Portable coordinate measurement machine having a handle that includes electronics

• US 8,931,182 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2012
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• 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 M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, G. Bradley
• Application Number:
  US13/412,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20120222324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 335/03
• US Class Current: 33/503
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1692 Calibration of manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/005 coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/042 Calibration or calibration artifacts G01B3/30, G01B9/02072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/008 using coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/008 using coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/401 characterised by control arrangements for measuring, e.g. calibration and initialisation, measuring workpiece for machining purposes G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37193 Multicoordinate measuring system, machine, cmm
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40233 Portable robot
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45061 Measuring robot

Abstract

A portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine, comprising: a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, the articulated arm including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; a base section connected to the second end; and a probe assembly including a probe end and a handle; wherein the probe assembly is connected to the first end; wherein the handle contains electronics that include a processor; wherein the handle is configured to be gripped by a hand; and wherein the articulated arm coordinate measurement machine is configured to measure a three-dimensional coordinate of a point in space associated with the probe end.

Claims

1. A portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine, comprising:

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

a base section connected to the second end; and

a probe assembly including a probe end and a handle;

wherein the probe assembly is connected to the first end;

wherein the handle contains electronics that include a processor;

wherein the handle is configured to be gripped by a hand; and

wherein the articulated arm coordinate measurement machine is configured to measure a three-dimensional coordinate of a point in space associated with the probe end.

2. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 1, wherein:

the probe end has a ball portion having a center and a generally cylindrically symmetric portion having an axis of symmetry, the axis of symmetry passing through the center;

the handle is configured to be grasped by fingers and a palm of the hand, the fingers and the palm generally wrapping around a line passing through the handle, the handle having a first space internal to a region grasped by the fingers and the palm; and

the line is perpendicular to the axis of symmetry.

3. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 2, wherein the handle is configured rotate about the axis of symmetry.

4. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 3, further comprising a slip ring assembly configured to transmit electrical signals between the probe end and the handle.

5. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 1, further comprising a switch attached to the handle.

6. A portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine, comprising:

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

a base section connected to the second end; and

a probe assembly having a probe end and a handle;

wherein the probe assembly is attached to the first end;

wherein the probe end has a ball portion having a center and a generally cylindrically symmetric portion having an axis of symmetry, the axis of symmetry passing through the center;

wherein the handle is configured to be grasped by fingers and a palm of a hand, the fingers and the palm generally wrapping around a line passing through the handle, the handle having a first space internal to a region grasped by the fingers and the palm;

wherein the line is perpendicular to the axis of symmetry,

wherein the handle contains an electronic component in the first space; and

wherein the articulated arm coordinate measurement machine is configured to measure a three-dimensional coordinate of a point in space associated with the probe end.

7. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 6, wherein the handle is configured rotate about the axis of symmetry.

8. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 7, further comprising a slip ring assembly configured to transmit electrical signals between the probe end and the handle.

9. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 6, further comprising a first electronic circuit, wherein a portion of the first electronic circuit is built on a circuit board, and wherein the circuit board is located in the handle.

10. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 9, wherein the first electronic circuit further comprises a processor.

11. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 9, wherein the first electronic circuit includes a temperature sensor.

12. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 6, further comprising a light attached to the handle.

13. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 6, wherein the probe end includes a touch trigger probe having a portion of a round ball.

14. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 6, further comprising a switch attached to the handle.

15. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 6, wherein the handle is configured to allow gripping and manipulation by a probe operator.

16. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 6, further comprising a second electronic circuit configured to receive the position signals from the transducers.

17. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 7, wherein the probe assembly further comprises a first encoder configured to measure the handle rotation.

18. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 6, wherein a laser is included in the first space.

19. The portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 6, wherein a camera is included in the first space.