Deactivatable measurement apparatus
First Claim
1. Dimensional measurement apparatus for use with a machine tool or co-ordinate measuring machine, comprising:
- a measurement probe and a probe interface,the measurement probe comprising a measurement portion for acquiring object position measurements, the measurement portion comprising a deflectable stylus and a stylus deflection measurement mechanism;
the probe interface comprising an output portion, a deactivation portion and an apparatus usage module;
wherein the output portion is configured to measurement data relating to the acquired object position measurements to a machine controller of the machine tool or co-ordinate measuring machine, the machine controller using measurement data received from the output portion in combination with machine position information to measure a dimension of an object;
the deactivation portion enables normal operation of the measurement apparatus to be inhibited such that output of the measurement data from the output portion to the machine controller is prevented; and
wherein the deactivation portion is configured, in use, to reads apparatus usage information from the apparatus usage module and inhibits normal operation of the dimensional measurement apparatus if said apparatus usage information fails to meet one or more predetermined criteria, the apparatus usage information providing a measure of the amount of probe interface usage,the apparatus usage module is integrated within the probe interface and includes an internal memory that stores said apparatus usage information, andthe measurement apparatus can be interfaced with an associated unit, the associated unit allowing the apparatus usage information stored in the internal memory of the apparatus usage module to be refreshed.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Measurement apparatus is described that comprises a measurement portion for acquiring object measurements and an output portion for outputting measurement data relating to the acquired object measurements. A deactivation portion is provided for inhibiting normal operation of the measurement apparatus such that output of the measurement data is prevented. The deactivation portion, in use, reads apparatus usage information from an apparatus usage module and inhibits normal operation of the measurement apparatus if said apparatus usage information fails to meet one or more predetermined criteria. The apparatus usage module may be provided as an integral part of the measurement apparatus or as a separate activation button. The measurement apparatus may comprise a measurement probe such as a touch trigger measurement probe.
24 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Dimensional measurement apparatus for use with a machine tool or co-ordinate measuring machine, comprising:
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a measurement probe and a probe interface, the measurement probe comprising a measurement portion for acquiring object position measurements, the measurement portion comprising a deflectable stylus and a stylus deflection measurement mechanism; the probe interface comprising an output portion, a deactivation portion and an apparatus usage module; wherein the output portion is configured to measurement data relating to the acquired object position measurements to a machine controller of the machine tool or co-ordinate measuring machine, the machine controller using measurement data received from the output portion in combination with machine position information to measure a dimension of an object; the deactivation portion enables normal operation of the measurement apparatus to be inhibited such that output of the measurement data from the output portion to the machine controller is prevented; and wherein the deactivation portion is configured, in use, to reads apparatus usage information from the apparatus usage module and inhibits normal operation of the dimensional measurement apparatus if said apparatus usage information fails to meet one or more predetermined criteria, the apparatus usage information providing a measure of the amount of probe interface usage, the apparatus usage module is integrated within the probe interface and includes an internal memory that stores said apparatus usage information, and the measurement apparatus can be interfaced with an associated unit, the associated unit allowing the apparatus usage information stored in the internal memory of the apparatus usage module to be refreshed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification