Optical non-contact measuring probe

Claim 2

An optical measuring probe for measuring distance to a reflective target, the probe comprising: a light source for projection of focused light rays onto the target, an optical element for transmitting light rays by total internal reflection, said optical element having a receiving end, an emitting end, and a longitudinal axis, said emitting end having an emitting face, said longitudinal axis at said receiving end in substantially parallel relation with and spaced from said focused rays of light, said receiving end having a receiving face substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis for receiving reflected rays of light from said focused rays of light incident on the target, said reflected rays of light incident on said receiving face forming an incident angle relative to said longitudinal axis at said receiving end, said reflected rays emerging from said emitting face forming an emerging angle relative to said longitudinal axis at said emitting end, and a light detector for measuring said emerging angle.

Claim 3

The optical measuring probe of claim 1 wherein: said light source includes a projecting fiber.

Claim 4

The optical measuring probe of claim 1 wherein: said light source includes a laser diode.

Claim 5

The optical measuring probe of claim 1 wherein: said light source includes a lens.

Claim 6

The optical measuring probe of claim 2 wherein: said light source includes a laser diode coupled with said projecting fiber.

Claim 7

The optical measuring probe of claim 5 wherein; said light source further includes a lens for focusing light rays onto said target.

Claim 8

The optical measuring probe of claim 1 wherein: said optical element comprises a receiving fiber.

Claim 9

The optical measuring probe of claim 7 wherein: said receiving fiber comprises a multi-mode optical fiber.

Claim 10

The optical measuring probe of claim 1 wherein: said light source includes a laser diode coupled with a lens for focusing light rays onto said target.

Claim 11

The optical measuring probe of claim 1 wherein: said light source includes a mirror for deflecting said focused rays of light.

Claim 12

The optical measuring probe of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of optical elements, and, at least one light detector for measuring said emerging angle at said emitting face of each of said optical elements.

Claim 13

The optical measuring probe of claim 1 wherein: said light detector includes a linear array.

Claim 14

The optical measuring probe of claim 12 wherein: said linear array is disposed in substantially perpendicular relation to said longitudinal axis at said emitting end, and said linear array is spaced from said emitting face.

Claim 15

The optical measuring probe of claim 1 wherein: said light detector includes a position sensitive detector.

Claim 16

The optical measuring probe of claim 13 wherein: said light source includes a probe face in substantially parallel relation with, and spaced a first known distance from said receiving end of said optical element ,and said linear array is spaced a second known distance from said emitting face of said emitting end of said optical element.

Claim 17

An optical measuring probe for measuring distance to a reflective target, the probe comprising: a laser diode for projecting rays of light, a lens for focusing rays of light onto the target, a receiving fiber for transmitting light rays by total internal reflection, said receiving fiber having a receiving end, an emitting end, and a longitudinal axis, said emitting end having an emitting face, said longitudinal axis at said receiving end in substantially parallel relation with and spaced from said focused rays of light, said receiving end having a receiving face for receiving reflected rays of light from said focused light rays incident on the target, said reflected rays incident on said receiving face forming an incident angle relative to said longitudinal axis at said receiving end, said reflected rays emerging from said emitting face forming an emerging angle relative to said longitudinal axis at said emitting end, and a linear array for measuring said emerging angle.

Claim 18

An optical measuring probe for measuring distance to a reflective target, the probe comprising: a laser diode for projecting rays of light, a lens for focusing rays of light onto the target, a receiving fiber for transmitting light rays by total internal reflection, said receiving fiber having a receiving end, an emitting end, and a longitudinal axis, said emitting end having an emitting face, said longitudinal axis at said receiving end in substantially parallel relation with and spaced from said focused rays of light, said receiving end having a receiving face for receiving reflected rays of light from said focused light rays incident on the target, said reflected rays incident on said receiving face forming an incident angle relative to said longitudinal axis at said receiving end, said reflected rays emerging from said emitting face forming an emerging angle relative to said longitudinal axis at said emitting end, and a linear array for measuring said emerging angle.

Claim 19

The optical measuring probe of claim 16 further comprising: a projecting fiber coupled with said laser diode.

Claim 20

An optical measuring probe for measuring distance to a reflective target, the probe comprising: a laser diode for projecting focused rays of light, a lens for focusing said focused rays of light onto the target, a receiving fiber for transmitting light rays by total internal reflection, said receiving fiber having a receiving end, an emitting end, and a longitudinal axis, said emitting end having an emitting face, said longitudinal axis at said receiving end in substantially parallel relation with and spaced from said focused rays of light, said receiving end having a receiving face for receiving reflected rays of light from said focused light rays incident on the target, said reflected rays incident on said receiving face forming an incident angle relative to said longitudinal axis at said receiving end, said reflected rays emerging from said emitting face forming an emerging angle relative to said longitudinal axis at said emitting end. a linear array for measuring said emerging angle, and a probe face in substantially parallel relation with said receiving end of said receiving fiber, whereby the distance between said probe face and the target is inversely proportional to said emerging angle.

Claim 21

An optical measuring probe for measuring distance to a reflective target, the probe comprising: a laser diode for projecting focused rays of light, a lens for focusing said focused rays of light onto the target, a receiving fiber for transmitting light rays by total internal reflection, said receiving fiber having a receiving end, an emitting end, and a longitudinal axis, said emitting end having an emitting face, said longitudinal axis at said receiving end in substantially parallel relation with and spaced from said focused rays of light, said receiving end having a receiving face for receiving reflected rays of light from said focused light rays incident on the target, said reflected rays incident on said receiving face forming an incident angle relative to said longitudinal axis at said receiving end, said reflected rays emerging from said emitting face forming an emerging angle relative to said longitudinal axis at said emitting end. a linear array for measuring said emerging angle, and a probe face in substantially parallel relation with said receiving end of said receiving fiber, whereby the distance between said probe face and the target is inversely proportional to said emerging angle.

Claim 24

The optical measuring probe of claim 1 wherein: said receiving face is disposed at a first angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, and said emitting end has an emitting face disposed at a second angle relative to said longitudinal axis, said second angle substantially equivalent to said first angle.

Claim 25

The optical measuring probe of claim 1 wherein: said optical element comprises a cylindrical optical fiber.

Claim 26

The optical measuring probe of claim 12 wherein: said emitting face is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at said emitting end, and said linear array is spaced from and substantially parallel to said emitting face.