Distance determination in a scanned beam image capture device
First Claim
1. A method for determining a spatial relationship between a probe and a target surface, the method comprising:
- scanning a beam of light from the probe spatially across the surface;
sensing, with a light detector of the probe, a specular reflection of the light from the surface, the sensed specular reflection comprising specular image signals;
determining a specular reflection pattern from the specular image signals; and
determining a distance between the surface and the probe or an angle between the surface and the probe using at least a geometric characteristic of the specular reflection pattern.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and devices can determine spatial relationships between a probe and a target surface. Specular reflections from the target surface vary dramatically with small changes in angle between the scanning beam and the target surface, and as the geometry of the beam scanner and light detector of the probe are often known, and as the angle of the light beam projected from a scanner for accurately generating an image, the pattern of spectral light reflected from the light beam directly back to the detector allows the distance between the probe and the target surface, and/or the angular relationship between the probe and the target surface, to be calculated.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for determining a spatial relationship between a probe and a target surface, the method comprising:
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scanning a beam of light from the probe spatially across the surface; sensing, with a light detector of the probe, a specular reflection of the light from the surface, the sensed specular reflection comprising specular image signals; determining a specular reflection pattern from the specular image signals; and determining a distance between the surface and the probe or an angle between the surface and the probe using at least a geometric characteristic of the specular reflection pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A surface measurement system comprising:
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a light source for transmitting a beam of light; a scanner coupled to the light source, the scanner spatially scanning the beam of light over a surface; a light detector positioned to detect a specular reflected portion of the light from the surface, the detected specular reflection portion comprising specular image signals; and a processor coupled to the detector, the processor configured to determine; a specular reflection pattern from the specular image signals; and a distance between the surface measurement system and the surface, or an angle of the surface relative to the surface measurement system, from at least a geometric characteristic of the specular reflection pattern. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. Software for use in a scanned beam imaging system, the system including a scanner configured for spatially scanning a beam of light over a target surface, a detector positioned for detecting reflected light from the surface, the light comprising a specular reflected portion, and the detected specular reflected portion comprising specular image signals, and a processor coupled to the detector, the software comprising a tangible computer readable media comprising machine readable code embodying instructions that, if executed, cause the processor to determine:
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a specular reflection pattern from the specular image signals; and a distance between the system and the surface, or an angle of the surface relative to system, using at least a geometric characteristic of the specular reflection pattern.
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Specification