IP Library Granted Patent US 12,553,711
Granted Patent B2
US 12,553,711 · App. 18/494,497 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Reflection refuting laser scanner

Inventors: Alexander James Lonsberry (Gahanna, OH); Andrew Gordon Lonsberry (Columbus, OH)
Assignee: Path Robotics, Inc.
G01B11/2513G01B11/2518
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,553,711
App. No.
18/494,497
Filed
Oct 25, 2023
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2683
USPC
382/154
Abstract

Some embodiments described herein relate to optical systems and methods for determining the shape and/or size of objects that include projecting a pattern of light onto the object. The pattern of light can be configured such that first-order reflections can be distinguished from second- and/or higher-order reflections, which can be rejected. Thus, even in instances in which the pattern of light is reflected onto the object multiple times, the original, or first-order, reflection can be detected, distinguished, and/or used for laser triangulation. In some embodiments, a pattern of light that does not have reflection and/or rotational symmetry is projected onto the object, such that second-order and/or higher-order reflections can be distinguished from the first-order reflection.

Claims (44)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving, via a detection device, an image of an object illuminated by a light source configured to project a light pattern, the object causing first-order reflections and higher-order reflections of the projected light pattern, wherein the image includes the first-order reflections and the higher-order reflections, and wherein the projected light pattern enables identification of the first-order reflections in the image;

performing a comparison based on at least one first-order reflection of the first-order reflections and a geometric attribute of the projected light pattern;

identifying one or more deviations in the first-order reflections based on the comparison; and

generating a model of at least a portion of the object based on identification of the one or more deviations.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the projected light pattern lacks reflection symmetry.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the projected light pattern includes a linear portion and a non-symmetric portion.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the geometric attribute of the projected light pattern includes the linear portion or the non-symmetric portion.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the geometric attribute includes a linear portion of the projected light pattern or a non-symmetric portion of the projected light pattern.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying a shape of at least the portion of the object based on the one or more deviations.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the light source includes a laser light source, and the projected light pattern includes multiple laser lines.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the comparison includes comparing the at least one first-order reflection to the geometric attribute of the projected light pattern.

9 . A system, comprising:

a detection device configured to capture an image of an object during illumination of the object with a light pattern projected by a light source, the image includes reflections of the projected light pattern caused by the object; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the detection device, the processor configured to:

receive, from the detection device, image data associated with the image;

perform a comparison based on a first-order reflection of the reflections and a characteristic of the projected light pattern;

identify, based on a result of the comparison, at least one deviation associated with the first-order reflection; and

generate a model of at least a portion of the object based on the identified deviation.

10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising the light source, wherein the light pattern lacks reflection symmetry.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the reflections include:

first-order reflections; and

higher-order reflections of the projected light pattern; and

the higher-order reflections include:

a second-order reflection,

another reflection that has an order greater than the second-order reflection, or

a combination thereof.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify the first-order reflection based on the image data;

to perform the comparison based on multiple first-order reflections of the reflections; or

a combination thereof.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein, to perform the comparison, the processor is configured to compare the first-order reflection to the characteristic.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the projected light pattern includes a linear portion, a non-symmetric portion, or a combination thereof.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to identify a shape of at least the portion of the object based on the deviation.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the model is generated based on the identified shape, the model includes a three-dimensional model, or a combination thereof.

17 . A non-transitory processor-readable medium storing code configured to be executed by a processor, the code comprising code to cause the processor to:

receive, from a detection device, image data associated with an image the image including captured by the detection device, the image includes an object illuminated with a light pattern projected by a light source, and wherein the image includes reflections of the projected light pattern caused by the object;

perform a comparison based on a first-order reflection of the reflections and a characteristic of the projected light pattern;

identify, based on a result of the comparison, at least one deviation associated with the first-order reflection; and

generate a model of at least a portion of the object based on the identified deviation.

18 . The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the projected light pattern is configured to enable identification of one or more first-order reflections in the image, the one or more first-order reflections including the first-order reflection.

19 . The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the characteristic of the projected light pattern includes a geometric attribute of the projected light pattern.

20 . The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the geometric attribute includes a linear portion of the projected light pattern or a non-symmetric portion of the projected light pattern.

Assignments (1)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2024
From: PATH ROBOTICS, INC.
To: TRIPLEPOINT PRIVATE VENTURE CREDIT INC.
Reel/Frame 068789/0005 →