US6556783B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for three dimensional modeling of an object
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1999-06-01
•
Granted: 2003-04-29
•
Expires: 2019-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A topological panorama camera has a track or other system upon which a linescan camera can move in one, two or three dimensions while recording the image of an object. The path, speed, acceleration, scan rate and direction of the linescan camera can be controlled, as can the path, speed, acceleration and direction of the object. A pattern is projected onto an object of arbitrary shape and is imaged by the topological panorama camera in one or more passes. The image of the pattern received by the camera is analyzed to determine the exterior shape of the object.
Inventors
- 👤 Janet L. Gelphman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:14
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B37/00; G03B37/02; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of determining the shape of an object, comprising the steps of: scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object while projecting light on said object in a predetermined sequence to form a pattern on the object and recording an image of a reflection of said pattern received through said optical slit as the object is scanned; and analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of determining the shape of an object, comprising the steps of: scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object while projecting light on said object in a predetermined sequence to form a pattern on the object and recording an image of a reflection of said pattern received through said optical slit as the object is scanned; and analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said pattern includes a plurality of discernable sub-patterns and said step of analyzing said object includes the step of analyzing each of said sub-patterns to determine shape information at a corresponding area of the object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of analyzing each of said sub-patterns includes the step of determining a curvature at each corresponding area of said object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said step of analyzing each of said sub-patterns includes the step of determining an Euler's number at each corresponding area of said object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said step of analyzing each of said sub-patterns includes the step of determining an angle corresponding to the curvature at each corresponding area of said object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of analyzing each of said sub-patterns includes the step of determining a distance to each corresponding area of said object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of projecting light on said object comprises the step of projecting a plurality of light beams on said object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said step of projecting a plurality of light beams comprises the step of projecting a plurality of laser beams on said object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 and further comprising the step of storing said information in a file.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said scanning step comprises the steps of: scanning the object through an optical slit relative to a first plane of normal perspective which intersects said object in a first direction using relative motion between the slit and the object; and scanning the object through the optical slit relative to a second plane of normal perspective which intersects said object in a second direction using relative motion between the slit and the object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for determining the shape of an object, comprising: an image receiver for scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object; a light source for projecting light on said object in a predetermined sequence to form a pattern on the object; a memory for recording an image of a reflection of said pattern received through said optical slit as the object is scanned; and circuitry for analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for determining the shape of an object, comprising: an image receiver for scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object; a light source for projecting light on said object in a predetermined sequence to form a pattern on the object; a memory for recording an image of a reflection of said pattern received through said optical slit as the object is scanned; and circuitry for analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said pattern includes a plurality of discernable sub-patterns and said circuitry for analyzing said object includes the circuitry for analyzing each of said sub-patterns to determine shape information at a corresponding area of the object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said circuitry for analyzing each of said sub-patterns includes circuitry for determining a curvature at each corresponding area of said object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said circuitry for analyzing each of said sub-patterns includes circuitry for determining an Euler's number at each corresponding area of said object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said circuitry for analyzing each of said sub-patterns includes circuitry for determining an angle corresponding to the curvature at each corresponding area of said object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said circuitry for analyzing each of said sub-patterns includes circuitry for determining a distance to each corresponding area of said object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said circuitry for projecting light on said object comprises circuitry for projecting a plurality of light beams on said object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said circuitry for projecting a plurality of light beams comprises circuitry for projecting a plurality of laser beams on said object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 12 and further comprising circuitry for storing said information in a file.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said pattern is a grid.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of determining the shape of an object, comprising the steps of: scanning the object through an optical slit oriented in a first direction moving using relative motion in a second direction between the slit and the object; projecting a light pattern on said object during said relative motion, said light pattern forming demarcations of known dimension in said first direction on said object, said demarcations received through said optical slit; and analyzing said received demarcations to determine the shape of the object.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of determining the shape of an object, comprising the steps of: scanning the object through an optical slit oriented in a first direction moving using relative motion in a second direction between the slit and the object; projecting a light pattern on said object during said relative motion, said light pattern forming demarcations of known dimension in said first direction on said object, said demarcations received through said optical slit; and analyzing said received demarcations to determine the shape of the object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said projecting step comprises the step of projecting a light pattern from a light source adjacent said optical slit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said projecting step comprises the step of projecting a light pattern from a light source comprising a plurality of individual light emitters oriented in a line in said first direction, wherein ones of said individual light emitters can be selectively enabled independent of other of said individual light emitters.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for determining the shape of an object, comprising the steps of: a line scan camera for scanning the object through an optical slit oriented in a first direction moving using relative motion in a second direction between the slit and the object; a light source for projecting a light pattern on said object during said relative motion, said light pattern forming demarcations of known dimension in said first direction on said object, said demarcations received through said optical slit; and circuitry for analyzing said received demarcations to determine the shape of the object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for determining the shape of an object, comprising the steps of: a line scan camera for scanning the object through an optical slit oriented in a first direction moving using relative motion in a second direction between the slit and the object; a light source for projecting a light pattern on said object during said relative motion, said light pattern forming demarcations of known dimension in said first direction on said object, said demarcations received through said optical slit; and circuitry for analyzing said received demarcations to determine the shape of the object.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said light source is located adjacent to said line scan camera.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said light source comprises a plurality of individual light emitters oriented in a line in said first direction; and circuitry for selectively enabling ones of said light emitters independent of other of said individual light emitters.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said light emitters comprise lasers.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of determining the shape of an object, comprising the steps of: scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object along a path while generating a pattern on the object from multiple points along the path; recording an image of a reflection of said pattern through said optical slit; and analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of determining the shape of an object, comprising the steps of: scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object along a path while generating a pattern on the object from multiple points along the path; recording an image of a reflection of said pattern through said optical slit; and analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus for determining the shape of an object, comprising: an image receiver for scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object along a path while generating a pattern on the object from multiple points along the path; a memory for recording an image of a reflection of said pattern through said optical slit; and circuitry for analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus for determining the shape of an object, comprising: an image receiver for scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object along a path while generating a pattern on the object from multiple points along the path; a memory for recording an image of a reflection of said pattern through said optical slit; and circuitry for analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of determining the shape of an object, comprising the steps of: scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object along a path while generating a pattern on the object from a light source having a substantially fixed relation to the optical slit; recording an image of a reflection of said pattern through said optical slit; and analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of determining the shape of an object, comprising the steps of: scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object along a path while generating a pattern on the object from a light source having a substantially fixed relation to the optical slit; recording an image of a reflection of said pattern through said optical slit; and analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus for determining the shape of an object, comprising: an image receiver for scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object along a path while generating a pattern on the object from a light source having a substantially fixed relation to the optical slit; a memory for recording an image of a reflection of said pattern through said optical slit; and circuitry for analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus for determining the shape of an object, comprising: an image receiver for scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object along a path while generating a pattern on the object from a light source having a substantially fixed relation to the optical slit; a memory for recording an image of a reflection of said pattern through said optical slit; and circuitry for analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of determining the shape of an object, comprising the steps of: scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object along a path while generating a pattern of non-divergent segments on the object from a light source; recording an image of a reflection of said pattern through said optical slit; and analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of determining the shape of an object, comprising the steps of: scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object along a path while generating a pattern of non-divergent segments on the object from a light source; recording an image of a reflection of said pattern through said optical slit; and analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for determining the shape of an object, comprising: an image receiver for scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object along a path while generating a pattern of non-divergent segments on the object from a light source; a memory for recording an image of a reflection of said pattern through said optical slit; and circuitry for analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for determining the shape of an object, comprising: an image receiver for scanning the object through an optical slit moving using relative motion between the slit and the object along a path while generating a pattern of non-divergent segments on the object from a light source; a memory for recording an image of a reflection of said pattern through said optical slit; and circuitry for analyzing the geometric properties of the reflection of said pattern to determine the shape of said object.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4185913A
Cited
US4335962A
Cited
US5024529A
Cited
US4943821A
Cited
US5218427A
Cited
US5920735A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-04-28 | 2006-10-28 | 2007-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-28 | 2010-10-28 | 2011-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-28 | 2014-10-28 | 2015-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |