Method and apparatus for determining the position of a feature of an object

Patent 4744664 Issued on May 17, 1988. Estimated Expiration Date:

June 3, 2006. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Recognition device for recognizing the shape and the position of an object
Patent #: 4136957
Issued on: 01/30/1979
Inventor: Uno , et al.

Arrangement for sensing the characteristics of a surface and determining the position of points thereon Patent #: 4508452
Issued on: 04/02/1985
Inventor: DiMatteo , et al.

Inventors

Assignee

Mechanical Technology Incorporated

Application

No. 06/870233 filed on 06/03/1986

US Classes:

356/615, Position transverse to viewing axis348/94Position detection

Examiners

Primary: Evans, F. L.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

International Classes

B25J 19/02 (20060101)
G01S 17/89 (20060101)
G01S 17/06 (20060101)
G01S 7/497 (20060101)
G01S 7/48 (20060101)
G01S 17/00 (20060101)

Abstract

A system for locating a feature of an object disposed in a frame includes a spot projector for projecting a spot in the general vicinity of the feature and an imaging device with a limited field of view. The spot projector is a precision device which projects the spot towards a preselected location on the frame. When the spot and the feature are in the field of view of the imaging device, the absolute location of the feature is determined from its selective distance to the spot. Provisions are also made for determining depth or relief information about the object.