Optical measuring instrument for the contactless measurement of distances
First Claim
1. An optical measuring instrument for contactless measurement of a distance between the measuring instrument and a surface of an object which is located in a predetermined measuring region of the measuring instrument, said measuring instrument comprising:
- a radiation source emitting a coherent beam of radiation which is directed substantially normally to the surface of said object;
at least one radiation sensor means fixedly mounted in the measuring instrument and receiving scattered radiation reflected from the surface of said object when the object is located within the predetermined measuring region of the measuring instrument;
an optical device arranged between said surface of said object and said at least one radiation sensor means;
said at least one radiation sensor means comprising at least one strip-shaped linear radiation sensor element scannable by the scattered radiation reflected from the surface of said object when the object is located within said predetermined measuring region of said measuring instrument;
a hollow cylinder enclosing said at least one linear radiation sensor element and having an axis;
means for rotating said hollow cylinder about said axis in an operative position thereof;
said hollow cylinder containing at least one slot which is inclined relative to said at least one linear radiation sensor element and which traverses said at least one linear radiation sensor element at an acute angle while said hollow cylinder rotates about its axis;
said at least one linear radiation sensor element receiving said scattered radiation reflected from the surface of said object, when the object is located within said measuring region of the measuring instrument at a predetermined distance therefrom, through said optical device at a location of the at least one linear radiation sensor element which is a measure of the distance of the object from the measuring instrument;
said at least one linear radiation sensor element having output means;
an electronic evaluation circuit arrangement connected to said output means of said at least one linear radiation sensor element;
said electronic evaluation circuit arrangement only generating measuring signals during the traversal of said at least one slot in said hollow cylinder over said location at said at least one linear radiation sensor element, said location constituting the location where a maximum radiation intensity is measured and which maximum radiation intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and
said electronic circuit arrangement suppressing said measuring signals during the traversal of said at least one slot in said hollow cylinder over remaining portions of said at least one linear radiation sensor element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The optical measuring instrument emits a coherent beam of radiation normally to a surface of an object. The scattered radiation generated by the beam of radiation is guided through an optical device to a stationary strip-shaped linear radiation sensor element. The linear radiation sensor element is arranged within a hollow cylinder which is rotatable in an operative position thereof. The hollow cylinder contains a multiple number of slots which traverse the strip-shaped linear radiation sensor element at an acute angle. An evaluation circuit arrangement is connected to the linear radiation sensor element and only generates evaluatable measuring signals during the traversal of one of the slots over a location at the linear radiation sensor element where there occurs a radiation intensity exceeding a predetermined threshold value. Using such measuring instrument it is possible to measure distances with high resolution.
48 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An optical measuring instrument for contactless measurement of a distance between the measuring instrument and a surface of an object which is located in a predetermined measuring region of the measuring instrument, said measuring instrument comprising:
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a radiation source emitting a coherent beam of radiation which is directed substantially normally to the surface of said object; at least one radiation sensor means fixedly mounted in the measuring instrument and receiving scattered radiation reflected from the surface of said object when the object is located within the predetermined measuring region of the measuring instrument; an optical device arranged between said surface of said object and said at least one radiation sensor means; said at least one radiation sensor means comprising at least one strip-shaped linear radiation sensor element scannable by the scattered radiation reflected from the surface of said object when the object is located within said predetermined measuring region of said measuring instrument; a hollow cylinder enclosing said at least one linear radiation sensor element and having an axis; means for rotating said hollow cylinder about said axis in an operative position thereof; said hollow cylinder containing at least one slot which is inclined relative to said at least one linear radiation sensor element and which traverses said at least one linear radiation sensor element at an acute angle while said hollow cylinder rotates about its axis; said at least one linear radiation sensor element receiving said scattered radiation reflected from the surface of said object, when the object is located within said measuring region of the measuring instrument at a predetermined distance therefrom, through said optical device at a location of the at least one linear radiation sensor element which is a measure of the distance of the object from the measuring instrument; said at least one linear radiation sensor element having output means; an electronic evaluation circuit arrangement connected to said output means of said at least one linear radiation sensor element; said electronic evaluation circuit arrangement only generating measuring signals during the traversal of said at least one slot in said hollow cylinder over said location at said at least one linear radiation sensor element, said location constituting the location where a maximum radiation intensity is measured and which maximum radiation intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and said electronic circuit arrangement suppressing said measuring signals during the traversal of said at least one slot in said hollow cylinder over remaining portions of said at least one linear radiation sensor element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification