Digitally measuring scopes using a high resolution encoder

• US 5,801,762 A
• Filed: 07/17/1995
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus America Incorporated (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus America Incorporated (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Costello, James G., Dianna, Andreas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Vu
• Application Number:
  US08/502,984
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 348/65, 348/348, 348/357, 385/117, 385/118, 356/241, 359/367, 359/642, 607/1, 600/167, 600/163, 600/168
• US Class Current: 348/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B11/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for determining a dimension of a detail including an optical scope for producing an image of the detail, an image scaling device for providing a scaled image size, and a processor. The system also includes a video camera which is either within the optical scope or external to the optical scope. The optical scope includes a focusing device for adjusting a focal position of the image of the detail and a device for providing a focus position signal based a position of the focusing device. If the system includes an external video camera, the optical scope also includes a viewer for passing the image of the detail to a plane outside of the optical scope. The video camera optically is coupled with the viewer of the optical scope or with the image of the detail and produces a video signal of the detail from the image of the detail. The processor converts the focus position signal into an object distance signal, or a magnification signal, or both, and determines the dimension of the detail based on the scaled image size and based on the object distance signal, or the magnification signal, or both.

Claims

1. A system for determining a dimension of a feature, the system comprising:

an optical scope for gathering an image of the feature, the optical scope including;

i) a focusing device for adjusting a focal position of the image of the feature,

ii) a device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal based on the position of the focusing device, and

iii) an image-to-video converter for producing a video signal of the feature from the image of the feature having its focal position adjusted by the focusing device;

b) an image scaling device for providing a scaled image size; and

c) a processor, the processor

i) converting the focus position signal into at least one of an object distance signal and a magnification signal, and

ii) determining the dimension of the feature based on the scaled image size and based on the at least one of the object distance signal and the magnification signal, wherein the dimension of the feature includes at least one of a depth and height of the feature,

wherein the device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal includes an optical encoder which includes;

an encoder disk having apertures arranged around its circumference, the encoder disk being mechanically coupled with the focusing device such that it rotates when the focusing device is adjusted;

a light source for directing light towards a first side of the encoder disk; and

a detection device arranged on a second side of the encoder disk, the detection device generating a pulse when light from the light source passes through an aperture of the encoder disk,

whereby pulses generated by the encoder correspond to relative adjustments of the focusing device.

2. A system for determining a dimension of a feature, the system comprising:

a) an optical scope for gathering an image of the feature, the optical scope including;

i) a focusing device for adjusting a focal position of the image of the feature, and

ii) a device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal based on the position of the focusing device;

b) a processor, the processor

i) converting the focus position signal into an object distance signal, and

ii) determining a dimension of the feature based on the object distance signal,

wherein the device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal includes an optical encoder which includes;

an encoder disk having apertures arranged around its circumference, the encoder disk being mechanically coupled with the focusing device such that it rotates when the focusing device is adjusted;

a light source for directing light towards a first side of the encoder disk; and

a detection device arranged on a second side of the encoder disk, the detection device generating a pulse when light from the light source passes through an aperture of the encoder disk,

whereby pulses generated by the encoder correspond to relative adjustments of the focusing device.

3. A system for determining a dimension of a feature, the system comprising:

a) an optical scope for gathering an image of the feature, the optical scope including;

i) a focusing device for adjusting a focal position of the image of the feature,

ii) a device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal based on the position of the focusing device, and

iii) an image-to-video converter for producing a video signal of the feature from the image of the feature having its focal position adjusted by the focusing device;

b) an image scaling device for providing a scaled image size; and

c) a processor, the processor

i) converting the focus position signal into at least one of an object distance signal and a magnification signal, and

ii) determining the dimension of the feature based on the scaled image size and based on the at least one of the object distance signal and the magnification signal, wherein the dimension of the feature includes at least one of a depth and height of the feature,

wherein the device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal includes an optical encoder which includes;

an encoder disk having alternating reflecting surfaces and non-reflecting surfaces arranged around its circumference, the encoder disk being mechanically coupled with the focusing device such that it rotates when the focusing device is adjusted;

a light source for directing light towards the encoder disk; and

a detection device generating a pulse when light from the light source is reflected by the encoder disk,

whereby pulses generated by the encoder correspond to relative adjustments of the focusing device.

4. A system for determining a dimension of a feature, the system comprising:

a) an optical scope for gathering an image of the feature, the optical scope including

i) a focusing device for adjusting a focal position of the image of the feature, and

ii) a device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal based on the position of the focusing device;

b) a processor, the processor

i) converting the focus position signal into an object distance signal, and

ii) determining a dimension of the feature based on the object distance signal,

wherein the device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal includes an optical encoder which includes;

an encoder disk having alternating reflecting surfaces and non-reflecting surfaces arranged around its circumference, the encoder disk being mechanically coupled with the focusing device such that it rotates when the focusing device is adjusted;

a light source for directing light towards the encoder disk; and

a detection device generating a pulse when light from the light source is reflected by the encoder disk, whereby pulses generated by the encoder correspond to relative adjustments of the focusing device.

5. A system for determining a dimension of a feature, the system comprising:

a) an optical scope for gathering an image of the feature, the optical scope including;

i) a focusing device for adjusting a focal position of the image of the feature,

ii) a device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal based on the position of the focusing device, and

iii) an image-to-video converter for producing a video signal of the feature from the image of the feature having its focal position adjusted by the focusing device;

b) an image scaling device for providing a scaled image size; and

c) a processor, the processor

i) converting the focus position signal into at least one of an object distance signal and a magnification signal, and

ii) determining the dimension of the feature based on the scaled image size and based on the at least one of the object distance signal and the magnification signal, wherein the dimension of the feature includes at least one of a depth and height of the feature,

wherein the device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal includes an optical encoder which includes;

a linear encoder strip having a plurality of spaced apertures, the linear encoder disk being mechanically coupled with the focusing device such that it is linearly translated when the focusing device is adjusted;

a light source for directing light towards a first side of the linear encoder strip; and

a detection device arranged on a second side of the linear encoder strip, the detection device generating a pulse when light from the light source passes through an aperture of the linear encoder strip,

whereby pulses generated by the encoder correspond to relative adjustments of the focusing device.

6. A system for determining a dimension of a feature, the system comprising:

a) an optical scope for gathering an image of the feature, the optical scope including

i) a focusing device for adjusting a focal position of the image of the feature, and

ii) a device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal based on the position of the focusing device;

b) a processor, the processor

i) converting the focus position signal into an object distance signal, and

ii) determining a dimension of the feature based on the object distance signal,

wherein the device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal includes an optical encoder which includes;

a linear encoder strip having a plurality of spaced apertures, the linear encoder disk being mechanically coupled with the focusing device such that it is linearly translated when the focusing device is adjusted;

a light source for directing light towards a first side of the linear encoder strip; and

a detection device arranged on a second side of the linear encoder strip, the detection device generating a pulse when light from the light source passes through an aperture of the linear encoder strip,

whereby pulses generated by the encoder correspond to relative adjustments of the focusing device.

7. A system for determining a dimension of a feature, the system comprising:

a) an optical scope for gathering an image of the feature, the optical scope including;

i) a focusing device for adjusting a focal position of the image of the feature,

ii) a device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal based on the position of the focusing device, and

iii) an image-to-video converter for producing a video signal of the feature from the image of the feature having its focal position adjusted by the focusing device;

b) an image scaling device for providing a scaled image size; and

c) a processor, the processor

i) converting the focus position signal into at least one of an object distance signal and a magnification signal, and

ii) determining the dimension of the feature based on the scaled image size and based on the at least one of the object distance signal and the magnification signal, wherein the dimension of the feature includes at least one of a depth and height of the feature,

wherein the device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal includes an optical encoder which includes;

a linear encoder strip having alternating reflecting surfaces and non-reflecting surfaces arranged on a surface, the linear encoder strip being mechanically coupled with the focusing device such that it is linearly translated when the focusing device is adjusted;

a light source for directing light towards the linear encoder strip; and

a detection device generating a pulse when light from the light source is reflected by the linear encoder strip,

whereby pulses generated by the encoder correspond to relative adjustments of the focusing device.

8. A system for determining a dimension of a feature, the system comprising:

a) an optical scope for gathering an image of the feature, the optical scope including

i) a focusing device for adjusting a focal position of the image of the feature, and

ii) a device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal based on the position of the focusing device;

b) a processor, the processor

i) converting the focus position signal into an object distance signal, and

ii) determining a dimension of the feature based on the object distance signal,

wherein the device for detecting a position of the focusing device and for providing a focus position signal includes an optical encoder which includes;

a linear encoder strip having alternating reflecting surfaces and non-reflecting surfaces arranged on a surface, the linear encoder strip being mechanically coupled with the focusing device such that it is linearly translated when the focusing device is adjusted;

a light source for directing light towards the linear encoder strip; and

a detection device generating a pulse when light from the light source is reflected by the linear encoder strip,

whereby pulses generated by the encoder correspond to relative adjustments of the focusing device.