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. 11, 2006
Filed:
May. 16, 2001
Kurt Hecht, Hartsville, PA (US);
Thomas J. Brobst, Allentown, PA (US);
Ronald C. Wurz, Perkasie, PA (US);
Kurt Hecht, Hartsville, PA (US);
Thomas J. Brobst, Allentown, PA (US);
Ronald C. Wurz, Perkasie, PA (US);
Accu-Sort Systems, Inc., Hatfield, PA (US);
Abstract
An optical scanning apparatus and method for scanning a surface of an object is provided. The scanner has an image sensor having a sensor plane and an image data output. An optics system defines an optical path having an axis and a first end whereat a scan object surface is locatable for scanning and a second end at the sensing plane. Preferably, the optics system includes a lens subsystem and a movable mirror for adjusting the length of the optical path. A linear actuator is coupled to the mirror such that movement of the mirror adjusts the focus of an optical image on the image sensor. A linear actuator is also operatively coupled to the image sensor to control the orientation of the plane of the image sensor relative to the optical path axis. When a scan object surface is located at the first end of the optical path at an orientation skewed from a plane orthogonal with the optical path axis at the first path end, the linear actuator orients the sensor plane to a corresponding skewed orientation relative to a plane orthogonal with the optical path axis at the second path end.