Method and apparatus for determining the distance between a base and a specular surface by means of radiation reflected at the surface
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for determining the distance (h) between a base (1) and the specular surface (2) of an object (3), which comprises the steps of:
- (a) initially divergently irradiating the specular surface solely with light energy radiated from a first light source (4) arranged adjacent the base and transmitted via a first semi-transparent mirror (9);
(b) measuring the intensity of the first light energy reflected by the specular surface as a first virtual image of the first light source and transmitted via a second semi-transparent mirror (8) upon a first detector (5) arranged at a first angle of appearance (γ
) relative to the base, thereby to produce at least one first electrical signal (A1, A2);
(c) subsequently divergently irradiating the specular surface solely radiated from a second light source (6) arranged adjacent said first detector and reflected by said second mirror;
(d) measuring the intensity of the second light energy that is reflected by said specular surface and by said first mirror as a second virtual image upon a second detector (7) arranged adjacent said first light source at a second angle of appearance (α
) relative to the base, thereby to produce at least one second electrical signal (B1,B2);
(e) alternatively time-division multiplexing (14) the first and second signals to determine the angles of appearance (α
, γ
) of the first and second virtual images relative to the base, and the distance (d) between the apices of the angles of appearance relative to the base; and
(f) calculating the distance (h) between the base and the specular surface of the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining the distance (h) between a base (1) and a specular surface (2) of an object (3). The method is based on the measurement of the direct reflection of radiation of a first light source (4) by a first detector (5) and the measurement of radiation of a second light source (6), located at least approximately at the location of the first detector (5), by a second detector (7), located at least approximately at the location of the first light source (4), in order then to determine with the known geometry of the setup and the measured values obtained for the angles of appearance (γ, α) of the virtual images of the light sources (4, 6) the position with respect to the base (1) of the specular surface (2) to be measured.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for determining the distance (h) between a base (1) and the specular surface (2) of an object (3), which comprises the steps of:
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(a) initially divergently irradiating the specular surface solely with light energy radiated from a first light source (4) arranged adjacent the base and transmitted via a first semi-transparent mirror (9); (b) measuring the intensity of the first light energy reflected by the specular surface as a first virtual image of the first light source and transmitted via a second semi-transparent mirror (8) upon a first detector (5) arranged at a first angle of appearance (γ
) relative to the base, thereby to produce at least one first electrical signal (A1, A2);(c) subsequently divergently irradiating the specular surface solely radiated from a second light source (6) arranged adjacent said first detector and reflected by said second mirror; (d) measuring the intensity of the second light energy that is reflected by said specular surface and by said first mirror as a second virtual image upon a second detector (7) arranged adjacent said first light source at a second angle of appearance (α
) relative to the base, thereby to produce at least one second electrical signal (B1,B2);(e) alternatively time-division multiplexing (14) the first and second signals to determine the angles of appearance (α
, γ
) of the first and second virtual images relative to the base, and the distance (d) between the apices of the angles of appearance relative to the base; and(f) calculating the distance (h) between the base and the specular surface of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. Apparatus for determining the distance (h) between a base (1) and the specular surface (2) of an object (3), comprising:
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(a) a pair of semi-transparent mirrors (8,
9) arranged between the base and the specular surface;(b) a first light source (4) arranged adjacent the base for irradiating the object with first light energy transmitted through a first one (9) of said mirrors; (c) first detector means (5) for measuring the intensity of the virtual image of the first light energy light reflected from the specular surface of the object and transmitted toward the base through the second one (8) of said mirrors at a first appearance angle (γ
) relative to the base, thereby to produce at lease one first electrical signal (A1, A2);(d) a second light source (6) arranged adjacent said first detector means for irradiating the specular surface of the object with second light energy reflected off of one of said mirrors (8); (e) second detector means (7) arranged adjacent said first light source for measuring the intensity of the virtual image of the second light energy reflected from the specular surface of the object and from the other of said mirrors (9) and having a second appearance angle (α
) relative to the base, thereby to produce at least one second electrical signal (B1, B2);(f) means for correcting the slight parallel shift in the distance (d) between the apices of the first and second virtual light images; (g) time-division multiplexing means for alternating producing an analog output signal (Y1, Y2) that is a function of said first and second signals; (h) analog-to-digital processor means (15,
16) for converting said output signal to a digital signal; and(i) digital signal processing means (17) for processing said output signal, including; (1) calibrating data memory means (25) responsive to said output signal for determining the distance (d) between the apices of the first and second reflected virtual light images relative to the base, together with said first and second appearance angles (γ
, α
); and(2) calculating means for calculating the distance (h) between the base and the specular surface of the object in accordance with the equation;
##EQU7##
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5. Apparatus for determining the distance (h) between a base (1) and the specular surface (2) of an object (3), comprising:
- (a) a pair of semi-transparent mirrors (8,9), arranged between the base and the specular surface;
(b) a first light source (4) arranged adjacent the base for irradiating the object with first light energy transmitted through a first one (9) of said mirrors; (c) first detector means (5) for measuring the intensity of the virtual image of the first light energy reflected from the specular surface of the object and transmitted toward the base through the second one (8) of said mirrors at a first appearance angle (γ
) relative to the base, thereby to produce at least one first electrical signal (A1, A2);(d) a second light source (6) arranged adjacent said first detector means for irradiating the specular surface of the object with second light energy reflected off of one of said mirrors (8); (e) second detector means (7) arranged adjacent said first light source for measuring the intensity of the virtual image of the second light energy reflected from the specular surface of the object and from the other of said mirrors (9) and having a second appearance angle (α
) relative to the base, thereby to produce at least one second electrical signal (B1, B2);(f) time-division multiplexing means for alternating producing an analog output signal (Y1, Y2) that is a function of said first and second signals; (g) analog-to-digital processor means (15,
16) for converting said output signal to a digital signal; and(h) digital signal processing means (17) for processing said output signal, including; (1) calibrating data memory means (25) responsive to said output signal for determining the distance (d) between the apices of the first and second reflected virtual light images relative to the base, together with said first and second appearance angles (γ
, α
); and(2) calculating means for calculating the distance (h) between the base and the specular surface of the object in accordance with the equation;
##EQU8## - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
- (a) a pair of semi-transparent mirrors (8,9), arranged between the base and the specular surface;
Specification
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Current AssigneeJurca Optoelektronik GmbH & Co. KG
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Original AssigneeJurca Optoelektronik GmbH & Co. KG
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InventorsJurca, Marius Christian
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Primary Examiner(s)Font, F. G.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Smith, Zandra V.
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Application NumberUS08/799,406Time in Patent Office902 DaysField of Search356/376, 356/375, 356/3.06, 356/3.11, 356/371, 356/135.03, 356/152.02, 250/205US Class Current356/623CPC Class CodesG01B 11/026 by measuring distance betwe...G02B 7/32 using active means, e.g. li...
