Topological and motion measuring tool
First Claim
1. A measuring device for providing data corresponding to a geometric configuration in space, said device being in the form of a flexible, compliant, measurement member capable of bending in at least one degree of freedom, said member extending along a medial axis or plane and having spaced flexure sensors distributed at sensing locales having known locations on said member and separated by known sensor spacing intervals to provide flexure signals indicating the local state of flexure present at said locations;
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(1) the measurement member comprises a multiplicity of formed fibers, (2) such fibers being generally non-straight when the medial axis or plane of the member is respectively straight or flat, (3) said formed fibers including sensing fibers having sensing portions which provide said flexure sensors, (4) the sensing portions of different fibers being located at differing distances along said member so as to be located at said sensing locales spaced at said sensor spacing intervals, (5) the overall form of the measurement member being maintained substantially by the form of said formed fibers, alone or by their continuous or repeated contact with each other, to provide the strength or stability of the member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A measuring device for providing data corresponding to a geometric configuration in space, in the form of a flexible, compliant, measurement member capable of bending in at least one degree of freedom and extending along a medial axis or plane. The member has spaced flexure sensors distributed at known locations on the member and separated by known sensor spacing intervals to provide flexure signals indicating the local state of flexure present at the locations. The member comprises a multiplicity of formed, i.e. shaped, fibers, these fibers including sensing fibers having sensing portions which provide the flexure sensors, the sensing portions of different fibers being located at differing distances along the member so as to be located at the sensor spacing intervals, the formed fibers being in mutually supporting relationship, as by continuous or repeated contact with each other. Such fibers may constitute most or all of the member.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A measuring device for providing data corresponding to a geometric configuration in space, said device being in the form of a flexible, compliant, measurement member capable of bending in at least one degree of freedom, said member extending along a medial axis or plane and having spaced flexure sensors distributed at sensing locales having known locations on said member and separated by known sensor spacing intervals to provide flexure signals indicating the local state of flexure present at said locations;
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wherein;
(1) the measurement member comprises a multiplicity of formed fibers, (2) such fibers being generally non-straight when the medial axis or plane of the member is respectively straight or flat, (3) said formed fibers including sensing fibers having sensing portions which provide said flexure sensors, (4) the sensing portions of different fibers being located at differing distances along said member so as to be located at said sensing locales spaced at said sensor spacing intervals, (5) the overall form of the measurement member being maintained substantially by the form of said formed fibers, alone or by their continuous or repeated contact with each other, to provide the strength or stability of the member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39)
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38. A measuring tool for providing data corresponding to a geometric configuration in space comprising:
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(1) a flexible, compliant, measurement member extending along a medial axis or plane and capable of bending in at least one degree of freedom, said member having spaced flexure sensors at known locations distributed on said member and separated by flexure sensor spacing intervals to provide flexure signals indicating the local state of flexure present at said locations;
(2) sensor data processing means coupled to the flexure sensors for receiving flexure signals therefrom and for presenting data on the geometric configuration of the member in three dimensional space, said data processing means operating by interpolating or extrapolating the geometric configuration of the member from the flexure signals provided by the flexure sensors and the spacings intervals between such sensors;
wherein the measurement member comprises a multiplicity of formed fibers, such fibers being non-straight when the medial axis or plane of the member is respectively straight or flat, said formed fibers including sensing fibers having sensing portions which provide said flexure sensors, the sensing portions of different fibers being located at differing distances along said fibers so as to be located at said sensor spacing intervals, said formed fibers being in mutually supporting relationship, as by continuous or repeated contact with each other, so as to contribute materially to the strength or stability of the member, the overall form of the measurement member being maintained substantially by the form of the said formed fibers, alone or by their continuous or repeated contact with each other, to provide the strength or stability of the member.
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Specification