Tracking vision sensor
First Claim
1. A method for carrying out non-coplanar 3-D measurements of surface points, comprising the steps of:
- forming light from a light source into a plane of light;
reshaping said plane of light into a non-planar beam;
projecting from a projection source said non-planar beam upon a surface to be measured and forming an intersection of said beam with said surface;
imaging at an imaging site light reflected from said intersection from an angle different than said projected beam; and
generating coordinates of said surface intersection points illuminated by said projected beam based on a known angle of projection, known angle of imaging and distance between projection source and imaging site.
7 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An arrangement in which three-dimensional surface measurements are obtained by projecting a non-planar light beam on a surface and interpreting the image by triangulation. The non-planar beam makes it possible to determine its angle of incidence with the surface in an unambiguous manner, and allows surrounding a manufacturing process to provide continuous data when guiding the process around corners. A non-planar reflecting surface or other arrangement is used to generate the non-planar light beam from a planar light source. A flying spot of light may also be used. After the non-planar beam has been generated, it is projected upon the surface to be measured and forms there an intersection of the beam with the surface. Light reflected from the intersection is imaged from an angle different than the projected beam, and coordinates are generated of the surface intersection points illuminated by the projected beam based on the known angle of projection, known angle of imaging, and distance between projection source and imaging site.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for carrying out non-coplanar 3-D measurements of surface points, comprising the steps of:
- forming light from a light source into a plane of light;
reshaping said plane of light into a non-planar beam;
projecting from a projection source said non-planar beam upon a surface to be measured and forming an intersection of said beam with said surface;
imaging at an imaging site light reflected from said intersection from an angle different than said projected beam; and
generating coordinates of said surface intersection points illuminated by said projected beam based on a known angle of projection, known angle of imaging and distance between projection source and imaging site. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- forming light from a light source into a plane of light;
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2. A method of guiding a manufacturing process continuously around corners, comprising the steps of:
- measuring surface points at least partially surrounding the manufacturing process by forming light from a light source into a plane of light;
reshaping said plane of light into a non-planar beam;
projecting from a projection source said non-planar beam upon a surface to be measured and forming an intersection of said beam with said surface;
imaging at an imaging site light reflected from said intersection from an angle different than said projected beam;
generating coordinates of said surface intersection points illuminated by said projected beam based on a known angle of projection, known angle of imaging and distance between projection source and imaging site;
directing said process to proceed on the basis of said measured points; and
maintaining required orientation of said projected beam to follow contours of said surface.
- measuring surface points at least partially surrounding the manufacturing process by forming light from a light source into a plane of light;
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3. A method of obtaining the angle of incidence of a light beam with a surface, comprising the steps of:
- measuring points on a surface by forming light from a light source into a plane of light;
reshaping said plane of light into a non-planar beam;
projecting from a projection source said non-planar beam upon a surface to be measured and forming an intersection of said beam with said surface;
imaging at an imaging site light reflected from said intersection from an angle different than said projected beam;
generating coordinates of said surface intersection points illuminated by said projected beam based on a known angle of projection, known angle of imaging and distance between projection source and imaging site; and
computing the angle of incidence of said projected beam from said measured points.
- measuring points on a surface by forming light from a light source into a plane of light;
Specification