1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to imaging apparatuses and methods. More specifically, the invention relates to imaging apparatuses and methods for characterizing objects by emitting and receiving photons.
2. Description of Related Art
Three-dimensional image scanning has long been a desired tool in many technical fields. Fields such as manufacturing, military technology, and medical treatments have varying applications for this technology. Three dimensional images allow for close inspection and computer image manipulation of the imaged object. Further, objects that are scanned may be rapidly reproduced and manufactured by eliminating physical measuring and computer drafting time. Early applications of this technology were limited in effectiveness and practicality because of the extremely high number of data points that were required to be processed and the speed of computers to process the data.
These previous applications of three-dimensional imaging apparatuses and methods also employed various inefficient methods of collecting the data points of the object. Some of these methods included physically measuring a large number of points on the object with a stylus or other device to obtain the three axes coordinates for points along an image model. Other imaging devices bombarded the object with a large number of waves or particles.
The waves or particles were emitted at the target and collected as they return to the source. While these procedures allowed for a large number of data points to be taken along the object, the shear volume of data points collected in the imaging processes overwhelmed the accompanying computer. Additionally, the large number of data points created a significant amount of noise in the image results, causing variation and inaccuracies in the image. These drawbacks add to the time required to image an object and the cost of the equipment. Resultantly, three-dimensional imaging has not been fully employed to its maximum potential in many fields because of these limitations.
Therefore, what is needed is a three-dimensional imaging device and method that is capable of minimizing the number of data points required to image a three-dimensional object and that is capable of minimizing the analyzing time of the collected data.
The present invention has been developed in response to the current state of the art, and in particular, in response to these and other problems and needs that have not been fully or completely solved by currently available three-dimensional imaging technology. The present application discloses an imaging apparatus comprising a photon source, a photon receiver, and an analyzer. The photon source is configured to emit a photon at a target. Once the photon impacts the target, the photon reflects to the photon receiver. The photon receiver is configured to identify a reflection time of the photon and an arrival position of the photon on the photon receiver. Once the reflection time and arrival position are known, the information is transferred to the analyzer. The analyzer is configured to associate the arrival position with a position on an X-Y plane and to associate the reflection time with a Z-height of the X-Y position.
The imaging apparatus is capable of imaging the characteristics of two-dimensional objects, three-dimensional objects, and geographical features among other objects. The reflection time of the photon is determined from a voltage analog established by charging a voltage storage device during the interval between the photon emitting from the photon source and the photon being received by the photon receiver. In one embodiment the charging voltage is linear; in another embodiment the voltage charge is exponential.
An alternative embodiment of the imaging apparatus may comprise a photon source that emits a photon pulse at a target. The photons reflecting from the target impact on a photon receiver having an array of geometrically arranged pixels. The geometrically arranged array of pixels is configured to identify a plurality of photon arrival positions on the array. The imaging apparatus also has a plurality of timing circuits coupled to the geometrically arranged pixels. The timing circuits are configured to determine the reflection time of individual photons received by the photon receiver. The arrival position and reflection time are then transferred to an analyzer where the reflection times and the photon arrival position are analyzed to determine the geometric characteristics of the target.
In operational terms, the apparatus emits a photon pulse at a target and a plurality of timers are started in response to the emitted photon pulse. Next the photon pulse impacts the target and a number of photons reflect off of the target. The reflected photons are received on a geometrically arranged array. The locations on the array where the photons are received, establishes a plurality of arrival positions. A number of timers are also stopped upon receipt of an emitted photon on the geometrically arranged array. The time between the timer starting and stopping establishes a reflection time for individual photons. Finally, the arrival positions of the photons are compiled to generate an outline of the target in the X-Y plane and the reflection times of the individual photons are associated with positions on the outline to define the Z-components of the target. Thus, the arrival positions define the X and Y positions of the three-dimensional image and the reflection times define the Z positions of the three-dimensional image.