Patent US5114230A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5114230A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electro-optical inspection
Assignee: Sensor Adaptive Machines Inc
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Filing: 1990-01-03
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Granted: 1992-05-19
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Expires: 2010-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for inspecting workpieces for rapid and accurate determination of dimensions and the like. The equipment is electro-optical in nature and there is no contact between the inspecting elements and the workpiece under inspection. An electro-optical sensor is utilized which includes a light source for illuminating at least one edge of a workpiece, a lens for forming an image of the illuminated edge, and an array of photosensitive elements, such a photodiodes, capable of producing an electrical signal in response to light incident thereon. The light, including the edge image, is impinged upon the array and the electrical signals produced correspond to the portion of the edge, its shape, etc. The signals can be rapidly analyzed to provide a determination of a dimension such as length, squareness, curvature, and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy R. Pryor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/24; G01B11/2433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
Apparatus for simultaneously determining two dimensions of a workpiece comprising: an inspection station; electro-optical sensor means for generating a first set of signals indicative of two dimensions of the workpiece in said inspection station and for generating a second set of signals indicative of a two dimensional position of the workpiece in said inspection station; and means for analyzing said first and second sets of signals to determine the two dimensions of said workpiece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus for simultaneously determining two dimensions of a workpiece comprising: an inspection station; electro-optical sensor means for generating a first set of signals indicative of two dimensions of the workpiece in said inspection station and for generating a second set of signals indicative of a two dimensional position of the workpiece in said inspection station; and means for analyzing said first and second sets of signals to determine the two dimensions of said workpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising physical means for constraining the workpiece in said inspection station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electro-optical sensor means comprises: light source means for illuminating the workpiece in said inspection station; a single lens for forming images of a plurality of illuminated portions of the illuminated workpiece; and light detector means comprising a plurality of discrete photodetectors capable of generating said first and second sets of signals in response to light incident thereon, each photodetector being positioned to receive from said single lens an image of a respective illuminated portion of the illuminated workpiece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electro-optical sensor means comprises: light source means for illuminating the workpiece in said inspection station; a single lens for forming images of a plurality of illuminated portions of the illuminated workpiece; light detector means comprising a first set of discrete photodetectors capable of generating said first set of signals in response to light incident thereon and a second set of discrete photodetectors capable of generating said second set of signals in response to light incident thereon, each photodetector being positioned to receive from said single lens an image of a respective illuminated portion of the illuminated workpiece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electro-optical sensor means comprises means for illuminating the workpiece in said inspection station, a single lens for forming images of a plurality of illuminated portions of the illuminated workpiece, and photodetector means for generating said first and second sets of signals, said photodetector means comprising a plurality of photodetectors positioned to detect from said single lens the images of the illuminated portions of the illuminated workpiece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a plurality of said photodetectors are positioned adjacent to an illuminated side of said workpiece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for mounting said electro-optical sensor means in fixed position at said inspection station, said position being such that a workpiece can be moved into and out of said inspection station without repositioning said electro-optical sensor means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of simultaneously determining two dimensions of a workpiece comprising: providing the workpiece in an inspection station; electro-optically generating a first set of signals indicative of two dimensions of said workpiece in said inspection station and a second set of signals indicative of a two dimensional position of said workpiece in said inspection station; and analyzing said first and second sets of signals to determine the two dimensions of said workpiece.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of simultaneously determining two dimensions of a workpiece comprising: providing the workpiece in an inspection station; electro-optically generating a first set of signals indicative of two dimensions of said workpiece in said inspection station and a second set of signals indicative of a two dimensional position of said workpiece in said inspection station; and analyzing said first and second sets of signals to determine the two dimensions of said workpiece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 8 further comprising physically constraining the workpiece in said inspection station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said electro-optical signal generating step comprises: illuminating the workpiece in said inspection station; forming images of a plurality of illuminated portions of the illuminated workpiece with a single lens; and providing light detector means comprising a plurality of discrete photodetectors capable of generating said first and second sets of signals in response to light incident thereon, each photodetector being positioned to receive from the single lens an image of a respective illuminated portion of the workpiece.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said electro-optical signal generating step comprises: illuminating the workpiece in said inspection station; forming images of a plurality of illuminated portions of the illuminated workpiece with a single lens; providing light detector means comprising a first set of discrete photodetectors capable of generating said first set of signals in response to light incident thereon and a second set of discrete photodetectors capable of generating said second set of signals in response to light incident thereon, each photodetector being positioned to receive from the single lens an image of a respective illuminated portion of the workpiece.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said electro-optical signal generating step comprises illuminating the workpiece in said inspection station, forming images of a plurality of illuminated portions of the illuminated workpiece with a single lens, and providing photodetector means for generating said first and second sets of signals, said photodetector means comprising a plurality of photodetectors positioned to detect from said single lens the images of the illuminated portions of the illuminated workpiece.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein a plurality of said photodetectors are positioned adjacent to an illuminated side of said workpiece.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the generating step includes mounting of an electro-optical sensor means in fixed position at said inspection station, and moving the workpiece into and out of said inspection station without repositioning said electro-optical sensor means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-19 | 1995-11-18 | 1996-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-19 | 1999-11-18 | 2000-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-19 | 2003-11-18 | 2004-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |