The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 10, 1996
Filed:
Oct. 24, 1994
Lawrence E Schmutz, Watertown, MA (US);
Adaptive Optics Associates, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
The present invention teaches a system for measuring the height of an object having an outer surface. The system comprises a system for generating an energy beam along a path, such as light, having a structured pattern, wherein the structured pattern of the energy beam irradiates the outer surface of the object. The structured light pattern comprises a constant dimension. The system further comprises a sensor for sensing the outer surface of the object irradiated by the structured pattern. Moreover, the system comprises a system for calculating the height of the object in response to the constant dimension of the structured pattern irradiating the outer surface of the object and sensed by the sensor. This system for calculating the height of the object preferably comprises a programmed computer containing a series of algorithmic steps for deriving a refined overall height profile of the object.