Three dimensional imaging device
First Claim
1. In an imageing device having a converging lens system defining an optical axis and a position sensitive light detector having a series of pixels extending in at least one direction X perpendicular to said axis, said lens system serving to simultaneously image a plurality of distributed points on a target surface onto the detector to generate first data on the coordinate of each said point in said X direction;
- a mask having at least two apertures spaced apart from each other in said X direction for forming on the detector discreted images of each said point to generate, by means of the spacing between said images, second data on the coordinate of each said point in the direction Z of said optical axis; and
means for scanning said pixels to extract said first and second data for all said points.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging device employs a known bidimensional, position sensitive light detector of the CCD type. A converging lens system images points on a target surface onto the detector to generate data on the X and Y coordinates of each point. The invention is characterized by a mask located in the aperture plane of the lens system. This mask either has a pair of spaced apart, separate, circular apertures or an annular aperture symmetrical about the optical axis. In the first instance, the result is to form spaced-apart dots on the detector for each point of the target surface, the distance between these dots being a measure of the Z coordinate of the respective point. When using the annular aperture, rings are formed on the detector, the ring diameter representing the Z data. The arrangement provides a compact and robust device for obtaining three dimensional data on a target surface.
58 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In an imageing device having a converging lens system defining an optical axis and a position sensitive light detector having a series of pixels extending in at least one direction X perpendicular to said axis, said lens system serving to simultaneously image a plurality of distributed points on a target surface onto the detector to generate first data on the coordinate of each said point in said X direction;
- a mask having at least two apertures spaced apart from each other in said X direction for forming on the detector discreted images of each said point to generate, by means of the spacing between said images, second data on the coordinate of each said point in the direction Z of said optical axis; and
means for scanning said pixels to extract said first and second data for all said points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- a mask having at least two apertures spaced apart from each other in said X direction for forming on the detector discreted images of each said point to generate, by means of the spacing between said images, second data on the coordinate of each said point in the direction Z of said optical axis; and
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7. In an imaging device having a converging lens system defining an optical axis and a bidimensional position sensitive light detector having an array of pixels extending in mutually perpendicular directions X and Y, said lens system serving to simultaneously image a plurality of distributed points on a target surface onto the detector to generate first data on the coordinates of each said point in said X and Y directions;
- a mask having at least two aperture portions for forming on the detector discrete images of each said point to generate, by means of the spacing between said images, second data on the coordinate of each said point in the direction Z of said optical axis perpendicular to both the X and Y directions; and
means for scanning said pixels to extract said first and second data for all said points. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a mask having at least two aperture portions for forming on the detector discrete images of each said point to generate, by means of the spacing between said images, second data on the coordinate of each said point in the direction Z of said optical axis perpendicular to both the X and Y directions; and
Specification