Method and apparatus for numerically controlled probing
First Claim
1. A probing system for determining a measured set of dimensions of at least one feature of an object, said system comprising:
- an input device that receives an ideal set of dimension of the at least one feature, said input device generating a first signal indicative of an amount of samples and a location of each of the samples of the at least one feature;
a probe device, electrically connected to said input device, said probe device receiving the first signal from said input device, and in response directing a probe to the location of each of the samples, said probe device outputting a second signal indicative of measured three-dimensional locations of the samples; and
a processor electrically connected to said probe device, said processor receiving the second signal indicative of the measured three-dimensional locations of the samples, said processor operating upon said second signal to numerically rotate the three-dimensional measured locations about a single one of the samples until each of the samples is numerically represented as a point lying on a single two dimensional plane, said processor using the numerically rotated samples to calculate a set of rotated dimensions, said processor then operating on said rotated dimensions to numerically counter-rotate said rotated dimensions about the single one of the samples to determine the measured set of dimensions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A probing system used for determining a measured set of dimensions of at least one feature of an object. The system comprises an input device that receives an ideal set of dimension of the at least one feature. The input device generates a first signal indicative of an amount and location of sample measurements taken of the at least one feature. The system also comprises a probe device, which is electrically connected to the input device. The probe device receives the first signal from the input device, and in response directs a probe to the location of the measurements to be taken for each of the amount of sample measurements indicated. The probe device outputs a second signal indicative of a measured location for each of the amount of samples taken. The system further comprises a processor electrically connected to the probe device. The processor receives the second signal indicative of the measured locations of each of the samples taken, and rotates the measured locations about a single sample so all samples can be represented as a point lying on a two dimensional plane. Further, the processor uses the rotated samples to calculate a set of rotated dimensions, and then counter-rotates the rotated dimensions back to the positions of the measured locations to determine the measured set of dimensions of the feature.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A probing system for determining a measured set of dimensions of at least one feature of an object, said system comprising:
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an input device that receives an ideal set of dimension of the at least one feature, said input device generating a first signal indicative of an amount of samples and a location of each of the samples of the at least one feature; a probe device, electrically connected to said input device, said probe device receiving the first signal from said input device, and in response directing a probe to the location of each of the samples, said probe device outputting a second signal indicative of measured three-dimensional locations of the samples; and a processor electrically connected to said probe device, said processor receiving the second signal indicative of the measured three-dimensional locations of the samples, said processor operating upon said second signal to numerically rotate the three-dimensional measured locations about a single one of the samples until each of the samples is numerically represented as a point lying on a single two dimensional plane, said processor using the numerically rotated samples to calculate a set of rotated dimensions, said processor then operating on said rotated dimensions to numerically counter-rotate said rotated dimensions about the single one of the samples to determine the measured set of dimensions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for determining a measured set of dimensions of at least one feature of an object, said method comprising the steps of:
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inputting an ideal set of dimensions of the at least one feature; generating an amount and location of samples taken of the at least one feature based on the ideal set of dimensions; directing a probe to the location of the samples; outputting measured location points, each representing a three-dimensional location, where the probe makes contact with the object; calculating a numerical rotation of the measured location points, each of the points corresponding to one of the samples, about a designated one of the measured location points until each of the rotated location points is lying on a two dimensional plane; calculating a rotated measured set of dimensions using the numerically rotated location points; and calculating a numerical counter-rotation of the rotated measured set of dimensions around the designated one of the location points to determine the measured set of the dimensions. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of simplifying a calculation of a series of three-dimensional data points sampled along 5 axes of a Numerically Controlled machine by repositioning the series of three-dimensional data points such that each of the data points is lying along a plane defined by an X and Y axes, allowing the calculation of a measured set of dimensions by the Numerically Controlled machine to be performed rapidly, said method comprising the steps of:
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designating a first point of the data points sampled along the 5 axes of the Numerically Controlled machine as an origin for defining each remaining one of the data points in polar coordinates; calculating a numerical rotation of each of the data points by some angle, except the first point, around the origin until all newly positioned points are parallel with the Y-axes of the Numerically Controlled machine; and calculating a numerical rotation of the rotated newly positioned data points around the origin until the series of data points is lying along the plane defined by the X and Y axes of the Numerically Controlled machine.
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Specification