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. 11, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 07, 2000
Ralf Grimme, Pleidelsheim, DE;
Bernhard Klumpp, Fellbach, DE;
Michael Hoffmann, Tamins, CH;
John David Smith, Cedar Creek, TX (US);
Abstract
The invention relates to a device ( ) suitable for controlling a surface ( ) of an object ( ), notably with respect to raised areas on said surface ( ). The device ( ) comprises a light source ( ) for generating a light beam ( ) directed towards the surface as well as a light sensor ( ) for detecting light scattered by a raised area on the surface ( ). The light beam ( ) generated by the light source ( ) is configured so as to scan the surface ( ) in such a way that the raised area on the surface scatters the light beam ( ). If there is no raised area the light beam ( ) undergoes ideally no, or else only slight, changes. The light sensor ( ) is arranged in such a way that at least part of the scattered light can be detected. In this manner it is possible to detect, for example, impurities on uneven or structured surfaces.