Method and apparatus for electro optically determining the dimension, location and attitude of objects
First Claim
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1. A machine for determining dimensional characteristics of an object, comprising:
- electro-optical sensor means for determining range to said object, said sensor means including a laser to project light onto said object,machine means for moving said sensor means in at least 2 Cartesian axes relative to said object,rotation means for rotating at least one of said object and said sensor means, andcomputer means for combining range data from said sensor means with data related to the position of said sensor means and data related to rotation of said rotation means to determine dimensional characteristics of said object.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for optically determining the dimension of part surfaces. Particular embodiments describe optical triangulation based coordinate measurement machines capable of accurate measurement of complex surfaces, such as gear teeth and turbine blades. Other embodiments provide highly useful sensors for robot guidance and related purposes. Up to 5 axis sensing capability is provided on surfaces of widely varying form.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A machine for determining dimensional characteristics of an object, comprising:
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electro-optical sensor means for determining range to said object, said sensor means including a laser to project light onto said object, machine means for moving said sensor means in at least 2 Cartesian axes relative to said object, rotation means for rotating at least one of said object and said sensor means, and computer means for combining range data from said sensor means with data related to the position of said sensor means and data related to rotation of said rotation means to determine dimensional characteristics of said object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for determining dimensional characteristics of an object comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one electro-optical sensor means for determining range to said object, said sensor means including a laser to project light onto said object, moving, with a machine, said sensor means in 2 cartesian axes relative to said object, rotating at least one of said object and said sensor means, and using a computer means, combining range data from said sensor means with data related to the position of said sensor means and data related to said rotation to determine dimensional characteristics of said object. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Apparatus for determining dimensional characteristics of an object comprising:
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a sensor means having an output, machine means for moving said sensor means relative to said object along a predetermined path, means to determine from the output of said sensor means the location of a feature of said object, means to modify said path as a function of said location of said feature, and means to determine dimensional characteristics of said object based upon said output of said sensor means and data related to said movement of said sensor means. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for determining dimensional characteristics of an object comprising the steps of:
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providing a sensor means having an output, moving said sensor means relative to said object along a predetermined path, determining from the output of said sensor means, the location of a feature of said object, modifying said path as a function of said location of said feature, and determining dimensional characteristics of said object based upon said output of said sensor means and data related to said movement of said sensor means. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification