Patent ID: 6417917
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: A61B,A61C,G01J,G01N,G07D

Abstract:
A method comprising the steps of:providing light to a surface of an object with a probe and receiving light from the object, wherein light is provided from the probe by a light source and light is received by one or more light receivers, wherein the light source and one or more of the light receivers define a critical height from the surface below which no light from the light source that is specularly reflected from the object is received by the one or more of the light receivers; determining an intensity of light received by the one or more light receivers by coupling the received light to a plurality of sensors through a plurality of filter elements; and measuring the optical characteristics of the object including at least spectral characteristics of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object, wherein at least first and second measurements are taken, including at least one measurement taken with the probe below the critical height for one or more of the light receivers.