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:
Mar. 04, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1994
Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
In an optically scanning displacement detector for determination of an object's profile, the detector comprises a light projecting unit for radiating a light beam on the object, a light receiving unit for receiving a reflected light beam from the object to output an object position signal, and a distance determining unit for determining a distance between the projecting unit and the object in accordance with the object position signal. The light projecting and receiving units are mounted in a carrier which is movably supported to a frame. The carrier can be moved in a scanning direction to scan the light beam across the object by the use of an electric motor such as a voice-coil linear motor. Since the present detector does not use a scanning mirror for deviating the light beam, the object's profile can be determined with improved accuracy of measurement, while preventing a formation of dead space in which the light beam can not be radiated during the scanning operation. The detector also comprises a carrier position sensor for determining a position of the carrier in the scanning direction, and a safeguard unit for sensing unusual operation of the motor to generate a stop signal, and stopping a supply of electric current to the motor in response to the stop signal.