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Determination of an orientation parameter of an elongate object with a scan beam apparatus

  • US 7,113,270 B2
  • Filed: 06/18/2004
  • Issued: 09/26/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for determining at least one orientation parameter of an elongate object having a tip contacting a plane surface, the method comprising:

  • a) illuminating the plane surface with a probe radiation beam emitted from the elongate object at an angle σ

    relative to an axis of the elongate object;

    b) varying the angle σ

    in accordance with a predetermined pattern so that the probe radiation beam illuminates various locations on the plane surface at various corresponding times;

    c) detecting at the elongate object at a first time t1 a first scattered portion of the probe radiation beam returning from a first illuminated location along a path having a first predetermined angle τ

    1 relative to the axis;

    d) detecting at the elongate object at a second time t2 a second scattered portion of the probe radiation beam returning from a second illuminated location along a path having a second predetermined angle τ

    2 relative to the axis;

    e) deriving the orientation parameter from a time difference Δ

    t=t2

    t1 between detecting the first scattered portion and the second scattered portion.

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