Ranging system for three-dimensional object digitizing
First Claim
1. A method for digitally representing the surface of a three-dimensioned object, comprising the steps of:
- directing a laser beam in a laser line-of-sight from a laser source to a surface point on the object to produce reflected light beams;
capturing a specific light beam reflecting from said surface point through an aperture at a predetermined angle from said laser line-of-sight;
receiving said captured light beam at a reflecting surface along a reflecting line-of-sight at said predetermined angle;
reflecting said captured light beam from said reflecting surface to a sensor along a sensing line-of-sight orthogonal to said laser line-of-sight, so that laser line-of-sight, said reflecting line-of-sight, and said sensing line-of-sight form a right triangle having predetermined angles;
measuring a sensing line-of-sight distance and calculating therefrom a laser line-of-sight distance;
converting said laser line-of-sight distance into a digital representation of said surface point; and
associating a plurality of said surface points to form a digital representation of the surface of the three-dimensional object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for digitally representing the surface of a three-dimensional object uses a laser beam to establish a laser line-of-sight from the laser source having a predetermined position to a surface point on the three-dimensional object. The laser beam produces a reflected light beam that a reflecting surface or mirror receives along a view line-of-sight from the surface point through an aperture. By way of triangulating a laser line-of-sight, a view line-of-sight, and a base line-of-sight, it is possible to calculate the laser line of sight distance to the three-dimensional object. The laser line of sight distance is then converted into a digital representation of the surface point on the object. By associating numerous of these surface points, it is possible to form a digital representation of the surface of a three-dimensional object. The result is a high resolution and accurate digital representation of the object surface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for digitally representing the surface of a three-dimensioned object, comprising the steps of:
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directing a laser beam in a laser line-of-sight from a laser source to a surface point on the object to produce reflected light beams; capturing a specific light beam reflecting from said surface point through an aperture at a predetermined angle from said laser line-of-sight; receiving said captured light beam at a reflecting surface along a reflecting line-of-sight at said predetermined angle; reflecting said captured light beam from said reflecting surface to a sensor along a sensing line-of-sight orthogonal to said laser line-of-sight, so that laser line-of-sight, said reflecting line-of-sight, and said sensing line-of-sight form a right triangle having predetermined angles; measuring a sensing line-of-sight distance and calculating therefrom a laser line-of-sight distance; converting said laser line-of-sight distance into a digital representation of said surface point; and associating a plurality of said surface points to form a digital representation of the surface of the three-dimensional object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A ranging system for a three dimensional object digitizing system, comprising:
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a laser source for directing a laser beam along a laser line of sight to a surface point on an object in order to produce reflected light beams; a member having an aperture for capturing a specific light beam reflecting from said surface at a predetermined angle from said laser line of sight; a mirror coupled to said member and for receiving said captured light beam along a reflecting line of sight and directing said captured light beam along a sensor line of sight orthogonal to said laser line of sight, said laser line of sight and said reflecting line of sight and said sensor line of sight forming a right triangle having predetermined angles; a sensor coupled to said laser source and for receiving said captured light beam along said sensor lien of sight and determining a sensor line of sight distance in response to said captured light beam; and a processing circuit for receiving said sensor line of sight distance and determining a laser line of sight distance for said surface point therefrom, said processing circuit determining a plurality of laser line of sight distances for a plurality of surface points to form a digital representation of said object. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A ranging system for a three dimensional object digitizing system, comprising:
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circuitry for directing a laser beam in a laser line of sight on a surface point of a three dimensional object to produce reflected light beams; an apertural member for capturing a specific reflected light beam at a predetermined angle from said laser line of sight; a reflecting surface for directing said captured light beam along a sensing line of sight, said sensing line of sight being orthogonal to said laser line of sight; circuitry for sensing said captured light beam along said sensing line of sight to determine a sensing line of sight distance; and circuitry for determining a laser line of sight distance in response to said sensing line of sight distance for a plurality of surface points on said object, said determining circuitry forming a digital representation of said three dimensional object from said laser line of sight distance. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification