Licensable Technologies : Engineering : Plasma

Method & Apparatus for Determining the Coordinates of an Object

Abstract
An optical encoding method for determining the 3D coordinates of an object.  Light is directed onto an object and reflected into a CCD camera.  The light impinging on the object is directed through an LCD which includes an array of pixels whose transmittance is independently adjustable.  Light passing through a particular pixel of the LCD can be correlated with reflected light exciting a particular pixel of the CCD camera.  The invention lies in the method of identifying the pixel of the LCD that corresponds to a single excited pixel of the CCD camera, despite changes in intensity due to absorption, scattering or the like.  Then by triangulation the locations on the surface of the object at various points of reflection can be determined, and thus the shape of the object can be determined.

Application(s)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has developed a simplified optical scanning method to determine the location of points on an object's surface through the variation of illuminated pixels directed to the object's surface. An illumination source, an optical light intensity modulator, a light detector, and a computer or dedicated firmware for controlling pixel intensities and for implementing the algorithm are the tools needed to employ the method developed at LANL. Using the reflected illumination as detected by an image received (such as a CCD camera), the method determines the position of points on the surface of the object by detecting the modulation of illumination of pixels after they pass through an intensity modulator (such as an LCD). This process is controlled by the algorithm described herein. Parties who might have an interest in this technology include those in the automobile and truck industry for use in the optical scanning of parts. The entertainment industry would also find this method extremely useful to quickly digitize a model that needs to be scaled up for use in movie-making and other entertainment applications. The method can be employed by any party trying to compare objects or parts for uniformity. The method can also be used to detect defects in an object�s surface.

Advantages
The advantages of this digitized method over status quo means to determine points on an object's surface are several. The fundamental advantage of the technique is its computational simplicity which in turn allows for speed and accuracy. The computation of the data provides for the generation OF real time identification of points on an object's surface. Additionally, many status quo methods for digitizing the points on an object's surface for measurement and comparison work requires the object or part being studied to be painted. The LANL method avoids this step altogether. Objects being studied using the LANL method do not have to be painted in order for the data regarding an object's surface points to be digitized.

IP Status: Available for Exclusive or Non-Exclusive Licensing

Commercialization Strategy: LANL is seeking interested parties to license the technology or to collaborate with LANL researchers on further development of the technique. Such parties need to have an understanding of optical scanning methods and principles. Letters of interest from such parties regarding the above technology should be directed to the point of contact below.

Reference Number: 167

S Number: DOE reference no.(s): 94,778

Patents & Applications:
United States National Patent Number 6369879 Issued on 04/09/2002

Posted: 09-17-2004

Contact
John Mott
Technology Transfer Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MailStop C334
(505) 665-0883
jmott@lanl.gov