration data from said calibration in a memory;
adjusting said object plane focal distance with said lens to intersect the surface of an object to be measured at an intersection;
said intersection containing at least two spatially separated points;
comparing each measured response to a threshold value; and
conveying each response above threshold value into a three-dimensional measurement report from said calibration data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- projecting a pattern of light with a projector from a light source;
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4. An arrangmeent for simultaneously obtaining three-dimensional measurements of at least two spatially separated points on objects which may be devoid of surface detail, comprising:
- projector means for projecting a pattern of light from a light source;
lens means for imaging reflected light from said pattern in a narrow object plane;
light-sensitive detector means for parallel detection of light in regions of the image;
means for storing calibration data;
means for adjusting said object plane focal distance with said lens means to intersect the surface of an object to be measured at an intersection;
said intersection containing at last two spatially separated points; and
means for reporting three-dimensional meaurements from said calibration data for each detected element indicating a light level above a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
- projector means for projecting a pattern of light from a light source;
Specification