US4929846A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface quality analyzer apparatus and method
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1988-10-05
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Granted: 1990-05-29
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Expires: 2008-10-05
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for measuring the quality of a finished surface by projecting a pair of parallel light beams onto the surface and reflecting the beams onto an image screen where they are electronically recorded and analyzed.
Inventors
- 👤 Tahir M. Mansour
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:16
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/30; G01B11/303
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for simultaneously projecting a pair of light beams onto a test surface and imaging the reflected beams or quality analysis, comprising means for generating a collimated beam of monochromatic light energy; means for diverging said collimated beam in a single plane, splitting said diverging beam into at least one pair of beams and directing said beams towards said test surface; means providing a housing for mounting said generating means and said diverging, splitting and directing means in a predetermined orientation and including an opening through which said beams can impinge upon a test surface located adjacent said housing; screen means located within said housing for imaging the monochromatic light reflected from said test surface; and means for recording the images on said screen means and analyzing the recorded images to categorize the quality of the test surface against predetermined levels of quality.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for simultaneously projecting a pair of light beams onto a test surface and imaging the reflected beams or quality analysis, comprising means for generating a collimated beam of monochromatic light energy; means for diverging said collimated beam in a single plane, splitting said diverging beam into at least one pair of beams and directing said beams towards said test surface; means providing a housing for mounting said generating means and said diverging, splitting and directing means in a predetermined orientation and including an opening through which said beams can impinge upon a test surface located adjacent said housing; screen means located within said housing for imaging the monochromatic light reflected from said test surface; and means for recording the images on said screen means and analyzing the recorded images to categorize the quality of the test surface against predetermined levels of quality.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said generating means is a laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said diverging, splitting and directing means includes a cylindrical lens located in the path of said beam from said laser, a partially reflective mirror to reflect a first portion and to transmit a second portion of said diverging beam from said cylindrical lens, and a reflective mirror to reflect said second portion of said diverging beam transmitted by said partially reflective mirror in a plane substantially parallel said first portion reflected by said partially reflective mirror.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said diverging beams are of distinguishably different intensity levels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said diverging beams in said parallel planes are each incident on said test surface at an acute angle as parallel lines of light energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said screen means is an opaque planar surface having light dispersion characteristics and being substantially nonabsorbent of the light energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said parallel lines of light energy are of different and distinguishable levels.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for simultaneously projecting a pair of light beams onto a test surface and imaging the reflected beams for quality analysis, comprising: means defining a substantially light-tight housing with a single opening for placement onto a test surface; means within said housing for directing a pair of monochromatic light beams in parallel lines through said opening to be incident on said test surface; dispersion means within said housing for providing an image of the monochromatic light beams reflected from said test surface; and means for converting said images present on said dispersion means to electronic signals suitable for comparison in an associated analyzer.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for simultaneously projecting a pair of light beams onto a test surface and imaging the reflected beams for quality analysis, comprising: means defining a substantially light-tight housing with a single opening for placement onto a test surface; means within said housing for directing a pair of monochromatic light beams in parallel lines through said opening to be incident on said test surface; dispersion means within said housing for providing an image of the monochromatic light beams reflected from said test surface; and means for converting said images present on said dispersion means to electronic signals suitable for comparison in an associated analyzer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said beams are directed through said opening in parallel planes each incident on said test surface at an acute angle as parallel lines of light energy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said parallel lines of light energy are of different and distinguishable levels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said dispersion means is an opaque planar surface having light dispersion characteristics and being substantially nonabsorbent of the light energy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said converting means comprises a video camera mounted on said housing and focused on said dispersion means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for projecting a pair of parallel line light beams onto a coated test surface and imaging the reflected beams for quality analysis, comprising: means defining a substantially light-tight housing with a single opening for placement onto a coated test surface; means within said housing for directing a pair of monochromatic light beams along parallel planes through said opening to be incident as a pair of parallel line light beams on said coated test surface; dispersion means within said housing for providing an image of the monochromatic light beams reflected from said coated test surface; and means for converting said images present on said dispersion means to electronic signals suitable for comparison in an associated analyzer.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for projecting a pair of parallel line light beams onto a coated test surface and imaging the reflected beams for quality analysis, comprising: means defining a substantially light-tight housing with a single opening for placement onto a coated test surface; means within said housing for directing a pair of monochromatic light beams along parallel planes through said opening to be incident as a pair of parallel line light beams on said coated test surface; dispersion means within said housing for providing an image of the monochromatic light beams reflected from said coated test surface; and means for converting said images present on said dispersion means to electronic signals suitable for comparison in an associated analyzer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said test surface is coated with a layer of material that may have varying dispersion properties that affect the images reflected therefrom.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said beams are directed through said opening in parallel planes each incident on said test surface at an acute angle, as parallel lines of light energy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said screen means is an opaque planar surface having light dispersion characteristics and being substantially nonabsorbent of the light energy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said converting means comprises a video camera mounted on said housing and focused on said dispersion means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said parallel lines of light energy are of different and distinguishable levels.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of simultaneously projecting a pair of light beams onto a test surface and imaging the reflected beams for quality analysis, comprising the steps: generating a collimated beam of monochromatic light energy; diverging said collimated beam in a single plane, splitting said diverging beam into at least one pair of beams and directing said beams towards said test surface; providing a test surface in the path of said pair of beams; imaging the monochromatic light reflected from said test surface onto a screen; and recording the images on said screen and analyzing the recorded images to categorize the quality of the test surface against predetermined levels of quality.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of simultaneously projecting a pair of light beams onto a test surface and imaging the reflected beams for quality analysis, comprising the steps: generating a collimated beam of monochromatic light energy; diverging said collimated beam in a single plane, splitting said diverging beam into at least one pair of beams and directing said beams towards said test surface; providing a test surface in the path of said pair of beams; imaging the monochromatic light reflected from said test surface onto a screen; and recording the images on said screen and analyzing the recorded images to categorize the quality of the test surface against predetermined levels of quality.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 19, wherein said collimated beam of monochromatic light energy is generated by a laser.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method as in claim 20, wherein said steps of diverging, splitting and directing includes the use of a cylindrical lens located in the path of said beam from said laser, a partially reflective mirror to reflect a first portion and to transmit a second portion of said diverging beam from said cylindrical lens, and a fully reflective mirror to reflect said second portion of said diverging beam transmitted by said partially reflective mirror in a plane substantially parallel said first portion reflected by said partially reflective mirror.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 21, wherein said pair of light beams are of distinguishably different intensity levels.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 21, wherein said diverging beams in said parallel planes are each incident on said test surface at an acute angle, as parallel lines of light energy.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 23, wherein said screen is provided as an opaque planar surface having light dispersion characteristics substantially nonabsorbent of the light energy.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 23, wherein said parallel lines of light energy are of different and distinguishable levels.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of projecting a pair of light beams onto a test surface and imaging the reflected beams for quality analysis, comprising the following steps of: defining a substantially light-tight housing with a single opening for placement onto a test surface; within said housing, directing a pair of monochromatic light beams in parallel lines through said opening to be incident on said test surface; providing an image of the monochromatic light beams reflected from said test surface; and converting said images to electronic signals suitable for comparison in an associated analyzer.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of projecting a pair of light beams onto a test surface and imaging the reflected beams for quality analysis, comprising the following steps of: defining a substantially light-tight housing with a single opening for placement onto a test surface; within said housing, directing a pair of monochromatic light beams in parallel lines through said opening to be incident on said test surface; providing an image of the monochromatic light beams reflected from said test surface; and converting said images to electronic signals suitable for comparison in an associated analyzer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 26, wherein said beams are directed through said opening in parallel planes each incident on said test surface at an acute angle, as parallel lines of light energy.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 27, wherein said parallel lines of light energy are of different and distinguishable levels.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as in claim 27, wherein said image is protected by placing a screen having an opaque planar surface with light dispersion characteristics and being substantially nonabsorbent of the light energy in the path of light beams reflected from said test surface.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 29, wherein a video camera is mounted on said housing and focused on said dispersion means to convert said images to said electronic signals.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of projecting a pair of parallel line light beams onto a coated test surface and imaging the reflected beams for quality analysis, comprising the steps of: defining a substantially light-tight housing with a single opening for placement onto a coated test surface; directing a pair of monochromatic light beams within said housing along parallel planes through said opening to be incident as a pair of parallel line light beams on said coated test surface; providing an image within said housing of the monochromatic light beams reflected from said coated test surface; and converting said images present on said dispersion means to electronic signals suitable for comparison in an associated analyzer.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of projecting a pair of parallel line light beams onto a coated test surface and imaging the reflected beams for quality analysis, comprising the steps of: defining a substantially light-tight housing with a single opening for placement onto a coated test surface; directing a pair of monochromatic light beams within said housing along parallel planes through said opening to be incident as a pair of parallel line light beams on said coated test surface; providing an image within said housing of the monochromatic light beams reflected from said coated test surface; and converting said images present on said dispersion means to electronic signals suitable for comparison in an associated analyzer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 31, wherein said test surface is coated with a layer of material that may have varying dispersion properties that affect the images reflected therefrom.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 32, wherein said beams are directed through said opening in parallel planes each incident on said test surface at an acute angle, as parallel lines of light energy.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 33, wherein said image is provided by a screen which is an opaque planar surface having light dispersion characteristics and being substantially nonabsorbent of the light energy.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 34, wherein said step of converting utilizes a video camera mounted on said housing and focused on said dispersion means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 33, wherein said parallel lines of light energy are of different and distinguishable levels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-28 | 1993-11-27 | 1994-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-28 | 1997-11-27 | 1998-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-28 | 2001-11-27 | 2002-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |