Patent US3762819A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3762819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical angle measuring system
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1971-08-12
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1991-08-12
Abstract
Abstract An optical system is disclosed for automatically measuring corner angles of graphic patterns. In a preferred embodiment, the image of a graphic pattern is illuminated by a light source, slowly rotated by a rotating K-mirror assembly and rapidly scanned by a rotating mirror drum which sequentially projects predetermined incremental portions of the graphic pattern through a slit into a light sensor for detection. An angle mark generator is utilized to generate angle marks as the K-mirror assembly rotates. A very steep transient pulse or wavefront is generated by the light sensor whenever either edge of the corner angle of the pattern is parallel to the slit. A digital processor is responsive to the steep transient pulses and the angle marks for detecting the angular difference, during one revolution of the image, between consecutive appearances of two steep transient pulses.
Inventors
- 👤 J Myer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/26; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/64; G02B27/642
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
An optical system for measuring a corner angle of a graphic pattern, said system having an optical axis and comprising: first means for causing light images of the graphic pattern to be developed; second means situated along the optical axis for rotating the light images of the graphic pattern about the optical axis; third means for repeatedly scanning sequences of incremental portions of each of the light images of the graphic pattern; fourth means responsive to the sequences of incremental portions being scanned by said third means for detecting first and second edges of the corner angle of each of the light images of the graphic pattern; fifth means coupled to said second means for generating angle marks; and sixth means, coupled to said fourth and fifth means, being responsive to the detected first and second edges and the angle marks for generating an output signal corresponding to the corner angle to be measured.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
An optical system for measuring a corner angle of a graphic pattern, said system having an optical axis and comprising: first means for causing light images of the graphic pattern to be developed; second means situated along the optical axis for rotating the light images of the graphic pattern about the optical axis; third means for repeatedly scanning sequences of incremental portions of each of the light images of the graphic pattern; fourth means responsive to the sequences of incremental portions being scanned by said third means for detecting first and second edges of the corner angle of each of the light images of the graphic pattern; fifth means coupled to said second means for generating angle marks; and sixth means, coupled to said fourth and fifth means, being responsive to the detected first and second edges and the angle marks for generating an output signal corresponding to the corner angle to be measured.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said second means comprises: a reflecting prism having the quality of internally reflecting the light images an odd number of times prior to emergence therefrom, said prism being axially aligned on the optical axis; and seventh means for rotating said prism about the optical axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said second means comprises: first reflector means situated along the optical axis at a first angle thereto for reflecting the light images of the graphic pattern in a first direction; second reflector means situated parallel to the optical axis for reflecting the light images reflected from said first reflector means in a second direction; third reflector means situated along the optical axis at a second angle thereto for reflecting the light images reflected from said second reflector mEans in a third direction; housing means for retaining said first, second and third reflector means in fixed positions relative to each other; and seventh means for rotating said housing means about the optical axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said third means comprises: a drum-shaped member having an external periphery, said member being rotated about its longitudinal axis at a faster rate than the light images of the graphic pattern are rotated around the optical axis by said second means; and a plurality of reflecting means selectively mounted on the external periphery of said drum-shaped member for sequentially reflecting incremental portions of each of the rotating light images of the graphic pattern into said fourth means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said fourth means comprises: an opaque mask having an aperture of a preselected configuration through which said third means scans the rotated light image; and a photomultiplier positioned adjacent to said opaque mask for detecting the first and second edges of each of the light images of the corner angle passing through the aperture of said mask.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 5 further including a lens positioned between said mask and said photomultiplier for focussing the scanned light images passing therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said fifth means comprises an angle mark generator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 further including seventh means coupled to said sixth means for indicating the corner angle of the graphic pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
121 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said sixth means comprises: eighth means coupled to said fourth means for developing first and second signals representative of the detected first and second edges respectively of the corner angle of the graphic pattern; ninth means coupled to said fifth means for counting the angle marks therefrom; and tenth means coupled to said eighth and ninth means for allowing said ninth means to start counting angle marks in response to one of the first and second signals and for stopping the angle mark count of said ninth means in response to the other one of the first and second signals in order to develop the output signal corresponding to the corner angle to be measured.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The system of claim 9 further including eleventh means for enabling said ninth means to count up to the output signal corresponding to the corner angle to be measured when said eighth means develops the first signal before the second signal, and for enabling said ninth means to count up to a signal corresponding to an angle equal to 180* and then to count down to the output signal whenever said eight means develops the second signal before the first signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said fifth means comprises an angle mark generator coupled to said ninth means for supplying angle marks thereto in response to the rotation of the light image by said second means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said fourth means comprises: an opaque mask having an aperture of a preselected configuration through which said third means scans each of the rotated light images; and a photomultiplier coupled to said eighth means and positioned adjacent to said opaque mask for supplying to said eighth means detected signals related to the first and second edges of the light images of the corner angle passing through the aperture of said mask.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 12 further including a lens positioned between said mask and said photomultiplier for focussing the scanned light images passing therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said third means comprises: a drum-shaped member having an external periphery, said member being rotated about its longitudinal axis at a faster rate than the light images of the graphic pattern are rotated around the optical axis by said second means; and a plurality of reflecting means selectively mounted on the external periphery of said drum-Shaped member for sequentially reflecting incremental portions of each of the rotating light images of the graphic pattern into said fourth means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said second means comprises: a reflecting prism having the quality of internally reflecting the light images an odd number of times prior to emergence therefrom, said prism being axially aligned on the optical axis; and seventh means for rotating said prism about the optical axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said second means comprises: first reflector means situated along the optical axis at a first angle thereto for reflecting the light images of the graphic pattern in a first direction; second reflector means situated parallel to the optical axis for reflecting the light images reflected from said first reflector means in a second direction; third reflector means situated along the optical axis at a second angle thereto for reflecting the light images reflected from said second reflector means in a third direction; housing means for retaining said first, second and third reflector means in fixed positions relative to each other; and seventh means for rotating said housing means about the optical axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |