Probe signalling

• US 6,776,344 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Renishaw PLC
• Original Assignee: Renishaw PLC
• Inventors: Daniel, Christopher J, Hellier, Peter K
• Primary Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/959,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01, 235/472.02
• US Class Current: 235/472.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/047 Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/008 using coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33198 Laser, light link, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50137 Contact in probe, touch probe to detect contact, touch trigger

Abstract

A measurement probe 1 for a machine tool has a housing 4/5 incorporating a window 6 which allows the optical transmission or receipt of signals from/to infrared transmitters 12 or receivers 13. To obviate the need to mount the transmitter and receiver components on an external surface of the housing, they are surface mounted to a circuit board 8′.

Claims

1. A probe for dimensional measurement and for optical wireless communication with a base station, the probe comprising:

a housing;

a window at the housing;

a circuit board which is bent and positioned within the housing adjacent the window; and

at least one optical signal transmitter or receiver mounted to the circuit board for optical signal communication with the base station during use;

wherein the window is transparent to the optical signal and is disposed around the circuit board such that the optical signal may pass through the window to or from the base station.

2. A probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window is an annulus.

3. A probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said at least one signal transmitter or receiver is a plurality of transmitters or receivers.

4. A probe as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of transmitters or receivers are spaced around the window on the circuit board.

5. A probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit board is positioned around the inside of the window.

6. A probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one transmitter or receiver is operable in the infrared spectrum.

7. A probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window is a filter.

8. A probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises two parts and the window is compressed between the two housing parts.