Patent ID: 6393141
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: G01B,G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for providing a two-dimensional representation of the surface of a three-dimensional object comprising:means for translating the object along a path, and means for rotating the object about at least two axes; means for sensing the two-dimensional representation, means for imaging a portion of the object surface onto a portion of the sensing means, the imaging means being translatable along two directions, the rates of translation of the object translating means and the imaging means, and of rotation of the object are selected so that the combination of the rotational and translational movement of the object and imaging means causes successive images of adjacent portions of the object surface to be imaged on successive portions of the sensing means on a continuous incremental basis, as the object travels along a portion of the object path, thereby capturing a two dimensional image of the surface of the object.