A measurement apparatus including a housing having a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from the first arm to define a measurement zone therebetween, and a laser radar unit, wherein the laser radar unit emits a laser beam that is split into a first beam and a second beam, the first beam travels
A measurement apparatus including a housing having a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from the first arm to define a measurement zone therebetween, and a laser radar unit, wherein the laser radar unit emits a laser beam that is split into a first beam and a second beam, the first beam travels through the first arm, across the measurement zone and into the second arm, while the second beam travels through the second arm, across the measurement zone and into the first arm, thereby forming a closed optical path, and wherein the closed optical path includes a midpoint that is offset from the measurement zone such that the first beam travels a first optical path and the second beam travels a second, longer optical path when the closed optical path is broken by a part positioned in the measurement zone.
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1. A measurement apparatus comprising: a housing comprising a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from said first arm to define a measurement zone therebetween, said measurement zone having a length; anda laser radar unit, wherein said laser radar unit emits a laser beam and said laser beam is s
1. A measurement apparatus comprising: a housing comprising a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from said first arm to define a measurement zone therebetween, said measurement zone having a length; anda laser radar unit, wherein said laser radar unit emits a laser beam and said laser beam is split into a first beam and a second beam, said first beam travels through said first arm, across said measurement zone and into said second arm, returning to said laser radar unit, while said second beam travels through said second arm, across said measurement zone and into said first arm, returning to said laser radar unit, thereby forming a closed optical path comprising said first beam and said second beam, andwherein said closed optical path comprises a midpoint, said midpoint being offset from said measurement zone such that said first beam travels a first optical path and said second beam travels a second optical path when said closed optical path is broken by a part positioned in said measurement zone, said second optical path being greater than said first optical path by at least said length. 2. The measurement apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a base portion, and wherein said laser radar unit is at least partially positioned within said base portion. 3. The measurement apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first arm comprises a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end of said first arm being connected to said base portion, wherein said second arm comprises a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end of said second arm being connected to said base portion, and wherein said distal end of said first arm and said distal end of said second arm define said measurement zone. 4. The measurement apparatus of claim 3 wherein said distal end of said first arm is spaced at least 1 foot from said distal end of said second arm. 5. The measurement apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a beam splitter positioned to split said laser beam into said first beam and said second beam. 6. The measurement apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of mirrors arranged to direct said first beam and said second beam into said closed optical path. 7. The measurement apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first optical fiber optically coupled with the laser radar unit to receive a first portion of said laser beam corresponding to said first beam. 8. The measurement apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a second optical fiber optically coupled with the laser radar unit to receive a second portion of said laser beam corresponding to said second beam. 9. The measurement apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a first lens positioned proximate a distal end of said first optical fiber and a second lens positioned proximate a distal end of said second optical fiber. 10. The measurement apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first lens and said second lens are collimating or focusing lenses. 11. The measurement apparatus of claim 1 wherein said measurement zone has a first length, wherein said second optical path is longer than said first optical path by a second length, and wherein said second length is at least 2 percent greater than said first length. 12. The measurement apparatus of claim 1 wherein said measurement zone has a first length, wherein said second optical path is longer than said first optical path by a second length, and wherein said second length is at least 5 percent greater than said first length. 13. The measurement apparatus of claim 1 wherein said measurement zone has a first length, wherein said second optical path is longer than said first optical path by a second length, and wherein said second length is at least 10 percent greater than said first length. 14. A measurement apparatus comprising: a housing comprising a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from said first arm to define a measurement zone therebetween, said measurement zone having a length;a laser radar unit, wherein said laser radar unit emits a laser beam;a beam splitter positioned to split said laser beam into a first beam and a second beam; anda plurality of mirrors arranged to direct said first beam into said second beam to form a closed optical path that extends through said measurement zone, said closed optical path comprising a midpoint, wherein said midpoint is outside of said measurement zone, and wherein said midpoint is spaced from said measurement zone such that said first beam travels a first optical path and said second beam travels a second optical path when said closed optical path is broken by a part positioned in said measurement zone, and wherein said second optical path is longer than said first optical path by at least said length of said measurement zone. 15. A measurement apparatus comprising: a housing comprising a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from said first arm to define a measurement zone therebetween, said measurement zone having a length;a laser radar unit, wherein said laser radar unit emits a laser beam;a first optical fiber optically coupled with said laser radar unit to receive a first portion of said laser beam corresponding to a first beam, said first optical fiber extending through said first arm; anda second optical fiber optically coupled with said laser radar unit to receive a second portion of said laser beam corresponding to a second beam, said second optical fiber extending through said second arm and being longer than said first optical fiber,wherein said first beam exits said first optical fiber, travels across said measurement zone and enters said second optical fiber, and said second beam exits said second optical fiber, travels across said measurement zone and enters said first optical fiber, thereby forming a closed optical path, andwherein said first beam travels a first optical path and said second beam travels a second optical path when said closed optical path is broken by a part positioned in said measurement zone, and wherein said second optical path is longer than said first optical path by at least said length of said measurement zone. 16. A method for measuring a thickness of a part using a laser radar unit that emits a laser beam, the method comprising: splitting said laser beam into a first beam and a second beam;directing said first beam into said second beam to form a closed optical path, said closed optical path comprising a total length, wherein said closed optical path extends across a measurement zone having a length;breaking said closed optical path in said measurement zone with said part such that said first beam travels in a first optical path having a first length and said second beam travels in a second optical path having a second length, wherein said second length is greater than said first length by at least said length of said measurement zone; andcalculating said thickness based on said total length, said first length and said second length. 17. The measurement apparatus of claim 14 wherein said second optical path is longer than said first optical path by at least said length of said measurement zone plus 5 percent. 18. The measurement apparatus of claim 14 wherein said second optical path is longer than said first optical path by at least said length of said measurement zone plus 10 percent. 19. The measurement apparatus of claim 15 wherein said second optical path is longer than said first optical path by at least said length of said measurement zone plus 5 percent. 20. The measurement apparatus of claim 15 wherein said second optical path is longer than said first optical path by at least said length of said measurement zone plus 10 percent.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (3)
Shirley, Lyle, Apparatus and methods for optically monitoring thickness.
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