COORDINATE MEASURING MACHINE HAVING AN ILLUMINATED PROBE END AND METHOD OF OPERATION

• US 20110176148A1
• Filed: 01/14/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Danielson, David, Briggs, Clark H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,284,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/614
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/007 feeler heads therefor
• 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

Abstract

A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) is provided. The AACMM includes a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends. The arm includes a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal. A measurement device is attached to a first end of the AACMM. An electronic circuit is provided for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device. A light source is coupled to the arm and disposed to emit light adjacent the measurement device.

Claims

1. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement device is coupled to the first end;

an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device;

a probe end section coupled between the measurement device and the first end and

at least one light source arranged at an interface between the probe end section and the measurement device, wherein the at least one light source is disposed to project visible light adjacent the measurement device.

2. The AACMM of claim 1 wherein the at least one light source is disposed within the measurement device.

3. The AACMM of claim 2 wherein the at least one light source includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

4. The AACMM of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of openings within the probe end section, the plurality of openings being arranged to direct light emitted from the plurality of LEDs to an area adjacent the measurement device.

5. The AACMM of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of lenses, each of the plurality of lenses disposed within one of the plurality of openings.

6. The AACMM of claim 3 wherein the plurality of light sources includes at least one variable spectrum light source having an adjustable color.

7. The AACMM of claim 6, wherein the adjustable color projected from the at least one variable spectrum light source is responsive to a parameter determined by the electronic circuit.

8. The AACMM of claim 2 wherein the probe end section includes a handle and the at least one light source is coupled to the handle.

9. The AACMM of claim 1 wherein the at least one light source projects low coherence light.

10. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement device attached to a first end of the AACMM;

an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device;

a probe end section coupled to the first end; and

at least one light source arranged distal to the first end and operably coupled to the probe end section, wherein the at least one light source projects light adjacent to the measurement device to facilitate viewing of a part being measured by the AACMM.

11. The AACMM of claim 10 wherein the at least one light source projects low coherence light.

12. The AACMM of claim 10 wherein the at least one light source is operably coupled to the electronic circuit to provide an indication of a status of the arm.

13. The AACMM of claim 10 further comprising a sensor coupled to the probe end section, wherein the at least one light source is operably coupled to the sensor to provide an indication of a sensed parameter.

14. The AACMM of claim 13 wherein the at least one light source is comprised of a plurality of LEDs.

15. The AACMM of claim 14 wherein the plurality of LEDs are variable spectrum LEDs and the plurality of LEDs change a shade of color in response to a parameter determined by the electronic circuit.

16. The AACMM of claim 15 wherein the electronic circuit determines the parameter based at least in part on a reading of a range finder or a pyrometer.

17. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement device coupled to a first end of the AACMM, the measurement device having a body, the body including at least one opening;

an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device;

a probe end section disposed between the first end and the measurement device, the probe end section having a housing and a handle; and

a light source having at least one LED operably coupled to the probe end section, wherein the light source cooperates with the at least one opening and projects visible light from the opening to facilitate viewing of a part being measured by the AACMM.

18. The AACMM of claim 17 further comprising at least one lens disposed within the at least one opening.

19. The AACMM of claim 18 wherein the body includes a conical surface and the at least one opening is disposed in the conical surface.

20. The AACMM of claim 18 wherein the body includes a conical surface having at least one recess and the at least one lens is arranged in the at least one recess.

21. The AACMM of claim 18 wherein the at least one LED is disposed within the housing.

22. The AACMM of claim 18 wherein the at least one LED is disposed within the body.

23. The AACMM of claim 17 further comprising a ring member disposed within the housing, the ring member operably coupled to the light source.

24. The AACMM of claim 17 wherein the light source is operably coupled to receive a signal from the electronic circuit, the light source changing color to provide an indication of a status of the AACMM in response to the signal.

25. The AACMM of claim 17 further comprising a sensor operably coupled to the probe end section and operably coupled to the light source, wherein the light source changes color in response to a signal from the sensor.

26. The AACMM of claim 25 wherein the sensor is a pyrometer and the light source changes color in response to a temperature threshold.

27. The AACMM of claim 25 wherein the sensor is a range finder and the light source changes color in response to a distance threshold.

28. The AACMM of claim 27 further comprising a laser line probe coupled to the probe end section, wherein the distance threshold is adjacent a focal point of the laser line probe.

30. The AACMM of claim 27, wherein the adjustable color projected from the at least one light source is responsive to a parameter determined by the electronic circuit.

29. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, the arm including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement device is coupled to the first end;

at least one light source disposed on the portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine, wherein the at least one light source has an adjustable color projected to illuminate a region adjacent to the measurement device; and

an electronic circuit that receives the position signals from the transducers, provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device, and controls the adjustable color.

31. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing position signals;

a probe end section coupled to the first end;

a measurement device attached to an end of the probe end section distal the first end;

an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device;

a handle coupled to a middle portion of the probe end section, wherein the middle portion is disposed between the measurement device and the first end;

at least one light source operably coupled to the handle on a side adjacent the measurement device, wherein the at least one light source projects light adjacent to the measurement device to facilitate viewing of a part being measured by the AACMM.

32. The AACMM of claim 31 wherein the at least one light source includes a first light source and a second light source, the first light source being coupled to the handle adjacent the measurement device and the second light source being positioned at an end of the handle opposite the first light source.

33. The AACMM of claim 31 wherein the handle includes a laser line probe adjacent the measurement device, the laser line probe having an optical device and a sensor, wherein the at least one light source is arranged between the optical device and the sensor.

34. The AACMM of claim 31 wherein the at least one light source projects a low coherence light.

35. The AACMM of claim 31 wherein the at least one light source projects a visible light only when the optical device is not projecting a light.

36. The AACMM of claim 31 wherein the light that passes into the sensor from the at least one light source is selectively attenuated based on a wavelength of the light.