Patent ID: 8070555
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: B24B,G05B

Abstract:
1. A system for providing visual feedback during a polishing operation of a workpiece, comprising: a polishing unit that performs the polishing operation of the workpiece; a model having a three-dimensional digital representation of a desired shape of the workpiece; a scanning system that generates a three-dimensional surface map representation of a current shape of the workpiece while in-process during the polishing operation performed by the polishing unit; a comparator that compares the current shape of the workpiece from the three-dimensional surface map representation generated by the scanning system to the desired shape of the workpiece as embodied by the three-dimensional digital representation of the model; and an illumination system that highlights the workpiece with visible light during the polishing operation, the highlighting of the workpiece with visible light is a function of the comparison between the current shape of the workpiece from the three-dimensional surface map representation generated by the scanning system with the desired shape of the workpiece as embodied by the three-dimensional digital representation of the model, the illumination system highlighting a portion of the workpiece that needs additional polishing by the polishing unit to conform to the desired shape.