Method and apparatus for producing a fringe pattern corresponding to height and depth gradients of an illuminated object with the fringe pattern lines used to define edges of stacked sheets provided as a filter for X-ray dosage tailoring. A camera is provided to produce the fringe pattern on a photographic film using a compact arrangement of light sources, lenses and gratings all within a convenient housing facilitating use yet at the same time providing sufficient resolution through separation of projection and imaging optics. A laser range finder is additionally provided to insure placement of the object to be X-rayed, typically a portion of the human torso, at a standard distance so that the ultimately produced X-ray filter will be properly sized. The filter is produced by cutting a set of lead sheets with edges corresponding to each of the separate contour lines in the exposed and developed film receiving the fringe pattern. Projection techniques are employed in order to size the film record of fringe patterns to a size appropriate for use as an X-ray filter, typically less than life size.
Embodiments of the invention provide a non-contact method for measuring the surface profile of an object that can include generating a point-type optical signal and projecting it on a rotatable precision optical grating, generating a rotating pattern of light and dark lines onto the object, recording a series of images of the rotating pattern moving across the object with an image receiving device and calculating the surface profile of the object. Other embodiments can include a method to calibrate the system and a non-contact apparatus that generally includes a point-type light source, a rotatably mounted optical grating being configured to project a moving grating image on the object, a processor in communication with the image capturing device and configured to receive image input from the image capturing device and generate a surface profile representation of the object therefrom.
Embodiments of the invention provide a non-contact method for measuring the surface profile of an object that can include generating a point-type optical signal and projecting it on a rotatable precision optical grating, generating a rotating pattern of light and dark lines onto the object, recording a series of images of the rotating pattern moving across the object with an image receiving device and calculating the surface profile of the object. Other embodiments can include a method to calibrate the system and a non-contact apparatus that generally includes a point-type light source, a rotatably mounted optical grating being configured to project a moving grating image on the object, a processor in communication with the image capturing device and configured to receive image input from the image capturing device and generate a surface profile representation of the object therefrom.
