Measuring of Surface Shape of Cloths by Ultrasonic Sensor

We have tried applying the distance mesuring technique by ultrasonic sensor to non-contact measurement of the surface shape of cloth with small curve such as wrinkle. An ultrasonic sensor used is a focusing type (dia.: 30 mm; focus:50 mm; beam dia.: lmm). It is observed that the sensor can detect the change at the level of 1 mm both in height and in interval of the curved surface and this measuring method has the possibility to obtain the fairly accurate result for the measurement of the shape of small curved surface. Also, we have tried measuring the 3-dimensional shape of garment made of some large curved surfaces. In the experiment, we measured the distance from reflecting surface by attaching a sensor (dia.: 10 mm; focus: 60 mm; beam dia.: 6 mm) at the end of the arm of drape measuring apparatus (trial model). In this measurement, the data of 3-dimensional shape of garments made of sofa and thin materials were easily detected, and the efficiency of a non-contact measuring method by the ultrasonic was proved.