Scanning apparatus

• US 20040218006A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stephen Lang Dickerson
• Original Assignee: Stephen Lang Dickerson
• Inventors: Dickerson, Stephen Lang
• Application Number:
  US10/834,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20040218006A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/37
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 19/20 Positive-feed character-spacing mechanisms controlled by escapements B41J19/52

Abstract

Disclosed herein are apparatus and method that provides reciprocating motions of a traveling head utilizing a propulsion member at each end of the reciprocating motion and highly accurate short motions perpendicular to the reciprocating motions. These short motions compensate for the imperfections of the apparatus and/or the surface being scanned or modified. The propulsion member is arranged to recover much of the mechanical energy of the traveling head and apply that energy to the return motion. The reciprocating head travels on a guide of low drag. The short motions that provide an accuracy of scanning or modifying not realizable by mechanical precision rely on stored displacements and a high bandwidth linear servo system.

Claims

1. A scanning apparatus comprising:

a traveling head that travels in a linear motion;

at least one propulsion member that propels the traveling head at a velocity at the ends of travel; and

a computing device that determines the velocity of the traveling head from a velocity data and controls the at least one propulsion member to modulate the velocity of the traveling head.

2. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an air supply that facilitates propelling the traveling head.

3. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the at least one propulsion member further comprises at least one pneumatic cylinder assembly at the end of travel of the traveling head, the at least one pneumatic cylinder assembly being capable of receiving air from the air supply and propelling the traveling head.

4. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the at least one pneumatic cylinder assembly is capable of recovering most of the energy from the velocity of the traveling head as the traveling head impacts the at least one pneumatic cylinder at the end of travel and using the recovered energy to propel the traveling head in the opposite direction.

5. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the pneumatic cylinder assembly comprises a piston, a precharge section, and a pressurized section, the piston is arranged in the precharge section of the pneumatic cylinder assembly, the precharge section having a precharged volume and pressure, the pressurized section having a pressure greater than atmosphere;

when the traveling head impacts the piston, the volumes expands and the pressure decreases in the precharge section;

as the traveling head deflects the piston, the pressurized section remains at the pressure greater than atmosphere; and

at the apex of deflection, the pressure differential across the piston propels the piston and in turn propels the traveling head in the opposite direction.

6. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the traveling head is mounted with at least one piston that engages and enters the at least one pneumatic cylinder assembly when the traveling head impacts the pneumatic cylinder assembly;

and

at the apex of the penetration, air is added to the pneumatic cylinder assembly to propel the traveling head in the opposite direction.

7. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the traveling head comprises an air bearing that includes a combination of cylindrical bearing and a flat bearing arranged so as to constrain the motion to a linear motion without over constraint.

8. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the traveling head includes an air tank for supplying air to the air bearing.

9. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the air tank is provided with air tetherlessly.

10. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein traveling head is mounted with at least one piston, the at least one piston being capable of entering the at least one pneumatic cylinder, wherein the at least one piston comprises a cylinder rod that is coupled to the air tank and receives air from the pneumatic cylinder to provide air to the air tank.

11. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 8, further comprising a needle-like tube that engages the traveling head at the end of travel and provides air to the air tank.

12. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the pneumatic cylinder is mounted with a piston, the piston comprises a cylinder rod that engages the air tank as the traveling head impacts the pneumatic cylinder and facilitates providing air to the air tank.

13. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the source of propulsion further comprises one of a conventional spring and a magnetically driven motor/generator at one end of travel of the traveling head that propels the traveling head.

14. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one photo detector providing the velocity data to the controller so as to facilitate calculating the velocity of the traveling head.

15. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the traveling head comprises an interrupter that passes through the photo detector triggering the photo detector to provide the velocity data to the controller so as to facilitate calculating the velocity of the traveling head.

16. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the computing device uses the velocity data to calculate a time delay before a signal is sent to the source of propulsion to propel the traveling head.

17. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a table.

18. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 17, further comprising a track that allows the traveling head to travel in the linear motion;

the track being mounted on the table.

19. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 18, further comprising a suspended structure that is mounted on the table;

the suspended structure being capable of suspending the propulsion member, wherein the suspended structure in conjunction with the propulsion member being at a weight that dampens bouncing forces so that the scanning apparatus as a whole settles into a periodic motion with both the traveling head and the suspended structure moving back and forth.

20. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the suspended structure is attached to suspended members that suspend a heavy structure, the heavy structure being mounted with the pneumatic cylinder assemblies that are arranged at the ends of travel of the traveling head, the heavy structure in conjunction with the propulsion member being at a weight that dampens bouncing forces so that the scanning apparatus as a whole settles into a periodic motion with both the traveling head and the heavy structure moving back and forth.

21. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 18, further comprising a beam structure that is mounted separate from the table;

the beam structure being mounted with the pneumatic cylinders at the ends of travel of the traveling head.

22. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the traveling head includes a sensor that is directed to a material surface, where the sensor senses or modifies a surface of a material

23. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein the sensor is arranged at a distance from the surface of the material, the distance being adjustable so as to compensate for the inaccuracies of the construction of the air bearing or the flatness of the surface of the material.

24. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein the adjustable distance between the sensor and the surface of the material is based on a learned profile, which is data obtained from previous and nearby scans of the surface.

25. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 22, further comprising a power source that is provided to the traveling head tetherlessly.

26. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the power source is provided at least in part by a battery or capacitor that stores electric energy.

27. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the power required is at least in part provided by a solar cell attached to the traveling head and a light is arranged to shine on the solar cells.

28. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 25, where the power required is at least in part provided by transformer action with a coil moving with the head and one or more coils or magnets stationary and there being no contact between the coils.

29. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 26, where the battery or capacitor is recharged by contacts when the traveling head impacts the pneumatic cylinders.

30. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 22, where the traveling head communicates with the computing device via wireless.

31. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 30, where the wireless communications are by modulated light, either infrared or radio.

32. A scanning apparatus comprising:

a traveling head that travels in a linear motion;

air supply that facilitates propelling the traveling head;

at least one pneumatic cylinder assembly at the end of travel of the traveling head, the at least one pneumatic cylinder assembly being capable of receiving air from the air supply and propelling the traveling head; and

a computing device that determines a velocity of the traveling head from a velocity data and controls the at least one pneumatic cylinder assembly to modulate the velocity of the traveling head.

33. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the at least one pneumatic cylinder assembly is capable of recovering most of the energy from the velocity of the traveling head as the traveling head impacts the at least one pneumatic cylinder at the end of travel and using the recovered energy to propel the traveling head in the opposite direction.

34. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 33,

wherein the pneumatic cylinder assembly comprises a piston, a precharge section, and an pressurized section, the piston being arranged in the precharge section of the pneumatic cylinder assembly, the precharge section having a precharged volume and pressure, the pressurized section having a pressure greater than atmosphere;

when the traveling head impacts the piston, the volume expands and the pressure decreases in the precharge section;

as the traveling head deflects the piston, the pressurized section remains at the pressure greater than atmosphere; and

at the apex of deflection, the pressure differential across the piston propels the piston and in turn propels the traveling head in the opposite direction.

35. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 33, wherein the traveling head is mounted with at least one piston that engages and enters the pneumatic cylinder assembly when the traveling head impacts the pneumatic cylinder;

and

at the apex of the penetration, air is added to propel the traveling head in the opposite direction.

36. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the traveling head comprises an air bearing that includes a combination of cylindrical bearing and a flat bearing arranged so as to constrain the motion to a linear motion.

37. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein the traveling head includes an air tank for supplying air to the air bearing.

38. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein the air tank is provided with air tetherlessly.

39. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein traveling head is mounted with at least one piston, the at least one piston being capable of entering the at least one pneumatic cylinder assembly, wherein the at least one piston comprises a cylinder rod that is coupled to the air tank and receives air from the pneumatic cylinder assembly to provide air to the air tank.

40. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 37, further comprising a needle-like tube that engages the traveling head at the end of travel and provides air to the air tank.

41. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein the pneumatic cylinder assembly is mounted with a piston, the piston comprises a cylinder rod that engages the air tank as the traveling head impacts the pneumatic cylinder assembly and facilitates providing air to the air tank.

42. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the source of propulsion further comprises one of a conventional spring and a magnetically driven motor/generator at one end of travel of the traveling head that propels the traveling head.

43. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 32, further comprising at least one photo detector providing the velocity data to the controller so as to facilitate calculating the velocity of the traveling head.

44. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 43, wherein the traveling head comprises an interrupter that passes through the photo detector triggering the photo detector to provide the velocity data to the controller so as to facilitate calculating the velocity of the traveling head.

45. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 44, wherein the computing device uses the velocity data to calculate a time delay before a signal is sent to the source of propulsion to propel the traveling head.

46. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 32, further comprising a table.

47. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 46, further comprising a track that allows the traveling head to travel in the linear motion;

the track being mounted on the table.

48. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 47, further comprising a suspended structure that is mounted on the table;

the suspended structure being mounted with the pneumatic cylinder assembly, wherein the suspended structure in conjunction with the propulsion member being at a weight that dampens bouncing forces so that the scanning apparatus as a whole settles into a periodic motion with both the traveling head and the suspended structure moving back and forth.

49. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 48, wherein the suspended structure is attached to suspended members that suspend a heavy structure, the heavy structure is mounted with the pneumatic cylinder assemblies that are arranged at the ends of travel of the traveling head, the heavy structure in conjunction with the propulsion member being at a weight that dampens bouncing forces so that the scanning apparatus as a whole settles into a periodic motion with both the traveling head and the heavy structure moving back and forth.

50. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 48, further comprising a beam structure that is mounted separate from the table;

the beam structure being mounted with the pneumatic cylinders at the ends of travel of the traveling head.

51. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the traveling head includes a sensor that is directed to a material surface, where the sensor senses or modifies a surface of a material

52. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 51, wherein the sensor is arranged at a distance from the surface of the material, the distance being adjustable so as to compensate for the inaccuracies of the construction of the air bearing or the flatness of the surface of the material.

53. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 51, wherein the adjustable distance between the sensor and the surface of the material is based on a learned profile, which is data obtained from previous and nearby scans of the surface.

54. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 51, further comprising a power source that is provided to the traveling head tetherlessly.

55. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 54, wherein the power source is provided at least in part by a battery or capacitor that stores electric energy.

56. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 54, wherein the power required is at least in part provided by a solar cell attached to the traveling head and a light is arranged to shine on the solar cells.

57. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 54, where the power required is at least in part provided by transformer action with a coil moving with the head and one or more coils or magnets stationary and there being no contact between the coils.

58. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 55, where the battery or capacitor is recharged by contacts when the traveling head impacts the pneumatic cylinders.

59. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 54, where the traveling head communicates with the computing device via wirelessly, the traveling head transmits data from the sensor.

60. The scanning apparatus as defined in claim 59, where the wireless communications are by modulated light, either the infrared or radio.

61. A scanning apparatus comprising:

a traveling head that travels in a linear motion;

air supply that facilitates propelling the traveling head;

at least one pneumatic cylinder assembly at the end of travel of the traveling head, the at least one pneumatic cylinder assembly being capable of receiving air from the air supply and propelling the traveling head; and

a computing device that determines a velocity of the traveling head from a velocity data and controls the at least one pneumatic cylinder assembly to modulate the velocity of the traveling head,

wherein the pneumatic cylinder assembly comprises a piston, a precharge section, and an pressurized section, the piston is arranged in the precharge section of the pneumatic cylinder assembly, the precharge section having a precharged volume and pressure, the pressurized section having a pressure greater than atmosphere, when the traveling head impacts the piston the volume expands and the pressure decreases in the precharge section, as the traveling head deflects the piston the pressurized section remains at the pressure greater than atmosphere, and at the apex of deflection, the pressure differential across the piston propels the piston and in turn propels the traveling head in the opposite direction.

62. A scanning apparatus comprising:

a traveling head that travels in a linear motion;

at least one propulsion member that propels the traveling head at a velocity at the ends of travel;

a computing device that determines a velocity of the traveling head from a velocity data and controls the at least one propulsion member to modulate the velocity of the traveling head;

a table;

a track that allows the traveling head to travel in the linear motion;

the track being mounted on the table; and

a suspended structure that is mounted on the table;

the suspended structure is attached to suspended members that suspend a heavy structure, the heavy structure is mounted with the pneumatic cylinder assemblies that are arranged at the ends of travel of the traveling head, the heavy structure in conjunction with the propulsion member being at a weight that dampens bouncing forces so that the scanning apparatus as a whole settles into a periodic motion with both the traveling head and the heavy structure moving back and forth.

63. A scanning apparatus comprising:

a traveling head that travels in a linear motion;

at least one propulsion member that propels the traveling head at a velocity at the ends of travel;

a computing device that determines a velocity of the traveling head from a velocity data and controls the at least one propulsion member to modulate the velocity of the traveling head;

a table;

a track that allows the traveling head to travel in the linear motion;

the track being mounted on the table; and

a beam structure that is mounted separate from the table, the beam structure being mounted with the pneumatic cylinders at the ends of travel of the traveling head.

64. A scanning apparatus comprising:

a traveling head that travels in a linear motion, the traveling head including a sensor;

at least one propulsion member that propels the traveling head at a velocity at the ends of travel; and

a computing device that determines a velocity of the traveling head from a velocity data and controls the at least one propulsion member to modulate the velocity of the traveling head;

wherein the sensor is arranged at a distance from the surface of the material, the distance being adjustable so as to compensate for the inaccuracies of the construction of the air bearing or the flatness of the surface of the material, wherein the adjustable distance between the sensor and the surface of the material is based on a learned profile, which is data obtained from previous and nearby scans of the surface.

65. A propulsion manager stored in a computer-readable medium, the manager performing the steps of:

receiving a velocity data;

determining a time of impact between a traveling head and a pneumatic cylinder assembly;

determining a velocity of the traveling head based on the velocity data; and

controlling a supply of air to the pneumatic cylinder at a precharged volume and pressure before the impact of the traveling head and pneumatic cylinder assembly.