Deactivatable measurement apparatus

• US 20090034677A1
• Filed: 07/08/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renishaw PLC
• Original Assignee: Renishaw PLC
• Inventors: Prestidge, Tim, Fuge, Jonathan P., Campbell, Stuart K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,437,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 377/2
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/047 Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/008 using coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/012 Contact-making feeler heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B5/004, G01B5/08 take precedence

Abstract

Measurement apparatus is described that comprises a measurement portion for acquiring object measurements and an output portion (for outputting measurement data relating to the acquired object measurements. A deactivation portion is provided for inhibiting normal operation of the measurement apparatus such that output of the measurement data is prevented. The deactivation portion, in use, reads apparatus usage information from an apparatus usage module and inhibits normal operation of the measurement apparatus if said apparatus usage information fails to meet one or more predetermined criteria. The apparatus usage module may be provided as an integral part of the measurement apparatus or as a separate activation button. The measurement apparatus may comprise a measurement probe such as a touch trigger measurement probe.

Claims

1. Measurement apparatus comprising;

a measurement portion for acquiring object measurements;

an output portion for outputting measurement data relating to the acquired object measurements; and

a deactivation portion for inhibiting normal operation of the measurement apparatus such that output of the measurement data is prevented;

characterised in that the deactivation portion, in use, reads apparatus usage information from an apparatus usage module and inhibits normal operation of the measurement apparatus if said apparatus usage information fails to meet one or more predetermined criteria, wherein the apparatus usage information provides a measure of the amount of measurement apparatus usage.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the deactivation portion can update apparatus usage information stored by the apparatus usage module.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the apparatus usage information comprises a measurement count value relating to the number of object measurements, wherein the apparatus usage module comprises a memory for storing said measurement count value.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the measurement count value stored in the memory of the apparatus usage module is decremented for each object measurement acquired by the measurement apparatus and the one or more predetermined criteria are met if the measurement count value is greater than zero.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the apparatus usage information comprises information relating to the length of time of apparatus operation.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising an integral apparatus usage module.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which the integral apparatus usage module comprises an internal memory, wherein apparatus usage information stored in the internal memory can be refreshed.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 comprising an interface for communicating with an associated unit, the associated unit storing information for updating the internal memory of the apparatus usage module.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 comprising an authentication module for verifying the authenticity of an associated unit.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising an interface for communicating with an associated unit, wherein the associated unit comprises the apparatus usage module.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 comprising an authentication module for verifying the authenticity of an associated unit.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the interface comprises one or more electrical contacts for allowing electrical connection with the complimentary electrical contacts of an associated unit.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the interface comprises a wireless communications unit, whereby a wireless link can be established between the measurement apparatus and an associated unit.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the deactivation portion is permanently disabled on receipt of a total release code thereby allowing ongoing normal operation of the measurement apparatus.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a measurement device that comprises the measurement portion, the output portion and the deactivation portion, wherein the output portion comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting measurement data to a remote interface and said deactivation portion inhibits output of the measurement data by deactivating said wireless transmitter.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a measurement device linked to an interface, the measurement device including the measurement portion and the interface including the output portion, wherein the deactivation portion inhibits normal operation of the apparatus by preventing output of measurement data from the output portion of the interface.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the measurement portion comprises a deflection measurement mechanism and a deflectable stylus.

18. A method of operating a measurement apparatus comprising the steps of:

(i) using the measurement apparatus to acquire object measurements;

(ii) outputting measurement data from the measurement apparatus that is related to the measurements acquired in step (i);

characterised by performing the step of (iii) reading apparatus usage information and only performing step (ii) if said apparatus usage information meets one or more predetermined criteria.

19. A measurement device comprising;

a measurement portion for acquiring object measurements;

an output portion for outputting measurement data relating to the acquired object measurements; and

a deactivation portion for inhibiting normal operation of the measurement device such that output of the measurement data is prevented;

wherein the device disabler inhibits operation of the measurement device after the occurrence of a predetermined event and in that said device disabler only permits continued operation of the measurement device on receipt of an appropriate reactivation instruction.

20. A measurement device according to claim 19 wherein the predetermined event comprises a certain amount of usage of the measurement device.