Touch probe including a waveguide
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A touch-trigger probe is provided with a sensor (which may be a mirror (106), an optical fibre (206), or a bi-refringent element (307)) which changes state by vibrating or undergoing strain when a stylus connected to the probe contacts a workpiece. The sensor is typically provided on (in the case of the mirror (106)), or in (in the case of the optical fibre (206)) the stylus. The change of state of the sensor causes a change in the path length, polarization state, or intensity of light waves conveyed by the sensor. An interferometer may be provided to detect such changes. Other forms of electromagnetic waves may be used to the same effect.
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Citations
14 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification