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:
Apr. 07, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 19, 1997
Byron G Zollars, Austin, TX (US);
Robert C Chin, Austin, TX (US);
Gary B McMillian, Austin, TX (US);
Tommy C Cruce, Leander, TX (US);
William H Hallidy, Austin, TX (US);
Systems & Processes Engineering Corporation, Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method for measuring the relative distance between different areas on a remote surface or displacements of a selected area of a remote surface with respect to a measuring apparatus are provided. A laser beam is modulated at an RF frequency and focused on a selected area. The selected area is scanned by movement of a mirror and at each selected area the phase difference is measured. Digital data processing of signals derived from the source and return beams is used to provide high precision. For detecting or measuring vibration or displacement, an analog signal is obtained from a low-pass filter.