US6044288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for determining the perimeter of the surface of an object being scanned
Assignee: Imaging Diagnostic Systems Inc
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Filing: 1997-11-06
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Granted: 2000-03-28
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Expires: 2017-11-06
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for determining the perimeter of an object being scanned comprises a scanning chamber for receiving therein an object being scanned; a source of laser beam disposed within the scanning chamber for impinging on the object being scanned, the laser beam being adapted to orbit around the object; an array of sensors disposed within the chamber, each of the sensors being adapted to detect light emanating from the surface of the object due to the laser beam exiting from the object; and each of the sensors being disposed such that at least only one of the sensors generates a peak response to light emanating from a point on the surface at a predetermined distance from a reference point, such that at each angular position of the laser beam in the orbit, a specific point at a distance from the reference is determined, thereby to generate a set of points representing the perimeter of the surface after a complete orbit.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert H. Wake
- 👤 Richard J. Grable
- 👤 David P. Rohler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0062; A61B5/0064; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0091; A61B5/103; A61B5/107; A61B5/1077; A61B5/43; A61B5/4306; A61B5/4312
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for determining the perimeter of an object being scanned, comprising: a) a scanning chamber for receiving therein an object being scanned; b) a laser beam disposed within said scanning chamber for impinging on the object being scanned, said laser beam for orbiting around the object; c) an array of sensors disposed within said chamber, each of said sensors for detecting light emanating from the surface of the object due to said laser beam impinging on the object; d) each of said sensors being disposed such that one of said sensors generates a peak response to light emanating from a point on the surface at a predetermined distance from a reference point, such that at each angular position of said laser beam in the orbit, a specific point at a distance from the reference is determined, thereby to generate a set of points representing the perimeter of the surface after a complete orbit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for determining the perimeter of an object being scanned, comprising: a) a scanning chamber for receiving therein an object being scanned; b) a laser beam disposed within said scanning chamber for impinging on the object being scanned, said laser beam for orbiting around the object; c) an array of sensors disposed within said chamber, each of said sensors for detecting light emanating from the surface of the object due to said laser beam impinging on the object; d) each of said sensors being disposed such that one of said sensors generates a peak response to light emanating from a point on the surface at a predetermined distance from a reference point, such that at each angular position of said laser beam in the orbit, a specific point at a distance from the reference is determined, thereby to generate a set of points representing the perimeter of the surface after a complete orbit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, and further comprising: a) a diverging lens disposed in front of said sensors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: a) said laser beam is directed through a axis of the orbit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: a) said sensors are disposed on the same side of the object being scanned as said source of laser beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein: a) said sensors are disposed such as to detect light reflected from a point on the surface at which said laser beam impinges the surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: a) said sensors are CCD optical sensors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: a) said sensors include photodiodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: a) said sensors include phototransistors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: a) said sensors include avalanche photodiodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: a) said sensors include photoresistive sensors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: a) said sensors include photoelectric sensors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: a) said sensors are disposed opposite said laser beam across the object being scanned.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein: a) said sensors are disposed to detect light along a tangent line to a point on the surface and a point behind said sensors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein: a) said sensors are disposed opposite said laser beam on a line through a center of the orbit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein: a) said sensors are disposed on a linear array; and b) said array is disposed transversely to said line through the center of the orbit.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for determining the perimeter of an object being scanned, comprising: a) providing a laser beam; b) directing the laser beam toward the object being scanned; c) orbiting the laser beam around the object; d) providing a plurality of sensors for detecting light emanating from the surface due to the laser beam impinging on the object; e) detecting at each angular position of the orbit light emanating from the surface of the object at a unique one of the sensors for each point on the surface at a predetermined specific distance from a reference point such that a collection of points from the surface are generated during a complete orbit of the laser beam; f) determining the perimeter of the object from the collection of points.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for determining the perimeter of an object being scanned, comprising: a) providing a laser beam; b) directing the laser beam toward the object being scanned; c) orbiting the laser beam around the object; d) providing a plurality of sensors for detecting light emanating from the surface due to the laser beam impinging on the object; e) detecting at each angular position of the orbit light emanating from the surface of the object at a unique one of the sensors for each point on the surface at a predetermined specific distance from a reference point such that a collection of points from the surface are generated during a complete orbit of the laser beam; f) determining the perimeter of the object from the collection of points.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 16, and further comprising the step of: a) positioning the sensors on the same side of the object being scanned as the laser beam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 16, and further comprising the step of: a) positioning the sensors opposite the laser beam across the other side of the object being scanned.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus for determining the perimeter of an object being scanned, comprising: a) a scanning chamber for receiving therein an object being scanned; b) a laser beam disposed within said scanning chamber for impinging on the object being scanned, said laser beam for orbiting around the object; c) a linear array of sensors disposed within said chamber, each of said sensors for detecting light reflecting from the surface of the object due to said laser beam impinging on the object; and d) each of said sensors being disposed such that one of said sensors generates a peak response to light emanating from a point on the surface at a predetermined distance from a reference point, such that at each angular position of said laser beam in the orbit, a specific point at a distance from the reference is determined, thereby to generate a set of points representing the perimeter of the surface after a complete orbit.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus for determining the perimeter of an object being scanned, comprising: a) a scanning chamber for receiving therein an object being scanned; b) a laser beam disposed within said scanning chamber for impinging on the object being scanned, said laser beam for orbiting around the object; c) a linear array of sensors disposed within said chamber, each of said sensors for detecting light reflecting from the surface of the object due to said laser beam impinging on the object; and d) each of said sensors being disposed such that one of said sensors generates a peak response to light emanating from a point on the surface at a predetermined distance from a reference point, such that at each angular position of said laser beam in the orbit, a specific point at a distance from the reference is determined, thereby to generate a set of points representing the perimeter of the surface after a complete orbit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-28 | 2003-09-27 | 2004-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-28 | 2007-09-27 | 2008-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-28 | 2011-09-27 | 2012-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |