Method for measuring a three-dimensional position of an object

Claim 1

A method for measuring a three-dimensional position of an object, comprising the steps of: irradiating the surface of the object with a multiplanar light beam comprising a plurality of planar light beams which exist in respective planes having a predetermined relative relationship and defining parallel luminance lines in a plane including the surface of the object and corresponding to a predetermined coordinate direction thereby to produce a corresponding plurality of planar light beam projected images of the surface of the object; irradiating the surface of the object with a single standard planar light beam which exists in a plane common to one of the planes of the multiplanar light beam and produces a corresponding luminance line on the surface of the object thereby to produce a corresponding, single standard planar light beam projected image of the surface of the object; obtaining a plurality of planar light beam photo images corresponding to the plurality of planar light beam projected images; obtaining a single standard planar light beam photo image corresponding to the single standard planar light beam projected image; identifying a specific one of the plurality of planar light beam photo images which corresponds to the single standard planar light beam photo image; determining the correspondence between the plural planar light beam photo images and the respective planes of the plural planar light beams of the multiplanar light beam on the basis of the relative positions of the identified, specific planar light beam photo image and the remaining planar light beam photo images of the plurality thereof formed by the multiplanar light beam; and computing the three-dimensional position of the object in the predetermined coordinate on the basis of the relative positions of the respective, plural planar light beam photo images and the respective planes thereof, as determined theretofore to correspond to the respective planar light beam photo images.

Claim 2

A method for measuring a three-dimensional position of an object, comprising the steps of: irradiating the surface of the object with a multiplanar light beam comprising a plurality of planar light beams which exist in respective planes having a predetermined relative relationship and defining parallel luminance lines in a plane including the surface of the object and corresponding to a predetermined coordinate direction thereby to produce a corresponding plurality of planar light beam projected images of the surface of the object; irradiating the surface of the object with a single standard planar light beam which exists in a plane common to one of the planes of the multiplanar light beam and produces a corresponding luminance line on the surface of the object thereby to produce a corresponding, single standard planar light beam projected image of the surface of the object; obtaining a plurality of planar light beam photo images corresponding to the plurality of planar light beam projected images; obtaining a single standard planar light beam photo image corresponding to the single standard planar light beam projected image; identifying a specific one of the plurality of planar light beam photo images which corresponds to the single standard planar light beam photo image; determining the correspondence between the plural planar light beam photo images and the respective planes of the plural planar light beams of the multiplanar light beam on the basis of the relative positions of the identified, specific planar light beam photo image and the remaining planar light beam photo images of the plurality thereof formed by the multiplanar light beam; and computing the three-dimensional position of the object in the predetermined coordinate on the basis of the relative positions of the respective, plural planar light beam photo images and the respective planes thereof, as determined theretofore to correspond to the respective planar light beam photo images.

Claim 15

A device for emitting multiplanar light beams comprising: means for generating a single wavelength, parallel light beam defining an optical axis; first and second diffraction gratings positioned in the path of the parallel light beam with the respective gratings thereof in mutually perpendicular relationship and both transverse to the optical axis, the first grating receiving the parallel light beam and producing a linear array of optical spots parallel to the direction of diffraction of the second diffraction grating; a cylindrical lens having a longitudinal axis and positioned along the optical axis with the longitudinal axis thereof parallel to the direction of diffraction of one of the diffraction gratings; the said one of the diffraction gratings having a first, diffraction grating portion and a second, non-grating diffraction portion in contiguous edge-to-edge relationship and positioned on the optical axis such that the optical spots of the diffracted light beam produced by the first diffraction grating are incident in part on the diffraction grating portion and in part on the non-diffraction grating portion of the second diffraction grating, the non-diffraction grating portion transmitting the part of the optical spots of the diffracted beam incident thereon directly therethrough and without diffraction thereof.

Claim 16

A device for emitting multiplanar light beams comprising: means for generating a single wavelength, parallel light beam defining an optical axis; first and second diffraction gratings positioned in the path of the parallel light beam with the respective gratings thereof in mutually perpendicular relationship and both transverse to the optical axis, the first grating receiving the parallel light beam and producing a linear array of optical spots parallel to the direction of diffraction of the second diffraction grating; a cylindrical lens having a longitudinal axis and positioned along the optical axis with the longitudinal axis thereof parallel to the direction of diffraction of one of the diffraction gratings; the said one of the diffraction gratings having a first, diffraction grating portion and a second, non-grating diffraction portion in contiguous edge-to-edge relationship and positioned on the optical axis such that the optical spots of the diffracted light beam produced by the first diffraction grating are incident in part on the diffraction grating portion and in part on the non-diffraction grating portion of the second diffraction grating, the non-diffraction grating portion transmitting the part of the optical spots of the diffracted beam incident thereon directly therethrough and without diffraction thereof.

Claim 20

A device for emitting multiplanar light beams comprising: means for generating a single wavelength, parallel light beam defining an optical axis; first and second diffraction gratings positioned in the path of the parallel light beam with the respective gratings thereof in mutually perpendicular relationship and both transverse to the optical axis; a cylindrical lens having a longitudinal axis and positioned in the path of the parallel light beam and with the longitudinal axis thereof parallel to the direction of diffraction of one of the diffraction gratings; the second diffraction grating having a first, grating portion and a second, non-grating portion in contiguous, edge-to-edge relationship and with the contiguous edge of the diffraction grating portion thereof positioned on the optical axis; the lens and the first and second diffraction gratings being positioned in a selected succession along the optical axis and together forming, from the light beam generated from the generating means, a plurality of parallel light beams; and a shutter positioned on the optical axis, operable selectively between a partially closed, selective light beam blocking position and an open, light beam transmitting and non-blocking position, the light beam passing through the shutter means in its open position and the device thereby emitting plural parallel planar light beams and the light beam being selectively blocked by the shutter means in its blocking position and the device thereby emitting a single planar light beam for use as a standard single planar light beam.

Claim 21

A device for emitting multiplanar light beams comprising: means for generating a single wavelength, parallel light beam defining an optical axis; first and second diffraction gratings positioned in the path of the parallel light beam with the respective gratings thereof in mutually perpendicular relationship and both transverse to the optical axis; a cylindrical lens having a longitudinal axis and positioned in the path of the parallel light beam and with the longitudinal axis thereof parallel to the direction of diffraction of one of the diffraction gratings; the second diffraction grating having a first, grating portion and a second, non-grating portion in contiguous, edge-to-edge relationship and with the contiguous edge of the diffraction grating portion thereof positioned on the optical axis; the lens and the first and second diffraction gratings being positioned in a selected succession along the optical axis and together forming, from the light beam generated from the generating means, a plurality of parallel light beams; and a shutter positioned on the optical axis, operable selectively between a partially closed, selective light beam blocking position and an open, light beam transmitting and non-blocking position, the light beam passing through the shutter means in its open position and the device thereby emitting plural parallel planar light beams and the light beam being selectively blocked by the shutter means in its blocking position and the device thereby emitting a single planar light beam for use as a standard single planar light beam.