US5289261A — Device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 173 words

A device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of a bent elongate member, comprising: a first image detector and a second image detector for detecting a two-dimensional image of said elongate member, supported on a planar surface, at measuring points of said elongate member, said first and second image detectors being located adjacent said planar surface and spaced from one another at predetermined positions; detected image computing means for computing a central line for each detected image of said elongate member from each two-dimensional image of said elongate member detected by said first and said second image detectors; and center line computing means for computing a first plane which includes the central line obtained from said first image detector and the position of said first image detector, and a second plane which includes the central line obtained from said second image detector and the position of said second image detector, whereby a center line for at least a portion of said elongate member is obtained by an intersection of said first and second planes.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 173 words

A device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of a bent elongate member, comprising: a first image detector and a second image detector for detecting a two-dimensional image of said elongate member, supported on a planar surface, at measuring points of said elongate member, said first and second image detectors being located adjacent said planar surface and spaced from one another at predetermined positions; detected image computing means for computing a central line for each detected image of said elongate member from each two-dimensional image of said elongate member detected by said first and said second image detectors; and center line computing means for computing a first plane which includes the central line obtained from said first image detector and the position of said first image detector, and a second plane which includes the central line obtained from said second image detector and the position of said second image detector, whereby a center line for at least a portion of said elongate member is obtained by an intersection of said first and second planes.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 45 words

A device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 1, wherein said planar surface comprises a frosted glass containing at least x and y coordinate indicia thereon and z coordinate being determined relative to said frosted glass planar surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 45 words

A device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 1, wherein a light source is positioned below and facing said planar surface to create projected images of said elongate member for detection by said first and second image detectors.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 85 words

A device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second image detectors each comprises: a scanner having at least one rotatable mirror; means for rotating said at least one rotatable mirror incrementally as desired; a two-dimensional image pickup element upon which said two-dimensional image is formed via a reflection from said rotatable mirror; and a lens positioned in a reflective path between said two-dimensional image pickup element and said at least one rotatable mirror.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

A device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 4, wherein said two-dimensional image pickup elements of said first and second image detectors each include means for converting the two-dimensional images into 512×512 pixels.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 66 words

A device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 4, wherein said two-dimensional image pickup elements of said first and second image detectors each include means for converting the two-dimensional images into 512×512 pixels, and each of the 512×512 pixels is converted by said means, according to each pixel's light quality, into an electric charge and output as image data.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 114 words

A device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second image detectors each comprise: a first scanner having a first rotatable mirror; first means for rotating said first rotatable mirror incrementally as desired; a second scanner having a second rotatable mirror which can detect an image reflected from the first mirror of said first scanner; second means for rotating said second rotatable mirror incrementally as desired; a two-dimensional image pickup element upon which said two-dimensional image is formed via a reflection from said second mirror; and a lens positioned in a reflective path between said two-dimensional image pickup element and said second mirror.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 68 words

A device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 1, further comprising a whole image detector positioned adjacent said first and second image detectors, said whole image detector comprising: a two-dimensional image pickup element for sensing an entire two-dimensional image of said elongate member; and a lens positioned in a reflective path between said two-dimensional image pickup element and said elongate member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 110 words

A device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 8, wherein a whole image detector and said first and second image detectors are connected to a control circuit, said control circuit comprising: a central processing unit; a random access memory; a read only memory; I/O circuit connected with a display; and a common bus interconnects the I/O circuit with the central processing unit, the random access memory, and the read only memory; and the central processing unit outputs to the display, employing programs and data stored in the random access memory and the read only memory, results of measurements received from the I/O circuit.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 199 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member having a plurality of substantially straight segments, each straight segment having a central point and end points, comprising the steps of: providing a first image detector and a second image detector for detecting a two-dimensional image of said elongate member, supported on a planar surface, at measuring points of said elongate member, said first and second image detectors being located adjacent said planar surface and spaced from one another at predetermined positions; providing a projected image computing means for computing a projected image on said planar surface and a central line for each projected image of said elongate member from each two-dimensional image of said elongate member detected by said first and said second image detectors; and providing center line computing means for computing a first plane which includes the central line obtained from said first image detector and the position of said first image detector, and a second plane which includes a central line obtained from said second image detector and the position of said second image detector, whereby a center line for said elongate member is obtained by an intersection of said first and second planes.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 199 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member having a plurality of substantially straight segments, each straight segment having a central point and end points, comprising the steps of: providing a first image detector and a second image detector for detecting a two-dimensional image of said elongate member, supported on a planar surface, at measuring points of said elongate member, said first and second image detectors being located adjacent said planar surface and spaced from one another at predetermined positions; providing a projected image computing means for computing a projected image on said planar surface and a central line for each projected image of said elongate member from each two-dimensional image of said elongate member detected by said first and said second image detectors; and providing center line computing means for computing a first plane which includes the central line obtained from said first image detector and the position of said first image detector, and a second plane which includes a central line obtained from said second image detector and the position of said second image detector, whereby a center line for said elongate member is obtained by an intersection of said first and second planes.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of converting the data into binary code according to a predetermined threshold value.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 60 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of detecting a whole image of said elongate member using a whole image detector and converting that information into binary code, and detecting central points and end points from an outline of said whole image using the whole image detector.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 55 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of arranging scanners within said first and second image detectors and rotating said scanners until a projected image of said elongate member corresponds to a center of one of said first and second image detectors.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of generating enlarge image data and converting the enlarge image data into binary code.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 75 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of computing a first plane which includes the central line obtained from said first image detector and the position of said first image detector, and a second plane which includes a central line obtained from said second image detector and the position of said second image detector, for each central line of said elongate member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of computing end points for said elongate member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of resolving said two-dimensional images which are formed on two dimensional image pickup elements within said first and second image detectors into 512×512 pixels.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of converting each of said 512×512 pixels into an electric charge, according to the pixel's light quality, and outputting the electric charges as image data.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 10, wherein the scanning is accomplished by rotating a rotatable mirror to perceive a projected image of said elongate member and reflecting the projected image onto a two-dimensional image pickup element.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 71 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 10, further comprising the steps of calibrating the position of the first image detector and the second image detector prior use; illuminating said planar surface, prior to scanning, to form a projected image of the elongate member on said planar surface; and displaying data on a display which represents the shape of the three-dimensional elongate member.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 157 words

A method of measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member as recited in claim 10, further comprising the steps of scanning with the first and second image detectors until central points of the projected image correspond to central points of two-dimensional images within the first and second image detectors and recording data indicative of the central points; computing each central line of projected images of said elongate member from each of said two-dimensional images of the elongate member detected by said first image detector and said second image detector; and computing a first plane which includes the central line obtained from said first image detector and the position of said first image detector, and a second plane which includes a central line obtained from said second image detector and the position of said second image detector for each central line of said elongate member; and displaying data which represents the shape of the three-dimensional elongate member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-02-21	1997-08-23	1998-02-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-02-21	2001-08-23	2002-02-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-02-21	2005-08-23	2006-02-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Device for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an elongate member

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