Optical scanning probe
First Claim
1. A scanning probe for capturing data from a plurality of points on the surface of an object by irradiating the object with a light stripe and detecting light reflected from the object surface, the scanning probe comprising:
- (a) stripe generator for generating and emitting the light stripe;
(b) a camera comprising an imaging sensor having an array of pixels to detect the light stripe reflected from the object surface;
(c) intensity adjuster stripe during acquisition of a single frame, in dependence upon intensities detected by the camera;
wherein the camera and/or the stripe generator are configured such that different subsets of the array of pixels at different times detect light reflected from the light stripe during the acquisition of the frame, the different subsets of the array of pixels corresponding to different positions on the detected light stripe reflected from the object surface,and wherein the intensity adjuster stripe is configured to adjust the intensity subsequent to and in dependence upon the detection of the intensities by the subset of pixels, which adjustment takes place during acquisition of the frame.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a scanning probe (2) for capturing data from a plurality of points on the surface of an object by irradiating the object with a light stripe and detecting light reflected from the object surface, the scanning probe comprising (a) stripe generating means (14) for generating and emitting a light stripe (55); (b) a camera (16) comprising an imaging sensor having an array of pixels to detect the light stripe reflected from the object surface: (c) means for adjusting the intensity of the light stripe (55) during acquisition of the frame, in dependence upon the intensities detected by the camera (16). It also relates to a means to modify the stripe length, a scanner with separate compartment for the processing means, and an attachable dust cover for a scanner.
61 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A scanning probe for capturing data from a plurality of points on the surface of an object by irradiating the object with a light stripe and detecting light reflected from the object surface, the scanning probe comprising:
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(a) stripe generator for generating and emitting the light stripe; (b) a camera comprising an imaging sensor having an array of pixels to detect the light stripe reflected from the object surface; (c) intensity adjuster stripe during acquisition of a single frame, in dependence upon intensities detected by the camera; wherein the camera and/or the stripe generator are configured such that different subsets of the array of pixels at different times detect light reflected from the light stripe during the acquisition of the frame, the different subsets of the array of pixels corresponding to different positions on the detected light stripe reflected from the object surface, and wherein the intensity adjuster stripe is configured to adjust the intensity subsequent to and in dependence upon the detection of the intensities by the subset of pixels, which adjustment takes place during acquisition of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of capturing data from a plurality of points on the surface of an object by irradiating the object with a light stripe and detecting light reflected from the object surface, the method comprising:
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(a) generating and emitting the light stripe using a stripe generator; (b) detecting the light stripe reflected from the object surface using an imaging sensor comprising an array of pixels, (c) adjusting the intensity of the light stripe during acquisition of a single frame in dependence upon the intensity of light detected by the pixels, different subsets of the array of pixels at different times detect light reflected from the light stripe during the acquisition of the frame, the different subsets of the array of pixels corresponding to different positions on the detected light stripe, to determine the light detected by the pixel(s) in each subset, and wherein the intensity of the light stripe is adjusted subsequent to and in dependence upon the detection of intensity by the subset of the array of pixels, which adjustments take place during acquisition of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification