Video imaging device with an integrated battery

• US 8,953,034 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milan Milosevic, Violet Milosevic
• Original Assignee: Milan Milosevic, Violet Milosevic
• Inventors: Milosevic, Milan, Milosevic, Violet
• Primary Examiner(s): SHINGLES, KRISTIE D
• Application Number:
  US11/805,184
• Time in Patent Office: 2,821 Days
• Field of Search: 348/92
• US Class Current: 348/92
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/2409 Arrangements for indirect observation of the working space using image recording means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/007 feeler heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/272 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8806 Specially adapted optical and illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/93 Detection standards; Calibrating baseline adjustment, drift correction

Abstract

A compact, battery powered video imaging device for use in XYZ stage equipped machines (such as milling machines, jig borers, coordinate measuring machines, etc.) that mounts into the spindle of such a machine and displays a magnified image of a part on the XYZ stage of the machine on an integrated video monitor such as a Liquid Crystal Display panel equipped with crosshairs or similar reference marks. The XYZ stage of the host machine is used to move the part so that various features of the part are brought into the crosshairs of the video monitor. In such a way the XYZ coordinates of various features of the part with respect to a selected reference feature, displayed on the host machine'"'"'s position readout, can be obtained. This procedure can be used to aid work piece setup, measure parts in-process without disturbing the setup, or to inspect finished parts for dimensional accuracy.

If a known good part or a specially manufactured precision gage plate is inspected by a host machine in such a way, the result is reflective of the accuracy of the XYZ stage and position display of the host machine and can be used to qualify the host machine for positional accuracy.

Claims

1. A video imaging device for use in XYZ stage equipped machine tools comprising:

an optical imaging component and an electronic camera coaxially arranged in a common housing with the image sensor of said electronic camera placed in the image plane of said optical imaging component,

a video monitor connected to said electronic camera and attached to said housing,

a battery attached to said housing providing power to said electronic camera and said video monitor,

said device having a means to mount into tool holder of said XYZ stage equipped machine tool by standard means, so that an object placed onto said XYZ stage can be moved in a precise and controlled way in the object plane of said optical imaging component and a magnified image of said object displayed on said attached video monitor;

wherein said video monitor incorporates crosshairs and the position of said crosshairs is adjustable to mark the position of a spindle axis of a host machine on a work piece, whereby enabling setup of said work piece in said host machine as well as in-process inspection of said work piece without disturbing said setup.

2. The video imaging device of claim 1 where a source of illumination is integrated into said device and powered by said integral battery.

3. The video imaging device from claim 1 where the signal from said camera is sent wirelessly to a remote computer for image display and/or analysis.

4. The video imaging device from claim 1 where the electronics of said camera enables electronic zoom.

5. The video imaging device from claim 1 used in a host machine in conjunction with a gage plate, said gage plate having a set of visual features in precisely known positions, said visual features being in a precise relationship to the external dimensions of said gage plate, said features being either of different color, or at a different height, so that the border between said features is clearly visually defined, but has no width so that said gage plate together with said video device can be used for the purpose of qualifying the positional accuracy of said host machine.

6. A video imaging device for use in XYZ stage equipped machine tools comprising:

an optical imaging component and an electronic camera coaxially arranged in a common housing with the image sensor of said electronic camera placed in the image plane of said optical imaging component, wherein the signal from said camera is broadcast wirelessly to a remote computer monitor for image display and analysis,

a battery attached to said housing providing power to said electronic camera,

a means to mount said video imaging device into said XYZ stage equipped machine tool via standard means, whereby said video imaging device produces a magnified image of an object placed in the object plane of said optical imaging component on said computer monitor;

wherein said computer monitor incorporates crosshairs and the position of said crosshairs is adjustable to mark the position of a spindle axis of a host machine on a work piece, whereby enabling setup of said work piece in said host machine as well as in-process inspection of said work piece without disturbing said setup.

7. The video imaging device of claim 6 where a source of illumination is integrated into said video imaging device and powered by said integral battery.

8. The video imaging device from claim 6 used in said host machine in conjunction with a gage plate, said gage plate having a set of visual features in precisely known positions, said visual features being in a precise relationship to the external dimensions of said gage plate, said features being either of different color, or at a different height, so that the border between said features is clearly visually defined, but has no width so that said gage plate together with said video device can be used for the purpose of qualifying the positional accuracy of said host machine.