US3895870A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser dimension comparator
Assignee: AUTECH MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1973-01-15
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Granted: 1975-07-22
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Expires: 1993-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A nondestructive dimension measuring and comparing system wherein a coherent light beam is impinged on a workpiece surface to produce one or more spots of light. Back-scattered light from the spot or spots is directed onto a vidicon screen to provide at least two light spot image points which are spaced in proportion to a dimension of the workpiece. The vidicon is scanned to provide output pulses which are time spaced in proportion to the image spot spacing. A scaling oscillator provides scaling pulses which are gated to an up-down counter by the electronically processed, time-spaced pulses. Logic circuitry counts and displays the gated scaling pulses to indicate the dimension, or alternatively, compares the count to a reference and displays the deviation.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald L Cullen
- 👤 Teddy L Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/02; G01B11/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A laser dimension comparator for providing an electrical output indicative of a distance dimension of a workpiece comprising a laser light source for directing a single beam of coherent light onto a workpiece to produce a single laser light intensity gradient on the surface of said workpiece, a photo detector positioned adjacent said source, a pair of light directors on opposite sides of said beam for forming a pair of spaced backscatter light intensity gradients on the face of said photo detector from the gradient on said workpiece, and an electrical circuit coupled to said photo detector for producing an electrical output signal indicative of the position of said images on the face of said photo detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A laser dimension comparator for providing an electrical output indicative of a distance dimension of a workpiece comprising a laser light source for directing a single beam of coherent light onto a workpiece to produce a single laser light intensity gradient on the surface of said workpiece, a photo detector positioned adjacent said source, a pair of light directors on opposite sides of said beam for forming a pair of spaced backscatter light intensity gradients on the face of said photo detector from the gradient on said workpiece, and an electrical circuit coupled to said photo detector for producing an electrical output signal indicative of the position of said images on the face of said photo detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit includes means for producing a signal indicative of the distance between said images.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said signal is indicative of the distance between the centers of said images.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said beam passes directly from said laser light source to said workpiece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including at least one additional light director between said laser light source and the workpiece for directing said beam from said light source onto the surface of said workpiece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said beam is directed by said additional light director substantially perpendicularly onto said workpiece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
A laser dimension comparator for providing an electrical output indicative of a distance dimension of a workpiece comprising a laser light source for directing coherent light onto a workpiece to produce at least one laser light intensity gradient on said workpiece, a photodetector positioned adjacent said source for receiving at least one back scattered laser light intensity gradient image from said workpiece, scanning means coupled to said photodetector for scanning the face of said photodetector and developing an electrical pulse signal indicative of the position of said image on said photodetector, said laser light source comprising means for directing a single beam of coherent light onto said workpiece, an optical means adjacent said photodetector for developing a pair of backscatter images on said photodetector from the light intensity gradient of said single beam on said workpiece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
A laser dimension comparator for providing an electrical output indicative of a distance dimension of a workpiece comprising a laser light source for directing coherent light onto a workpiece to produce at least one laser light intensity gradient on said workpiece, a photodetector positioned adjacent said source for receiving at least one back scattered laser light intensity gradient image from said workpiece, scanning means coupled to said photodetector for scanning the face of said photodetector and developing an electrical pulse signal indicative of the position of said image on said photodetector, said laser light source comprising means for directing a single beam of coherent light onto said workpiece, an optical means adjacent said photodetector for developing a pair of backscatter images on said photodetector from the light intensity gradient of said single beam on said workpiece.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser dimension comparator according to claim 7 wherein said optical means comprises a pair of light reflectors on opposite sides of said single beam of coherent light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A laser dimension comparator according to claim 7 comprising storage means coupled to said scanning means for storing a signal indicative of the position of a first image on said photodetector, and a signal comparator coupled to both said scanning means and said storage means for comparing said first image signal with a second signal from said scanning means indicative of the position of a second image on said photodetector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser dimension comparator according to claim 9 including a digital display coupled to the output of said signal comparator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A laser dimension comparator according to claim 10 wherein said signal comparator comprises an up-down counter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A laser dimension comparator according to claim 11 wherein said storage means comprises a display storage coupled between the output of said up-down counter and said digital display, and an operating point storage coupled between the output of said diSplay storage and the input of said up-down counter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-21 | 1979-01-20 | 1979-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-21 | 1983-01-20 | 1983-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-21 | 1987-01-20 | 1987-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |