Method for identifying measuring points in an optical measuring system

• Main Authors: XINCHI WANG, TIMOTHY ALAN CLARKE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.03.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; MEASURING; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS; MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEARDIMENSIONS; NAVIGATION; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY; PHYSICS; SURVEYING; TESTING

In an optical measuring system for e.g. determining spatial position and orientation of objects a plurality of measuring points on the object is registered by cameras, laser measuring devices or a combination thereof. For identifying the measuring points, one target of a specific intensity and/or size or a predetermined pattern (3) of a plurality of targets (4) having specific differing intensities and/or sizes is associated to each measuring point. The intensities and/or sizes of the targets are detected e.g. in a pixel image of the target (4) by summing up intensities sensed by pixels being comprised in the image of the target. The targets are e.g. light emitting means consuming differing amounts of energy, reflecting, black or white spots of differing diameter or spots of differing shades of gray or other suitable color. Three to five grades of intensity and/or size can be realized easily. The advantage compared with known binary segment or dot codes used for measuring point identification in optical measuring systems is the fact that in systems with a small amount of measuring points one target per measuring point is sufficient and that when using patterns (3) of targets (4) each target can be used as measuring point and can supply in addition to identification information further useful information.