Portable coordinate measurement machine with integrated touch probe and improved handle assembly

• US 6,920,697 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Raab, Simon, Barber, Marc, Sajedi, Seyed Ali, Haslorcher, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US10/366,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 335/03
• US Class Current: 33/503
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 35/04 using a feeler or the like travelling along the outline of the pattern, model or drawing; Feelers, patterns, or models therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 17/025 mounted in series
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0016 using springs
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0091 Shock absorbers in general F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0012 making use of synthetic construction materials, e.g. plastics, composites
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/023 Cartesian coordinate type
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/06 characterised by multi-articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1602 characterised by the control system, structure, architecture
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/005 coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/03 by measuring coordinates of points
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/25 by projecting a pattern, e.g. one or more lines, moiré fringes on the object G01B11/255 takes precedence ; image analysis for depth or shape recovery G06T7/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/045 Correction of measurements G01B9/02055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/004 for measuring coordinates of points
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/008 using coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/521 from laser ranging, e.g. using interferometry; from the projection of structured light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/01 Magnetic

Abstract

A portable coordinate measurement machine comprises an articulated arm having joint arm segments. The arm includes a probe at one end thereof. The probe has an integrally mounted touch trigger probe which is easily convertible to a hard probe. The probe also includes improved switches and a measurement indicator light. The probe further includes a rotatable handle cover surrounding the probe.

Claims

1. A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) for measuring the position of an object in a selected volume, comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of jointed arm segments, each arm including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm, said measurement probe having a housing;

an electronic circuit which receives the position signals from the transducers and provides a digital coordinate corresponding to the position of the probe in a selected volume;

a touch trigger probe assembly permanently installed onto said housing of said measurement probe; and

a hard probe attachable to said housing of said measurement probe, said hard probe covering at least a portion of said touch trigger probe assembly.

2,. The CMM of claim 1 including threading surrounding the periphery of said touch trigger probe assembly and wherein said hard probe is threadibly attached to said threading.

2. The CMM of claim 1 wherein said permanent installation of said touch trigger probe comprises said touch trigger probe assembly being threadibly connected to said housing of said measurement probe.

3. The CMM of claim 1 wherein said hard probe covers all of said touch trigger probe assembly.

4. A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) for measuring the position of an object in a selected volume, comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of jointed arm segments, each arm including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm, said measurement probe having a housing;

an electronic circuit which receives the position signals from the transducers and provides a digital coordinate corresponding to the position of the probe in a selected volume;

a touch trigger probe assembly permanently installed onto said housing of said measurement probe; and

threading surrounding the periphery of said touch trigger probe assembly and further including a threaded cover threadibly attached to said threading.

5. A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) for measuring the position of an object in a selected volume, comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of jointed arm segments, each arm including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm, said measurement probe having a housing;

an electronic circuit which receives the position signals from the transducers and provides a digital coordinate corresponding to the position of the probe in a selected volume; and

a cover on at least a portion of said housing of said measurement probe, said cover being rotatable with respect to said housing.

6. The CMM of claim 6 wherein:

said cover surrounds at least a portion of said housing.

7. The CMM of claim 6 including:

at least a pair of spaced bearings between said housing and said cover to effect said rotation.

8. The CMM of claim 6 including:

at least one switch rotatable with said cover.

11. The CMM of claim 6 including:

at least two switches rotatable with said cover.

22. The CMM of claim 6 wherein:

said cover is composed of polymeric material.

25. The CMM of claim 6 wherein said cover includes ergometric indentations for grasping by the hand of an operator.

9. The CMM of claim 9 including:

at least one indicator light associated with said switch.

10. The CMM of claim 9 wherein said measurement probe includes a processing circuit board therein and including:

a slip ring conductor electrically coupling said at least one switch to said processing circuit board.

12. The CMM of claim 12 including:

at least one indicator light associated with said switches.

15. The CMM of claim 12 wherein:

said switches are differentiated from each other to minimize operator confusion.

17. The CMM of claim 12 wherein:

said at least two switches have an arcuate shape.

13. The CMM of claim 13 wherein:

said indicator light comprises an LED.

14. The CMM of claim 14 wherein:

said LED emits at least two colors.

16. The CMM of claim 16 wherein said differentiations include differences in at least one of relative height, surface texture and color.

18. The CMM of claim 18 wherein:

said switches have an oblong, arcuate shape.

19. The CMM of claim 18 wherein:

said switches extend around a major portion of said housing of said measurement probe.

20. The CMM of claim 18 including:

two pairs of arcuate shaped switches.

21. The CMM of claim 21 wherein each pair of switches is positioned on opposed sides of said housing.

23. The CMM of claim 23 wherein:

said cover is elastomeric.

24. The CMM of claim 23 wherein:

said cover is a rigid plastic.

26. A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) for measuring the position of an object in a selected volume, comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of jointed arm segments, each arm including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm, said measurement probe having a housing;

an electronic circuit which receives the position signals from the transducers and provides a digital coordinate corresponding to the position of the probe in a selected volume;

a touch trigger probe assembly integrally attached to said housing of said measurement probe; and

a hard probe attachable to said housing of said measurement probe, said hard probe covering at least a portion of said touch trigger probe assembly.

27. The CMM of claim 27 wherein said hard probe covers all of said touch trigger probe assembly.

28. The CMM of claim 27 including threading surrounding the periphery of said touch trigger probe assembly and wherein said hard probe is threadibly attached to said threading.

29. The CMM of claim 27 wherein said touch trigger probe assembly is threadibly connected to said housing of said measurement probe.

30. A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) for measuring the position of an object in a selected volume, comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of jointed arm segments, each arm including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm, said measurement probe having a housing;

an electronic circuit which receives the position signals from the transducers and provides a digital coordinate corresponding to the position of the probe in a selected volume;

a touch trigger probe assembly integrally attached to said housing of said measurement probe;

threading surrounding the periphery of said touch trigger probe assembly; and

a threaded cover threadibly attached to said threading.

31. The CMM of claim 31 wherein said touch trigger probe assembly is threadibly connected to said housing of said measurement probe.

32. A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) for measuring the position of an object in a selected volume, comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of jointed arm segments, each arm including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm, said measurement probe having a housing;

an electronic circuit which receives the position signals from the transducers and provides a digital coordinate corresponding to the position of the probe in a selected volume;

a touch trigger probe assembly attached to said housing of said measurement probe; and

a hard probe attachable to said housing of said measurement probe, said hard probe covering at least a portion of said touch trigger probe assembly.

33. The CMM of claim 33 wherein said hard probe covers all of said touch trigger probe assembly.

34. The CMM of claim 33 including threading surrounding the periphery of said touch trigger probe assembly and wherein said hard probe is threadibly attached to said threading.

35. The CMM of claim 33 wherein said touch trigger probe assembly is threadibly connected to said housing of said measurement probe.

36. A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) for measuring the position of an object in a selected volume, comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of jointed arm segments, each arm including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm, said measurement probe having a housing;

an electronic circuit which receives the position signals from the transducers and provides a digital coordinate corresponding to the position of the probe in a selected volume;

a touch trigger probe assembly attached to said housing of said measurement probe;

threading surrounding the periphery of said touch trigger probe; and

a threaded cover threadibly attached to said threading.

37. The CMM of claim 37 wherein said touch trigger probe assembly is threadibly connected to said housing of said measurement probe.