Patent ID: 6798528
Filing Date: 2004-09-28
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
A method of measuring an object, comprising the steps of:illuminating the object with a first beam of light using a first light source positioned oil a first side of the object; reflecting portions of the first beam of light traveling past the object using a first parabolic mirror positioned on a second side of the object; generating, at multiple positions along the object, recordings of the portions of the first beam of light reflected by the first parabolic mirror using the first light detector positioned on the first side of the object; illuminating the object with a second beam of light using a second light source positioned on a third side of the object; reflecting portions of the second beam of light traveling past the object Using a second parabolic mirror positioned on a fourth side of the object; generating, at multiple positions along the object, recording of the portions of the second beam of light reflected by the second parabolic mirror using the second light detector positioned on the third side of the object; illuminating the object with light emitted from a third light source positioned on a fifth side of the object; reflecting portions of light emitted by the third light source using a reflector system indirectly connected to the object; generating, at multiple positions along the object, recordings of the reflected portions of the light emitted by the third light source using a third light detector positioned on the fifth side of the object, each recording of the reflected portions of light emitted by the third light source associated with one of the recordings of the reflected portions of the first beam of light and one of the recordings of the reflected portions of the second beam of light; and wherein the multiple recordings of the portions of the first beam of light reflected by the first parabolic mirror contain information indicative of a first dimension of the object at multiple positions along the object, the multiple recordings of the portions of the second beam of light reflected by the second parabolic mirror contains information indicative of the second dimension of the object at multiple positions along the object, and wherein the multiple recordings of the reflected portions of the light emitted by the third light source, in conjunction with the multiple recordings of reflected portions of the first and second beams of light, contain information indicative of a third dimension of the object.