Arbitrary-geometry laser surface scanner
First Claim
1. An optical surface scanner including:
- an illumination means adapted to emit a fan beam of light whereby the intersection between the fan beam and an object being scanned produces a profile having three-dimensional coordinates which lie in the plane of the fan beam;
a camera which images the profile in two dimensions;
a spatial location system which obtains the relative positions and orientations of the object, illumination means and camera, the three-dimensional coordinates of the profile derived from the two-dimensional coordinates of the image and the relative positions and orientations of the illumination means, camera and object.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical non-contact surface scanning method and system is described. The three-dimensional coordinates of an illuminated profile or spot on the object are recorded and the surface is reconstructed using spatial location and orientation information derived from a spatial location system associated with the object, illumination means, and image recording means. The illumination and imaging means may be hand-held in a combined unit or in separate units. The scanning system allows complete free and arbitrary movement of the object and all components of the scanning during scanning this allowing scanning of substantially all of the surface which may be visible at various locations and orientations around the object. The optical non-contact scanning system may find particular application in medical imaging of the human body or parts thereof. It may further find application in industrial processes whereby the passage of arbitrarily shaped objects are monitored through a production line or similar situations.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An optical surface scanner including:
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an illumination means adapted to emit a fan beam of light whereby the intersection between the fan beam and an object being scanned produces a profile having three-dimensional coordinates which lie in the plane of the fan beam; a camera which images the profile in two dimensions; a spatial location system which obtains the relative positions and orientations of the object, illumination means and camera, the three-dimensional coordinates of the profile derived from the two-dimensional coordinates of the image and the relative positions and orientations of the illumination means, camera and object. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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2. An optical surface scanner including:
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an illumination means adapted to emit a pencil beam of light whereby the intersection between the pencil beam and an object being scanned produces a spot having three-dimensional coordinates which lie on the axis of the pencil beam; a camera which images the spot in one or two dimensions; a spatial location system which obtains the relative positions and orientations of the object, illumination means and camera, the three-dimensional coordinates of the spot derived from the one or two-dimensional coordinates of the image and the relative positions and orientation of the illumination means, camera and object.
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3. An optical surface scanner including:
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one or more illumination means each emitting a fan beam of light whereby the intersection between each fan beam of light and the object being scanned produces a profile having three-dimensional coordinates which lie in the plane of the fan beam producing that profile; a plurality of cameras which image the profiles; means for distinguishing between illumination produced by the one or more illumination means; a spatial location system which obtains the relative positions and orientations of the object, illumination means and cameras, the three-dimensional coordinates of each profile derived from the two-dimensional coordinates or one/two dimensional coordinates respectively of the corresponding image and the relative positions and orientations of the cameras, illumination means and object. - View Dependent Claims (4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A mensuration method for three-dimensional objects comprising:
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imaging the intersection of a fan beam of light and an object being scanned; measuring the relative orientations and locations of a camera, illumination means and object; calculating three-dimensional coordinates of the intersection of the fan beam or pencil beam of light and the object being scanned; repeating the above steps for a variety of orientations and/or locations of camera and/or illumination means and/or object. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification