Method and system for imaging an object with a plurality of optical beams
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging system comprising:
- a light source positioned to transmit light along a first path for illuminating an object;
a beam deflector positioned along the first path;
a beam splitter along the first path for splitting the light into a plurality of output paths for illuminating the object at a plurality of X-Y coordinates;
a first photo sensitive device detecting light reflected from the object at the plurality of X-Y coordinates and generating a first at least one signal as a function of the light detected along a first at least one path; and
a processor receiving the first at least one signal and generating an image of at least one portion of the object as a function of the received first at least one signal, wherein the beam splitter is a diffracting beam splitter.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A diffracting beam splitter splits an optical beam. The resulting beams are swept over an object by a beam deflector. The beams are mechanically scanned transverse to the beam deflection direction. A position sensitive device receives light reflected from the incident beams and a three dimensional profile of the object is produced.
73 Citations
37 Claims
-
1. An imaging system comprising:
-
a light source positioned to transmit light along a first path for illuminating an object;
a beam deflector positioned along the first path;
a beam splitter along the first path for splitting the light into a plurality of output paths for illuminating the object at a plurality of X-Y coordinates;
a first photo sensitive device detecting light reflected from the object at the plurality of X-Y coordinates and generating a first at least one signal as a function of the light detected along a first at least one path; and
a processor receiving the first at least one signal and generating an image of at least one portion of the object as a function of the received first at least one signal, wherein the beam splitter is a diffracting beam splitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
a second photo sensitive device detecting light reflected from the object at the plurality of X-Y coordinates and generating a second at least one signal as a function of the light detected along a second at least one path; and
wherein the processor receives the second at least one signal and generates the image of at least a portion of the object as a function of the received first at least one signal and the second at least one signal.
-
-
11. The system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the first photo sensitive and the second photo sensitive device is a multi-channel position sensitive device.
-
12. The system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the first photo sensitive and the second photo sensitive device is a charge coupled device array.
-
13. The system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the first photo sensitive and the second photo sensitive device is a capacitive metal oxide semiconductor device array.
-
14. A method for imaging an object, comprising the steps of:
-
projecting a first light beam from a light source;
directing the first light beam through a beam deflector, the beam deflector deflecting the first light beam at a first selected deflection angle;
directing the deflected first light beam through a beam splitter to produce a plurality of exit beams;
illuminating the object at a plurality of X-Y coordinates with at least two of the plurality of exit beams;
detecting simultaneously light reflected by the object from at least two of the plurality of X-Y coordinates; and
generating a three dimensional image of at least one portion of the object as a function of the detected lights, wherein the beam splitter is a diffracting beam splitter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 34)
scanning the plurality of exit beams across the object in a direction perpendicular to the beam deflector sweep angle at predetermined time intervals.
-
-
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the scanning is accomplished by translation of the object.
-
21. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of determining the dimensions of selected features from the three dimensional image.
-
22. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of determining the relative positions of selected features from the three dimensional image.
-
23. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of determining the relative co-planarity of selected features from the three dimensional image.
-
27. The method of claim 19 wherein the scanning is accomplished by translating the sensor system.
-
34. The method of claim 19 wherein the scanning is accomplished by translation of the object.
-
24. A method for scanning optical beams across an object comprising the steps of:
-
projecting a first light beam from a light source;
directing the first light beam through a beam deflector, the beam deflector deflecting the first light beam at a first selected deflection angle;
directing the deflected first light beam through a beam splitter to produce a plurality of exit beams; and
illuminating the object at a plurality of X-Y coordinates with at least two of the plurality of exit beams, wherein the sweep angle range is selected so that the separation of adjacent exit beams is substantially at most equal to the sweep angle range. - View Dependent Claims (25)
-
-
26. A method for imaging an object, comprising the steps of:
-
projecting a first light beam from a light source;
directing the first light beam through a beam deflector, the beam deflector deflecting the first light beam at a first preselected deflection angle;
directing the deflected first light beam through a beam splitter to produce a plurality of exit beams;
illuminating the object at a plurality of X-Y coordinates with at least two of the plurality of exit beams;
detecting simultaneously light reflected by the object from at least two of the plurality of X-Y coordinates; and
generating a three dimensional image of at least one portion of the object as a function of the detected light, wherein the sweep angle range is selected so that the separation of adjacent exit beams is substantially at most equal to the sweep angle range. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37)
scanning the plurality of exit beams across the object in a direction perpendicular to the beam deflector sweep angle at predetermined time intervals.
-
-
35. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of determining the dimensions of selected features from the three dimensional image.
-
36. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of determining the relative positions of selected features from the three dimensional image.
-
37. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of determining the relative co-planarity of selected features from the three dimensional image.
Specification