Patent ID: 8482743
Filing Date: 2013-07-09
Classification: G01B,G01N,G06K,G06T

Abstract:
1. A method of determining edge data in procedures associated with the dimensional measurement of an object, comprising: (a) obtaining at least one image of a desired edge of a surface of an object contrasted with a background medium, wherein the surface including said edge and the background medium are front-illuminated, and wherein the background medium comprises a reflectance substantially greater than a reflectance of said surface at least in a vicinity of said edge, at least when viewed along an image viewing axis associated with said at least one image; (b) analysing said image to obtain edge data from an interface between adjacent areas of different optical contrast therein corresponding to one or the other of said surface and said background medium; wherein in step (a), said at least one image comprises at least one first image area corresponding to said portion of said surface comprising said at least one edge and at least one second image area corresponding to a portion of said background medium proximate to said at least one edge, wherein an interface between said first image area and said second image area corresponds to said at least one edge; and step (b) comprises determining the coordinates on said image corresponding to the interface, wherein said procedures include a procedure for determing the three dimensional profile of said edge.