US6088110A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital range sensor system
Assignee: QAULITY VISION INTERNATIONAL Inc
•
Filing: 1999-05-25
•
Granted: 2000-07-11
•
Expires: 2019-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A digital range sensor comprises a light source, an optical element to focus the light from the source down to a small spot on a target, a second optical element that is mounted obliquely from the source axis, and a prism mounted on a multi-element detector, which in turn is mounted at the focus of the light returning from the target. The purpose of the prism on the detector is to direct the light onto the active surface of the detector at an angle closer to normal incidence than would otherwise be possible. The detector produces digital data which is transferred to a control module for processing and to produce a numerical range measurement.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric P. Rudd
- 👤 William P. Kennedy
- 👤 Troy R. Pesola
- 👤 David D. Madsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/46; G01S17/48; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/02; G01B11/026; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/481; G01S7/4811; G01S7/491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of determining at least one dimension of a target using a sensor for detecting light reflected from the target, comprising: reducing the incident angle of said reflected light with respect to said sensor outside an image plane of said reflected light; receiving digital data from said sensor wherein said digital data is representative of light detected by said sensor at said reduced incident angle; applying a threshold to said digital data; performing a centroid calculation on the thresholded digital data; and producing a numerical dimension measurement of said target from said centroid calculation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of determining at least one dimension of a target using a sensor for detecting light reflected from the target, comprising: reducing the incident angle of said reflected light with respect to said sensor outside an image plane of said reflected light; receiving digital data from said sensor wherein said digital data is representative of light detected by said sensor at said reduced incident angle; applying a threshold to said digital data; performing a centroid calculation on the thresholded digital data; and producing a numerical dimension measurement of said target from said centroid calculation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising linearizing said centroid calculation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: directing light along a path to said target; focusing said light onto said target; gathering said reflected light from said target, said light reflecting at said incident angle from said target; and substantially focusing said gathered, reflected light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said incident angle of said reflected light is reduced with a diffractive element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said diffractive element comprises a prism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said prism is approximately a 15 degree prism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said incident angle of said reflected light is reduced to approximately normal incidence with respect to said sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said numerical dimension measurement of said target is a thickness measurement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a threshold to the data of at least one of a plurality of peak light intensities and performing a centroid calculation on said data of at least one of said plurality of peak light intensities.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of determining at least one dimension of a target using a sensor for detecting light reflected from the target, comprising: reducing the incident angle of said reflected light with respect to said sensor outside an image plane of said reflected light; receiving data from said sensor, wherein said data is representative of light detected by said sensor at said reduced incident angle and wherein said light comprises a plurality of peak light intensities; applying a threshold to the data of at least one of said plurality of peak light intensities; performing a centroid calculation on said data of at least one of said plurality of peak light intensities; and producing at least one numerical dimension measurement of said target from said centroid calculation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of determining at least one dimension of a target using a sensor for detecting light reflected from the target, comprising: reducing the incident angle of said reflected light with respect to said sensor outside an image plane of said reflected light; receiving data from said sensor, wherein said data is representative of light detected by said sensor at said reduced incident angle and wherein said light comprises a plurality of peak light intensities; applying a threshold to the data of at least one of said plurality of peak light intensities; performing a centroid calculation on said data of at least one of said plurality of peak light intensities; and producing at least one numerical dimension measurement of said target from said centroid calculation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said data comprises digital data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising applying a threshold to the data of at least two of said plurality of peak light intensities and performing a centroid calculation on said data of at least two of said plurality of peak light intensities.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising producing at least two numerical dimension measurements of said target from said centroid calculation on said data of at least two of said plurality of peak light intensities.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising producing a thickness measurement of said target from said centroid calculation on said data of at least two of said plurality of peak light intensities.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising linearizing said centroid calculation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising linearizing said centroid calculation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising: directing light along a path to said target; focusing said light onto said target; gathering said reflected light from said target, said light reflecting at said incident angle from said target; and substantially focusing said gathered, reflected light.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said incident angle of said reflected light is reduced with a diffractive element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said diffractive element comprises a prism.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said prism is approximately a 15 degree prism.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said incident angle of said reflected light is reduced to approximately normal incidence with respect to said sensor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said numerical dimension measurement of said target is a thickness measurement.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising applying a threshold to the data of at least two of said plurality of peak light intensities and performing a centroid calculation on said data of at least two of said plurality of peak light intensities.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 23, further comprising producing at least two numerical dimension measurements of said target from said centroid calculation on said data of at least two of said plurality of peak light intensities.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23, further comprising producing a thickness measurement of said target from said centroid calculation on said data of at least two of said plurality of peak light intensities.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 23, further comprising linearizing said centroid calculation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3497289A
Cited
US3661465A
Cited
GB1193567A
Cited
US3799652A
Cited
US4017160A
Cited
US4084881A
Cited
US4059343A
Cited
US4170401A
Cited
US4531833A
Cited
US4436260A
Cited
US4575237A
Cited
US4560271A
Cited
US4488813A
Cited
JPS59202010A
Cited
JPS6020111A
Cited
WO1985001119A1
Cited
US4770507A
Cited
JPS60189720A
Cited
US4746790A
Cited
US4687322A
Cited
US4729653A
Cited
GB2183418A
Cited
US4733969A
Cited
US4891772A
Cited
US4872747A
Cited
US5056922A
Cited
JPH01253603A
Cited
US5218415A
Cited
US5118957A
Cited
US5076698A
Cited
US5272501A
Cited
US5633721A
Cited
US5627635A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-11 | 2004-01-10 | 2004-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-11 | 2008-01-10 | 2008-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-11 | 2012-01-10 | 2012-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |