Integrated system for quickly and accurately imaging and modeling three-dimensional objects
First Claim
1. A system for calibrating the timing electronics in a device which requires monitoring the time of flight of the output pulses transmitted from a laser to a remote target and back to a detector, the output of which is supplied to the timing electronics comprising:
- a single mode optical fiber with one end of the fiber positioned to periodically receive the output pulses of the laser, said single mode optical fiber having a known length and wherein partial reflectors are located at each end of the optical fiber such that for each laser pulse entering the fiber a train of pulses will exit the fiber, said pulses being directed to the detector, said detector generating output signals in response thereto, said signals being passed through the timing electronics; and
a processor for calculating a theoretical length of the fiber based on the detection of the train of pulses exiting the fiber and comparing that calculated length with the known length of the fiber to calibrate the timing electronics to improve the accuracy of the time of flight measurements of the laser pulses sent to and returning from the remote target.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated system generates a model of a three-dimensional object. A scanning laser device scans the three-dimensional object and generates a point cloud. The points of the point cloud each indicate a location of a corresponding point on a surface of the object. A first model is generated, responsive to the point cloud, that generates a first model representing constituent geometric shapes of the object. A data file is generated, responsive to the first model, that can be inputted to a computer-aided design system.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for calibrating the timing electronics in a device which requires monitoring the time of flight of the output pulses transmitted from a laser to a remote target and back to a detector, the output of which is supplied to the timing electronics comprising:
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a single mode optical fiber with one end of the fiber positioned to periodically receive the output pulses of the laser, said single mode optical fiber having a known length and wherein partial reflectors are located at each end of the optical fiber such that for each laser pulse entering the fiber a train of pulses will exit the fiber, said pulses being directed to the detector, said detector generating output signals in response thereto, said signals being passed through the timing electronics; and
a processor for calculating a theoretical length of the fiber based on the detection of the train of pulses exiting the fiber and comparing that calculated length with the known length of the fiber to calibrate the timing electronics to improve the accuracy of the time of flight measurements of the laser pulses sent to and returning from the remote target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for calibrating the measuring electronics in a device which requires monitoring frequency changes in a light beam generated by a laser used to measure distance to an object, wherein said beam has frequency chirp imposed thereon comprising:
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a single mode optical fiber with one end thereof positioned to receive light from the laser;
a detector positioned to receive light which has travelled through and exited the fiber in combination with light from the laser which has not traveled through the fiber, said detector for monitoring the changes in the frequency of the combined beam; and
processor for determining the linearity of the chirp on the beam based on uniformity of the frequency changes measured by the detector and using the result to calibrate the measuring electronics. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method for calibrating the timing electronics in a device which requires monitoring the time of flight of the output pulses transmitted from a laser to a remote target and back to a detector, the output of which is supplied to the timing electronics comprising the steps of:
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providing a single mode optical fiber of a known length and having partial reflectors located at each end thereof, periodically injecting selected ones of the output pulses from the laser in one end of the fiber such that a train a pulses will exit the other end of the fiber;
monitoring the pulses exiting the fiber with the detector and generating a signal in response thereto;
passing the signal through the timing electronics to be calibrated; and
calculating a theoretical length of the fiber based on the signal passed through the timing electronics and comparing that calculated length with the known length of the fiber to calibrate the timing electronics to improve the accuracy of the time of flight measurements of the laser pulses sent to and returning from the remote target. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A system for calibrating the timing electronics in a device which requires monitoring the time of flight of the output pulses transmitted from a laser to a remote target and back to a detector, the output of which is supplied to the timing electronics comprising:
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an optical fiber with one end of the fiber positioned to periodically receive the output pulses of the laser, said optical fiber having a length whose variation with temperature can be accurately characterized, and wherein partial reflectors are located at each end of the optical fiber such that for each laser pulse entering the fiber a train of pulses will exit the fiber, said pulses being directed to the detector, said detector generating output signals in response thereto, said signals being passed through the timing electronics; and
a processor for monitoring variations in the delay between successive pulses in the train exiting the fiber, said variations induced by time and/or temperature changes, said processor further functioning to calibrate the timing electronics based on these monitored variations to improve the accuracy of the time of flight measurements of the laser pulses sent to and returning from the remote target. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for calibrating the timing electronics in a device which requires monitoring the time of flight of the output pulses transmitted from a laser to a remote target and back to a detector, the output of which is supplied to the timing electronics comprising the steps of:
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providing an optical fiber having a length whose variation with temperature can be accurately characterized and having partial reflectors located at each end thereof, periodically injecting selected ones of the output pulses from the laser in one end of the fiber such that a train a pulses will exit the other end of the fiber;
monitoring the pulses exiting the fiber with the detector and generating a signal in response thereto;
passing the signal through the timing electronics to be calibrated; and
monitoring variations in the delay between successive pulses in the train exiting the fiber, said variations induced by time and/or temperature changes and calibrating the timing electronics based on these monitored variations to improve the accuracy of the time of flight measurements of the laser pulses sent to and returning from the remote target. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification