Object-positioning system and method

Claim 2

In a machine-implemented method for adjusting the relative position between an object and a reference point external of the object, the steps of: producing relative movement in one direction between the object and said reference point external of said object to determine the actual distance de between a first indicium on the object and said reference point and producing a signal manifestation indicative of said actual distance de; producing relative movement in the opposite direction between said object and reference point in an amount to position said indicium a predetermined distance df from said reference point, where df is the actual distance between the indicium and reference point when the initial relative position of the object is correct; producing relative movement in a second direction between said object and said reference point external of said object to determine the actual distance dg between a second indicium on said object and said reference point and producing a signal manifestation indicative of said actual distance dg; producing relative movement in a direction opposite to said second direction between said object and reference point in an amount to position said second indicium a predetermined distance dh from said reference point, where dh is the actual distance between the second indicium and reference point when the initial relative position of the object is correct; and producing signal manifestations indicative of de -df and dg -dh.

Claim 3

In a method as set forth in claim 1, said movement in a second direction being performed in a direction substantially at right angles to said one direction.

Claim 4

A machine-implemented method for adjusting the relative position between an object and a reference point external of the object comprising the steps of: producing a first count indicative of the amount of relative movement in one direction between the object and a reference point external of the object required to traverse the distance de between a first indicium on the object and said reference point; producing a second count indicative of the amount of relative movement in the opposite direction between said object and reference point required to traverse a predetermined distance df between said indicium and said reference point, where df is the actual distance between the indicium and reference point when the initial relative position of the object is correct; producing a third count indicative of the amount of relative movement in a second direction between said object and said reference point external of said object required to traverse the distance dg between a second indicium on said object and said reference point; producing a fourth count indicative of the amount of relative movement in a direction opposite to said second direction between said object and reference point required to traverse a predetermined distance dh between said second indicium and said reference point, where dh is the actual distance between the second indicium and reference point when the initial relative position of the object is correct; and changing the relative position between said object and said reference point in an amount and direction which are dependent on the difference between the counts indicative of de and df and the difference between the counts indicative of dg and dh.

Claim 5

A machine-implemented method for adjusting the relative position between an object and a reference point external of the object comprising the steps of: producing a first count indicative of the amount of relative movement in one direction between the object and a reference point external of the object required to traverse the distance de between a first indicium on the object and said reference point; producing a second count indicative of the amount of relative movement in the opposite direction between said object and reference point required to traverse a predetermined distance df between said indicium and said reference point, where df is the actual distance between the indicium and reference point when the initial relative position of the object is correct; producing a third count indicative of the amount of relative movement in a second direction between said object and said reference point external of said object required to traverse the distance dg between a second indicium on said object and said reference point; producing a fourth count indicative of the amount of relative movement in a direction opposite to said second direction between said object and reference point required to traverse a predetermined distance dh between said second indicium and said reference point, where dh is the actual distance between the second indicium and reference point when the initial relative position of the object is correct; and changing the relative position between said object and said reference point in an amount and direction which are dependent on the difference between the counts indicative of de and df and the difference between the counts indicative of dg and dh.

Claim 6

A machIne-implemented method for adjusting the relative position with respect to a light-sensing means of an object having light and dark areas and edges defining the transitions between these areas, comprising the steps of: sensing with said light-sensing means the amount of light reflected from a restricted portion of said object; producing relative movement in one direction between said light-sensing means and said object, and terminating said movement in response to the sensing by said light-sensing means of a change in the amount of light reflected from said object which is indicative of one of said edges; producing a first binary count indicative of the extent of said relative movement; producing relative movement in the opposite direction between said light-sensing means and said object through a fixed distance equal to the actual distance from said one edge to the restricted area over which said light-sensing means should be positioned when the object is in its desired position; producing a second binary count indicative of the extent of said relative movement in the opposite direction; producing relative movement in a third direction between said light-sensing means and said object, and terminating said movement in response to the sensing by said light-sensing means of a change in the amount of light from said object which is indicative of another of said edges; producing a third count indicative of the extent of said relative movement in said third direction; producing relative movement in a direction opposite to said third direction between said light-sensing means and said object through a distance equal to the actual distance from said second edge to the restricted area over which said light-sensing means should be positioned when the object is in its desired position; and producing a fourth count indicative of the extent of said relative movement in a direction opposite to said third direction.

Claim 7

A machIne-implemented method for adjusting the relative position with respect to a light-sensing means of an object having light and dark areas and edges defining the transitions between these areas, comprising the steps of: sensing with said light-sensing means the amount of light reflected from a restricted portion of said object; producing relative movement in one direction between said light-sensing means and said object, and terminating said movement in response to the sensing by said light-sensing means of a change in the amount of light reflected from said object which is indicative of one of said edges; producing a first binary count indicative of the extent of said relative movement; producing relative movement in the opposite direction between said light-sensing means and said object through a fixed distance equal to the actual distance from said one edge to the restricted area over which said light-sensing means should be positioned when the object is in its desired position; producing a second binary count indicative of the extent of said relative movement in the opposite direction; producing relative movement in a third direction between said light-sensing means and said object, and terminating said movement in response to the sensing by said light-sensing means of a change in the amount of light from said object which is indicative of another of said edges; producing a third count indicative of the extent of said relative movement in said third direction; producing relative movement in a direction opposite to said third direction between said light-sensing means and said object through a distance equal to the actual distance from said second edge to the restricted area over which said light-sensing means should be positioned when the object is in its desired position; and producing a fourth count indicative of the extent of said relative movement in a direction opposite to said third direction.

Claim 8

The method set forth in claim 4 wherein each step in which the relative movement between the light-sensing means and object is terminated in response to the sensing by the light-sensing means of a change in the amount of light reflected from said object occurs a relatively short interval of time after the change is sensed and includes: sensing with the light-sensing means for a change in the amount of reflected light; continuing to produce relative movement for a short distance after this change has been sensed while sensing with the light-sensing means for a change back to its initial level of the amount of reflected light; and stopping the movement only if the light sensed does not change back to its initial level during the movement through this short distance.

Claim 9

A machine-implemented method for distinguishing an edge between relatively large light and dark areas on an object beam scanned by light from a relatively narrow imperfection such as a scratch comprising the steps of: scanning the object in a given direction; causing the scan to continue in the same direction after an abrupt change in light level has been sensed; continuing to scan in the same direction when a second abrupt change in light level occurs in a sense opposite to the first abrupt change in light level within a predetermined scanning distance after the first abrupt change in light level has been sensed; and terminating the scan and indicating that the first abrupt change in light level which was sensed defines the position of an edge between relatively large light and dark areas, when after said abrupt change in light level has been sensed, no further abrupt change in light level occurs within said given scanning distance.

Claim 10

A machine-implemented method for distinguishing an edge between relatively large light and dark areas on an object beam scanned by light from a relatively narrow imperfection such as a scratch comprising the steps of: scanning the object in a given direction; causing the scan to continue in the same direction after an abrupt change in light level has been sensed; continuing to scan in the same direction when a second abrupt change in light level occurs in a sense opposite to the first abrupt change in light level within a predetermined scanning distance after the first abrupt change in light level has been sensed; and terminating the scan and indicating that the first abrupt change in light level which was sensed defines the position of an edge between relatively large light and dark areas, when after said abrupt change in light level has been sensed, no further abrupt change in light level occurs within said given scanning distance.