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Touch probe including a waveguide

  • US 5,118,956 A
  • Filed: 08/21/1990
  • Issued: 06/02/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A touch probe for sensing the position of a surface, having a housing, a stylus carrier supported within the housing, an elongate stylus connected to the stylus carrier, and means for providing a repeatable rest location for said stylus carrier in said housing, enabling movement of said stylus carrier from said rest position responsive to a deflecting force on the stylus and return of said stylus carrier to said rest position when said deflecting force is removed, the probe further comprising means for detecting contact between the stylus and the workpiece, the detecting means comprising:

  • an electromagnetic wave source for providing waves along a path;

    a sensor provided in said path and coupled to the stylus, for interacting with said waves and for changing state responsive to deformation of the stylus prior to movement of the stylus carrier;

    said change of sate of the sensor causing a change in one or more of the properties of the waves; and

    a detector for detecting said change.

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