Probe signalling

• US 7,441,707 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2004
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Renishaw PLC
• Original Assignee: Renishaw PLC
• Inventors: Daniel, Christopher J., Hellier, Peter K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai; Thien T
• Application Number:
  US10/856,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20040219886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/375, 235/472, 235/472.02, 310/67.R, 250/352, 102/262, 296/13, 415/90, 362/120, 324/76.11
• US Class Current: 235/472.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/047 Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/008 using coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33198 Laser, light link, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50137 Contact in probe, touch probe to detect contact, touch trigger

Abstract

A measurement probe for a machine tool has a housing incorporating a window that allows the optical transmission or receipt of signals from/to infrared transmitters or receivers. To obviate the need to mount the transmitter and receiver components on an external surface of the housing, they are surface mounted to a circuit board.

Claims

1. A probe for dimensional measurement and for wireless signal communication with a base station, the probe comprising:

a housing that includes two parts;

a member that connects the two parts;

a signal-transparent window that is located between the two parts and extends around the member; and

a circuit board lying at least partially between the member and the window for the signal communication with the base station.

2. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one of a signal transmitter or a signal receiver for the signal communication with the base station mounted on the circuit board.

3. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of a plurality of signal transmitters or a plurality of signal receivers are mounted on the circuit board.

4. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one of a plurality of signal transmitters or a plurality of signal receivers are positioned on the circuit board near the window.

5. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the at least one signal transmitter or signal receiver is an optical device operable in the infrared spectrum.

6. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window is substantially annular.

7. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window is a filter.

8. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window is compressed between the two parts.

9. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member connecting the two parts is a pillar joining the two parts.

10. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit board is bent around the member and is near the window.

11. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a seal is provided between the window and the two parts.

21. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member that connects the two parts comprises a plurality of bolts.

30. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member extends through the circuit board.

32. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plurality of signal transmitters and a plurality of signal receivers are mounted on the circuit board.

12. A probe for dimensional measurement and for optical wireless signal communication with a base station, the probe comprising:

a housing that includes two substantially cylindrical parts;

a member that connects the two parts;

a substantially annular signal-transparent window that is located between the two parts and extends around the member;

a circuit board lying at least partially between the member and the window; and

at least one of a plurality of transmitters or a plurality of receivers mounted on the circuit board near the window for the optical signal communication with the base station.

22. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the member that connects the two parts is a pillar joining the two parts.

23. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the circuit board is bent around the member and is near the window.

24. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 12, wherein a seal is provided between the window and the two parts.

25. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the member that connects the two parts comprises a plurality of bolts.

29. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one of a plurality of transmitters or a plurality of receivers are mounted on the circuit board between the member and the window.

31. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the member extends through the circuit board.

33. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 12, wherein a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers are mounted on the circuit board near the window.

13. A probe for dimensional measurement and for optical wireless communication with a base station, the probe comprising:

a housing;

a signal-transparent window;

a circuit board; and

at least one of an optical signal transmitter or an optical signal receiver, wherein;

the circuit board is within the housing,

the window is transparent to an optical signal,

each of the at least one transmitter or receiver is mounted solely to the circuit board and is near the window for optical signal communication with the base station during use, and

the circuit board is bent and positioned within the housing near the window.

14. A probe as claimed in claim 13, wherein the window is substantially annular.

15. A probe as claimed in claim 13, wherein the circuit board includes at least one of a plurality of transmitters or a plurality of receivers near the window.

16. A probe as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one of a plurality of transmitters or a plurality of receivers are positioned on the circuit board near the window.

17. A probe as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the at least one transmitter or receiver is operable in the infrared spectrum.

18. A probe as claimed in claim 13, wherein the window is a filter.

19. A probe as claimed in claim 13, wherein the housing includes two parts, with the window separating the two parts.

20. A probe as claimed in claim 19, wherein the circuit board is formed around a pillar joining the two parts.

34. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 16, wherein a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers are mounted on the circuit board near the window.

26. A probe for dimensional measurement and for optical wireless signal communication with a base station, the probe comprising:

a housing that includes two substantially cylindrical parts;

a member that connects the two parts;

a substantially annular signal-transparent window that is located between the two parts and extends around the member;

a circuit board; and

at least one of a plurality of transmitters or a plurality of receivers mounted on the circuit board, wherein;

at least a part of the circuit board is positioned between the member and the window,

the part of the circuit board that is positioned between the member and the window has the at least one of a plurality of transmitters or a plurality of receivers mounted thereon and

the at least one of a plurality of transmitters or a plurality of receivers are positioned near the window for the optical signal communication with the base station.

27. A probe according to claim 26, wherein the member comprises a plurality of bolts, with the bolts passing through the circuit board.

28. A probe according to claim 26, wherein a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers are mounted on the circuit board.

35. A probe for dimensional measurement and for optical wireless communication with a base station, the probe comprising:

a housing that includes two parts;

a member that connects the two parts;

a signal-transparent window that is located between the two parts and extends around the member;

a circuit board; and

at least one of an optical signal transmitter or an optical signal receiver mounted on the circuit board, wherein;

the member extends through the circuit board,

the at least one of an optical signal transmitter or an optical signal receiver is mounted on the circuit board near the window, and

optical signals may pass through the window for the optical wireless communication with the base station.

36. A probe according to claim 35, wherein a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers are mounted on the circuit board.

37. A probe for dimensional measurement and for optical wireless communication with a base station, the probe comprising:

a housing that includes two parts;

a member that connects the two parts;

a signal-transparent window that is located between the two parts and extends around the member;

a circuit board; and

at least one of an optical signal transmitter or an optical signal receiver mounted at an outer circumferential surface of the circuit board, wherein;

an inner radial surface of the member is located inward of the outer circumferential surface, and

optical signals may pass through the window for the optical wireless communication with the base station.

38. A probe for dimensional measurement and for optical wireless communication with a base station, the probe comprising:

a housing that includes two parts;

a member that connects the two parts;

a signal-transparent window that is located between the two parts and extends around the member;

a circuit board; and

at least one of an optical signal transmitter or an optical signal receiver mounted on the circuit board, wherein;

a distance between the window and the at least one of an optical signal transmitter or an optical signal receiver is less than a distance between the window and the member, and

optical signals may pass through the window for the optical wireless communication with the base station.

39. A probe for dimensional measurement and for optical wireless communication with a base station, the probe comprising:

a housing with a longitudinal axis;

a generally planar circuit board positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a signal-transparent window surrounding the circuit board near an outer periphery of the circuit board; and

at least one of an optical signal transmitter or an optical signal receiver mounted on the circuit board near the window,

wherein optical signals may pass through the window for the optical wireless communication with the base station.

40. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 39, comprising:

a mounting spigot located at one end of the housing; and

a stylus holder supported at an opposite end of the housing,

wherein the longitudinal axis extends through the housing in a direction from the spigot to the stylus holder.

41. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 39, wherein a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers are mounted on the circuit board near the window.

42. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 39, wherein the window is substantially annular.

43. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 39, wherein each of the at least one signal transmitter or signal receiver is an optical device operable in the infrared spectrum.

44. A probe for dimensional measurement and for optical wireless communication with a base station, the probe comprising:

a housing with a longitudinal axis;

a circuit board positioned around and generally concentric with the longitudinal axis, such that an electronic component mounting surface of the circuit board is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;

a substantially annular signal-transparent window surrounding the circuit board near the mounting surface of the circuit board, such that the mounting surface faces the window; and

at least one of an optical signal transmitter or an optical signal receiver mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board,

wherein optical signals may pass through the window for the optical wireless communication with the base station.

45. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 44, wherein the at least one of an optical signal transmitter or an optical signal receiver is mounted solely to the circuit board.

46. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 44, comprising:

a mounting spigot located at one end of the housing; and

a stylus holder supported at an opposite end of the housing,

wherein the longitudinal axis extends through the housing in a direction from the spigot to the stylus holder.

47. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 44, wherein the housing comprises two parts connected by a member, and the circuit board is located between the member and the window so as to surround the member.

48. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 44, wherein a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers are mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board.

49. A probe for dimensional measurement as claimed in claim 44, wherein each of the at least one signal transmitter or signal receiver is an optical device operable in the infrared spectrum.