Electro-optical sensors for tool and robotic inspection
DCFirst Claim
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1. A method of determining a dimension and a surface characteristic of an object comprising:
- providing a machine comprising means for interchangeably positioning sensor members in an operative position on said machine;
providing a plurality of different sensor members, each sensor member being positionable in said operative position and comprising optical means mounted therein for receiving light from an object or from a contact member in contact with said object and for conveying said light out of said sensor member, said optical means of a first sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a dimension of an object and said optical means of a second sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a surface characteristic of an object;
providing an image scanning light detector remote from said sensor for detecting said light conveyed out of said sensor member;
positioning said first sensor member in said operative position on said machine;
directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is received by said optical means of said first sensor member and is directed out of said first sensor member and to said remote image scanning light detector;
determining, from light detected by said remote image scanning light detector, a dimension of said object;
positioning said second sensor member in said operative position on said machine;
directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is received by said optical means of said second sensor member and is conveyed out of said sensor member and to said image scanning light detector; and
determining, from light detected by said image scanning light detector, a surface characteristic of said object.
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Abstract
An electro-optical sensor probe is removably mounted on a conventional machine tool, for example, at a location whereat a tool would normally be mounted, for sensing the condition of a workpiece. Signals received by the sensor probe can be conveyed to a control location either by radio telemetry or across electrical and/or fiber optic lines operationally coupled to the sensor probe. Alternatively, robot based positioning of said probes is disclosed.
133 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of determining a dimension and a surface characteristic of an object comprising:
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providing a machine comprising means for interchangeably positioning sensor members in an operative position on said machine; providing a plurality of different sensor members, each sensor member being positionable in said operative position and comprising optical means mounted therein for receiving light from an object or from a contact member in contact with said object and for conveying said light out of said sensor member, said optical means of a first sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a dimension of an object and said optical means of a second sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a surface characteristic of an object; providing an image scanning light detector remote from said sensor for detecting said light conveyed out of said sensor member; positioning said first sensor member in said operative position on said machine; directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is received by said optical means of said first sensor member and is directed out of said first sensor member and to said remote image scanning light detector; determining, from light detected by said remote image scanning light detector, a dimension of said object; positioning said second sensor member in said operative position on said machine; directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is received by said optical means of said second sensor member and is conveyed out of said sensor member and to said image scanning light detector; and determining, from light detected by said image scanning light detector, a surface characteristic of said object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for determining a dimension and a surface characteristic of an object comprising;
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means for interchangeably positioning a sensor member in an operative position on said apparatus; a plurality of different sensor members, each sensor member being positionable in said operative position and comprising optical means mounted therein for receiving light from an object or from a contact member in contact with said object and for conveying said light out of said sensor member, said optical means of a first sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a dimension of an object and said optical means of a second sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a surface characteristic of an object; an image light scanning detector remote from said sensor for detecting said light conveyed out of said sensor member; means for positioning said first sensor member in said operative position; means for directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is directed out of said first sensor member and to said remote image scanning light detector; means for determining, from light detected by said remote image scanning light detector, a dimension of said object; means for positioning said second sensor member in said operative position on said machine; means for directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is received by said optical means of said second sensor member and is conveyed out of said second sensor member and to said remote image scanning light detector; and means for determining, from light detected by said image scanning light detector, a surface characteristic of said object. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification