AUTOMATICALLY GUIDED TOOLS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tool for automatically adjusting the location of a working member of the tool comprising:
- a stage adapted to receive the working member;
at least one motor adapted to move the stage;
at least one motor controller that controls the at least one motor;
a processor in combination with one or more software applications for processing data and providing information to the at least one motor controller;
at least one camera adapted for use with the processor for capturing images of a surface,wherein the captured images are processed to build a map of the surface;
wherein a subsequent captured image of the surface is processed to determine the location and orientation of the tool relative to the map; and
wherein the processor provides information to control the at least one motor to move the stage and working member to a desired location.
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Abstract
A position correcting system, method and tool for guiding a tool during its use based on its location relative to the material being worked on. Provided is a system and tool which uses its auto correcting technology to precisely rout or cut material. The invention provides a camera which is used to track the visual features of the surface of the material being cut to build a map and locate an image on that map used to reference the location of the tool for auto-correction of the cutting path.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A tool for automatically adjusting the location of a working member of the tool comprising:
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a stage adapted to receive the working member; at least one motor adapted to move the stage; at least one motor controller that controls the at least one motor; a processor in combination with one or more software applications for processing data and providing information to the at least one motor controller; at least one camera adapted for use with the processor for capturing images of a surface, wherein the captured images are processed to build a map of the surface; wherein a subsequent captured image of the surface is processed to determine the location and orientation of the tool relative to the map; and wherein the processor provides information to control the at least one motor to move the stage and working member to a desired location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8)
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10. A tool for automatically adjusting the location of a working member of the tool comprising:
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a stage adapted to receive the working member; at least one motor adapted to move the stage; at least one motor controller that controls the at least one motor; a processor in combination with one or more software applications for processing data and providing information to the at least one motor controller; at least one sensor adapted for use with the processor for capturing information about a working piece, wherein the captured information is processed to build a map of the working piece; wherein further sensor information is processed to determine the location and orientation of the tool relative to the map; and wherein the processor provides control information to control the at least one motor to move the stage and working member to a desired location. - View Dependent Claims (7, 9, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A rig for automatically adjusting the location of a working member comprising:
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a stage adapted to receive the working member of a tool; at least one motor adapted to move the stage; at least one motor controller that controls the at least one motor; a processor in combination with one or more software applications for processing data and providing information to the at least one motor controller; at least one sensor adapted for use with the processor for capturing information about a working piece, wherein the captured information is processed to build a map of the working piece; wherein further sensor information is processed to determine the location and orientation of the working member relative to the map; and wherein the processor provides control information to control the at least one motor to move the stage and working member to a desired location. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of locating a tool on a material, the tool being attached to a stage on a rig, comprising:
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selecting and registering a design to be rendered; preparing and aligning a position of the tool; advancing the tool in a first direction and within a selected range substantially adjacent to an outline of the design; and automatically realigning the tool to a boundary edge of the design in a second direction as the tool is advanced in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of cutting a design in a material based on a relative constant speed of movement of a tool, the tool being attached to a stage on a rig, comprising:
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displaying a target range window rendering an illustration of a point of reference of the tool, an intended cut path and a desired tool movement path that may be different from the intended cut path. aligning and advancing the tool in a first direction at the relative constant speed of movement along the desired tool movement path to cut away the material at the intended cut path; and automatically realigning the tool in a second direction to a boundary edge location of the intended cut path as the tool is advanced at the relative constant speed of movement in the first direction along the design. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification