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Probe head

  • US 5,675,902 A
  • Filed: 06/29/1995
  • Issued: 10/14/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A coordinate positioning apparatus having an articulating probe head for orienting a probe relative to a movable arm of the apparatus with at least one rotational degree of freedom, the probe head including:

  • a base, by means of which the probe head may be mounted to the movable arm, at least one rotor, to which the probe is connectable, supported on the base in a manner permitting relative rotation of the rotor and base, a motor for rotating the rotor relative to the base, and at least one controllable heat source, actuable to generate heat within the probe head when the motor is not operating to rotate the rotor, the coordinate positioning apparatus further including a control having;

    operating means for intermittently operating the motor to rotate the rotor to orient the probe;

    monitoring means for continuously monitoring heat dissipated by said motor over intervals of sampling time and determining an instantaneous rate of heat dissipation;

    comparing means for comparing the instantaneous rate of heat dissipation with a nominal rate of heat dissipation; and

    actuating means for actuating the at least one controllable heat source to generate heat when the motor is not being operated to rotate the rotor, and the instantaneous rate of heat dissipation is lower than the nominal rate of heat dissipation.

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