Robert A Harker

US Patent:

20080067382, Mar 20, 2008

Filed:

May 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/809661

Inventors:

Robert Arthur Harker - Gainesville FL, US

International Classification:

G21K 7/00

US Classification:

250310

Abstract:

The subject invention pertains to an apparatus and method for collecting 2-D data slices of a specimen. Embodiments can incorporate a lapidary platen and an image recording system to image a specimen. The lapidary wheel platen can provide an imaging plane such that an image can be taken as the lapidary wheel platen abrades a surface of the specimen. A specimen mount can maintain the surface of the specimen properly aligned in the image plane. The imaging system can be a continuous recording system such as a video camera, a discrete recording system such as a flatbed scanner, or combinations of continuous and discrete recording systems to simultaneously collect two distinct data sets. The 2-D data set(s) can then be processed to create intricate 3-D color models.