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.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 05, 2010

Filed:

Sep. 17, 2007
Applicants:

Eric G. Gesner, Webster, NY (US);

David B. Kay, Rochester, NY (US);

Inventors:

Eric G. Gesner, Webster, NY (US);

David B. Kay, Rochester, NY (US);

Assignee:
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01C 3/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A distance detecting arrangement employs at least two sensors having different ranges and resolutions of operation. Embodiments disclosed contemplate at least four modes of operation. In a first mode, only one sensor is employed. In a second mode, a longer range and lower resolution sensor is employed until a threshold value of distance is reached, at which point a shorter range and higher resolution sensor is employed. In a third mode, both the longer range and shorter range sensors are employed simultaneously. In a fourth mode, a low resolution profile is used to rescan the object with the high resolution sensor to provide a high resolution profile measurement. Embodiments facilitate the method disclosed by including a beam redirecting apparatus and preferably include a servo position system that can move the sensors and the object relative to each other.


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