Virtual laser projection system and method
First Claim
1. A laser projection system for projecting image data onto a surface of a work object, the system comprising:
- an array of reference targets spaced from, and not in direct contact with, the work object;
a measuring laser projector;
at least one non-measuring laser projector different from the measuring laser projector; and
a computer having one or more processors configured to;
cause the measuring laser projector to direct a first laser light beam at a subset of the targets in the array of reference targets;
cause the measuring laser projector to receive reflected light from the subset of the targets in the array of reference targets;
register the measuring laser projector with respect to a first coordinate system based on the received reflected light, the first coordinate system is a coordinate system associated with the array of reference targets and is external to the work object;
cause the measuring laser projector to direct a second laser light beam onto the work object surface;
cause the measuring laser projector to receive diffusely reflected light from the work object surface;
detect a plurality of features of the work object surface based on the received diffusely reflected light;
determine the locations of the plurality of features with respect to the first coordinate system;
obtain the locations of the plurality of features with respect to a second coordinate system different from the first coordinate system, the second coordinate system being the work object coordinate system;
determine the locations of the plurality of features and the at least one non-measuring laser projector in a common coordinate system; and
cause the at least one non-measuring laser projector to project the image data onto the work object surface based on the locations of the plurality of features and the location of the at least one non-measuring laser projector in the common coordinate system.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual laser projection system and method includes one or more measuring laser projectors, one or more non-measuring laser projectors, an array of reference targets, and a computing system. The one or more measuring laser projectors and one or more non-measuring laser projectors operate under common control of the computing system to register their respective locations using the array of reference targets, detect and locate features of a work object to be illuminated, convert all location information into a common coordinate system, and illuminate the work object with laser light beams using the common coordinate system.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A laser projection system for projecting image data onto a surface of a work object, the system comprising:
-
an array of reference targets spaced from, and not in direct contact with, the work object; a measuring laser projector; at least one non-measuring laser projector different from the measuring laser projector; and a computer having one or more processors configured to; cause the measuring laser projector to direct a first laser light beam at a subset of the targets in the array of reference targets; cause the measuring laser projector to receive reflected light from the subset of the targets in the array of reference targets; register the measuring laser projector with respect to a first coordinate system based on the received reflected light, the first coordinate system is a coordinate system associated with the array of reference targets and is external to the work object; cause the measuring laser projector to direct a second laser light beam onto the work object surface; cause the measuring laser projector to receive diffusely reflected light from the work object surface; detect a plurality of features of the work object surface based on the received diffusely reflected light; determine the locations of the plurality of features with respect to the first coordinate system; obtain the locations of the plurality of features with respect to a second coordinate system different from the first coordinate system, the second coordinate system being the work object coordinate system; determine the locations of the plurality of features and the at least one non-measuring laser projector in a common coordinate system; and cause the at least one non-measuring laser projector to project the image data onto the work object surface based on the locations of the plurality of features and the location of the at least one non-measuring laser projector in the common coordinate system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for projecting image data onto a surface of a work object, the method comprising:
-
directing a first laser light beam from a measuring laser projector at a subset of targets in an array of reference targets spaced from, and not in direct contact with, the work object; receiving the reflected light from the subset of targets in the array of reference targets at the measuring laser projector; registering the location of the measuring laser projector with respect to a first coordinate system based on the received reflected light, the first coordinate system is a coordinate system associated with the array of reference targets and is external to the work object; directing a second laser light beam from the measuring laser projector at the work object surface; receiving diffusely reflected light from the work object surface at the measuring laser projector; detecting a plurality of features of the work object surface based on the diffusely reflected light; determining the locations of the plurality of features with respect to the first coordinate system; obtaining the locations of the plurality of features with respect to a second coordinate system different from the first coordinate system, the second coordinate system being the work object coordinate system; determining the locations of the plurality of features and at least one non-measuring laser projector different from the measuring laser projector in a common coordinate system; and projecting the image data onto the work object surface based on the locations of the plurality of features and the location of the at least one non-measuring laser projector in the common coordinate system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification