Digitizing system and rotary table for determining 3-D geometry of an object
First Claim
1. A device for measuring a three-dimensional geometry of an object, comprising:
- a support base;
a turntable coupled to the support base and configured to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to a surface of the turntable, the turntable configured to support an object, the turntable and the object configured to rotate about the axis at least during making a measurement of the three-dimensional geometry of the object; and
a sensor coupled to the support base, the sensor configured to measure an angular rotation of the turntable, the sensor configured to send sensor data associated with the angular rotation to a processor, the processor configured to determine the three-dimensional geometry of the object based on the measurement and the angular rotation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digitizing system and rotary table for determining the three dimensional geometry of an object is described. An apparatus includes at least one sensor that detects information describing the three-dimensional geometry of the object and provides the information to a host computer. A rotary table includes a base and a turntable rotatable about an axis positioned perpendicularly to the turntable surface. The turntable and object on its surface rotate about the axis, during or between the sensor detecting the information describing the three-dimensional geometry of the object. A turntable sensor coupled to the base measures the rotation of the turntable, where the turntable sensor outputs turntable data indicative of the rotation to the host computer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for measuring a three-dimensional geometry of an object, comprising:
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a support base; a turntable coupled to the support base and configured to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to a surface of the turntable, the turntable configured to support an object, the turntable and the object configured to rotate about the axis at least during making a measurement of the three-dimensional geometry of the object; and a sensor coupled to the support base, the sensor configured to measure an angular rotation of the turntable, the sensor configured to send sensor data associated with the angular rotation to a processor, the processor configured to determine the three-dimensional geometry of the object based on the measurement and the angular rotation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for measuring a three-dimensional geometry of an object, comprising:
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a support base; a turntable coupled to the support base and configured to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to a surface of the turntable, the turntable configured to support an object, the turntable and the object configured to rotate about the axis one of during making a measurement of the three-dimensional geometry of the object and between making measurements from a plurality of measurements of the three-dimensional geometry of the object; a sensor coupled to the support base, the sensor configured to measure an angular rotation of the turntable, the sensor configured to send sensor data associated with the angular rotation to a processor, the processor configured to determine the three-dimensional geometry of the object based on the measurement and the angular rotation; a probe, the probe being configured to physically trace a surface of the object to detect three-dimensional coordinates associated with the three-dimensional geometry of the object, wherein the turntable includes a first receptacle disposed adjacent a periphery of the turntable and a second receptacle disposed adjacent a center of the turntable, each of the receptacles being configured to receive the probe in an initialization procedure associated with calibrating a position of the turntable relative to the probe.
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13. A system for measuring a three-dimensional geometry of an object, comprising:
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(a) an apparatus including at least one sensor configured to detect information associated with the three-dimensional geometry of the object and configured to provide the information to a processor; and (b) a rotary table including; (i) a base; (ii) a turntable coupled to the base and being configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a surface of the turntable, the turntable configured to receive on said surface the object, the turntable and the object being configured to rotate about the axis at least during detecting information associated with three-dimensional geometry of the object; and (iii) a turntable sensor coupled to the base, the turntable sensor configured to measure a rotation of the turntable about the axis, said turntable sensor being configured to output turntable data associated with the rotation to the processor, a determination of the three-dimensional geometry being based on the turntable data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for measuring a three-dimensional geometry of an object, comprising:
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(a) an apparatus including at least one sensor configured to detect information associated with the three-dimensional geometry of the object and configured to provide the information to a processor; and (b) a rotary table including; (i) a base; (ii) a turntable coupled to the base and being configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a surface of the turntable, the turntable configured to receive on said surface the object, the turntable and the object being configured to rotate about the axis one of during detecting information and between subsequent detections of the information associated with three-dimensional geometry of the object; and (iii) a turntable sensor coupled to the base, the turntable sensor configured to measure a rotation of the turntable about the axis, said turntable sensor being configured to output turntable data associated with the rotation to the processor, a determination of the three-dimensional geometry being based on the turntable data, wherein the turntable data is operative to locate the object on the rotary table with respect to the apparatus after the turntable is rotated, wherein the apparatus is a probe including an interface microprocessor separate from the processor and coupled to the probe, the turntable sensor, and the processor, the interface microprocessor being configured to receive the information and the turntable data and to send the information and the turntable data to the processor.
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20. A system for measuring a three-dimensional geometry of an object, comprising:
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(a) an apparatus including at least one sensor configured to detect information associated with the three-dimensional geometry of the object and configured to provide the information to a processor; and (b) a rotary table including; (i) a base; (ii) a turntable coupled to the base and being configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a surface of the turntable, the turntable configured to receive on said surface the object, the turntable and the object being configured to rotate about the axis one of during detecting information and between subsequent detections of the information associated with three-dimensional geometry of the object; and (iii) a turntable sensor coupled to the base, the turntable sensor configured to measure a rotation of the turntable about the axis, said turntable sensor being configured to output turntable data associated with the rotation to the processor, a determination of the three-dimensional geometry being based on the turntable data, wherein the turntable data is operative to locate the object on the rotary table with respect to the apparatus after the turntable is rotated, wherein the apparatus is a probe configured to trace a surface of the object to generate probe data, the at least one sensor configured to generate data associated with the three-dimensional geometry of the object based on the probe data, wherein the probe includes; a first joint member; a first linkage rotatably coupled to the first joint member; a second joint member rigidly coupled to the first linkage; a second linkage rigidly coupled to the second joint member; and a third joint member rigidly coupled to the second linkage and to a probe base.
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Specification