Apparatus for measuring the curvature of a surface using moveable reflecting and focusing elements
First Claim
1. Apparatus for measuring the curvature of a surface of an object at a first position on the surface comprising:
- a frame;
means for moving said frame relative to said object to provide a frame position signal;
light source means for providing incident light;
means disposed adjacent to said light source means for focussing said incident light said focussing means including means for transmitting light onto said reflecting means and means for receiving return light from said reflecting means and for transmitting return light to said light source means to provide a focus signal;
means disposed adjacent to said focussing means for reflecting said incident light onto said surface and for reflecting return light from said surface to said focussing means;
means for rotating said reflecting means to provide an angle position signal for the reflecting means;
means for moving said focussing means to provide a focus position signal; and
control means including a processor means for receiving said frame position signal, said angle position signal, said focus position signal, and said focus signal to calculate the curvature of said surface at said first position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A curvature measuring device (10) for measuring the curvature of an object (14) without contacting object (14) includes a moveable frame (20) and a reflector (28) for reflecting light incident thereupon. A reflector (28) is connected and rotatable with respect to moveable frame (20). An electro-optical device (42) is connected and moveable with respect to moveable frame (20). Electrooptical device (42) includes a light transceiver (52) for transmitting an incident beam of light (54) onto reflector (28) and for receiving a reflected beam of light (56) reflected by reflector (28). Electro-optical device (42) generates a focus signal related to a degree that reflected beam of light (56 ) is received by electro-optical device (42). A controller (90) calculates the curvature of object (14 ) by adjusting a position of moveable frame (20), an angular position of reflector (28), and focus position of electro-optical device (42). Light transceiver (42) can include a bifurcated fiber optic cable have a first bundle coupled to a light emitting diode and a second bundle coupled to a photodiode. The controller (90) aligns incident beam of light (54) to form a 90° angle with surface (12) of object (14). Controller (90) employs a focus signal generated by the electro-optical device (42) in a closed-loop fashion to adjust a frame positioning device (22), an angular positioning device (30), and a focus positioning device (40).
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus for measuring the curvature of a surface of an object at a first position on the surface comprising:
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a frame; means for moving said frame relative to said object to provide a frame position signal; light source means for providing incident light; means disposed adjacent to said light source means for focussing said incident light said focussing means including means for transmitting light onto said reflecting means and means for receiving return light from said reflecting means and for transmitting return light to said light source means to provide a focus signal; means disposed adjacent to said focussing means for reflecting said incident light onto said surface and for reflecting return light from said surface to said focussing means; means for rotating said reflecting means to provide an angle position signal for the reflecting means; means for moving said focussing means to provide a focus position signal; and control means including a processor means for receiving said frame position signal, said angle position signal, said focus position signal, and said focus signal to calculate the curvature of said surface at said first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Method for measuring the curvature of a surface of an object at a first position on the surface comprising:
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providing a frame; moving said frame relative to said object to provide a frame position signal; providing incident light; providing reflecting means; reflecting said incident light onto said surface and receiving return light reflected by said surface using said reflecting means; moving said reflecting means to provide an angle position signal for the reflecting mechanism; providing focussing means; focussing light onto said reflecting means using said focussing means, said focussing step including transmitting light onto said reflecting means and receiving and transmitting return reflected light to provide a focus signal; moving said focussing means to provide a focus position signal; and processing said frame position signal, said angle position signal, said focus position signal, and said focus signal to calculate the curvature of said surface at said first position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification