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. 19, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1999
John Nazarian Pike, Pleasantville, NY (US);
Yogesh Mehrotra, Monroe, CT (US);
Herbert Kaplan, Norwalk, CT (US);
Materials Technologies Corporation, Monroe, CT (US);
Abstract
An apparatus (10) and method is provided for generating a 360.degree. view of a surface area of a three-dimensional object, such as a wire or cable, and for inspecting the surface area for flaws or imperfections. A receiving lens (12) defines an optical axis (14) extending through the object, and an origin (0) located on the optical axis within the object and spaced a predetermined distance (S) from the receiving lens (12), for generating a direct image of a front surface section of the object. A first mirror (16) is spaced a first predetermined distance (L1) from the origin (0) on another side of the object relative to the receiving lens (12) for generating a first mirror image of a first rear surface section of the object. A second mirror (18) is spaced a second predetermined distance (L2) from the origin (0) on another side of the object relative to the receiving lens (12), and on another side of the optical axis (14) relative to the first mirror, for generating a second mirror image of a second rear surface section of the object. The first and second mirror images are each defined in part by a first and second central ray (18, 22), respectively, and each central ray forms an angle of incidence (.theta.1, .theta.2) on the respective mirror. The first and second predetermined distances (L1, L2) and the angles of incidence (.theta.1, .theta.2) of the mirrors are each selected to simultaneously generate at least three spatially distinct, non-vignetting images forming a 360.degree. view of the surface area.