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:
Jul. 16, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 21, 2000
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A three-dimensional information measuring apparatus is provided, which uses a distance measuring sensor provided externally to an imaging lens. The apparatus enables three-dimensional data input of a small object and makes the influence of a misregistration between the imaging lens and a distance measuring sensor uniform. The apparatus includes a light irradiation device for irradiating a reference light beam to the object, a light reception device for receiving the reference light beam reflected by the object, so as to generate data that determine the position of the object. The apparatus also includes a distance measuring sensor for measuring the distance to the object and a lens controller for adjusting the focal point of an imaging lens in accordance with the output of the distance measuring sensor. The distance measuring sensor is arranged so that the measurement axis crosses the light reception axis of the imaging lens within the measurable distance range.