Shockwave probe
First Claim
1. In a control system for a tool-positioning robot,a work-sensing probe that senses the locus of work to be performed, including the loci of a continuum of such work, without physically contacting the work, comprisingmeans for generating a focused shockwave,means for receiving the reflection of a focused shockwave,means for differentiating the time/pressure parameters of the original shockwave from those of its reflection,and means for translating the observed parametric differences into an electric signal within the control system to direct the robot to position the tool at the sensed locus of the work.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Probe method and means are disclosed for guiding and positioning a robot-actuated tool, such as a gripper or a welding head, through at least one transceiver for generating and sensing focused shockwaves, the probe being associated with the tool for relative movement with respect to the object or objects being sensed, without physically contacting the same.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a control system for a tool-positioning robot,
a work-sensing probe that senses the locus of work to be performed, including the loci of a continuum of such work, without physically contacting the work, comprising means for generating a focused shockwave, means for receiving the reflection of a focused shockwave, means for differentiating the time/pressure parameters of the original shockwave from those of its reflection, and means for translating the observed parametric differences into an electric signal within the control system to direct the robot to position the tool at the sensed locus of the work.
- 19. The method of sensing the presence and location of an object, without physically contacting it, that includes generating a focused shockwave, beaming the shockwave with the object at the focus of the shockwave so that a sufficient amount of the energy of the shockwave is reflected from it, receiving the reflection, and translating the parameters of time, distance, and pressure difference of the shockwave and its reflection into an electric signal.
Specification