# US 10,371,511 B2 · Device and method for geometrically measuring an object > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,511 B2 - Document ID: US10371511B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/312,481 - Filed: 2015-05-13 - Published: 2017-03-30 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-19 - Assignees: Taylor Hobson Limited - Applicants: Taylor Hobson Ltd. - Inventors: Thilo May; Christian Am Weg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371511B2 ## CPC - G01B 21/04: by measuring coordinates of points - G01B 21/16: for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects - G01B 21/20: for measuring contours or curvatures, e.g. determining profile - G01M 11/00: Testing of optical apparatus; Testing structures by optical methods not otherwise provided for - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A device and method for geometrically measuring an object includes a carrier for the object, at least one reference object that can be fixed relative to the carrier, and a holder which can be moved in at least one direction (x,z) relative to the reference object and on which a reference body and a distance measuring device are arranged, which distance measuring device is designed for measurement of a distance between the object and the reference body. A first and a second reference sensor are arranged at a distance from each other on the holder or on the reference body while facing the reference object, said reference sensors being designed to measure a first and a second distance to the reference object. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for the geometric measurement of an object, comprising: a carrier for the object, at least one reference object fixable in relation to the carrier, and a holder movable in relation to the at least one reference object in at least one direction, with a reference body and a distance measuring device being arranged on said holder, said distance measuring device being configured to measure a distance between the object and the reference body, wherein a first reference sensor and a second reference sensor are arranged spaced apart from one another, facing the at least one reference object on the holder or on the reference body, said first reference sensor and said second reference sensor being embodied to measure a first distance and a second distance, respectively, to the at least one reference object, wherein the holder is movable relative to a first reference object and to a second reference object in a plane (x,z) spanned by a first direction (x) and a second direction (z), and wherein the first reference sensor and the second reference sensor are aligned to the first reference object and wherein a third reference sensor is aligned to the second reference object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first reference sensor is embodied to measure the first distance to a first point of a reference surface of the at least one reference object facing the holder or the reference body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second reference sensor is embodied to measure the second distance to a second point of the reference surface of the at least one reference object facing the holder or the reference body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein a distance (d) between the first point and the second point of the reference surface correlates with a distance (D) between the first reference sensor and the second reference sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a controller, by means of which the position and the alignment of the holder, or the reference body thereof, relative to the at least one reference object is determinable from the first distance and the second distance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first reference object is aligned parallel to the first direction (x) and wherein the second reference object is aligned parallel to the second direction (z). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance measuring device comprises a first distance sensor and a second distance sensor, which are rotatably mounted relative to the reference body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first distance sensor faces the carrier and wherein the second distance sensor faces the reference body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an object holder is mounted on the carrier in a rotatable or translationally displaceable manner. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder is movably arranged on a base above the carrier and is displaceable beyond opposite outer edges of the object. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method for the geometric measurement of an object by means of an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a surface contour of an object mounted on the carrier is captured in a scanning manner by means of the distance measuring device, the method comprising: a plurality of distances between the measuring points of the object and reference points of the reference body being measured by means of the distance measuring device and a surface image of the object being generated, the position and the alignment of the holder, or of the reference body thereof, relative to the at least one reference object being established by means of the first reference sensor and the second reference sensor, and the surface image being corrected on the basis of the position and alignment of the holder, or of the reference body thereof, relative to the at least one reference object. ### Claim 12 A computer program for the geometric measurement of an object by means of an apparatus comprising: a carrier for the object, at least one reference object fixable in relation to the carrier, and a holder movable in relation to the at least one reference object in at least one direction, with a reference body and a distance measuring device being arranged on said holder, said distance measuring device being configured to measure a distance between the object and the reference body, wherein a first reference sensor and a second reference sensor are arranged spaced apart from one another, facing the at least one reference object on the holder or on the reference body, said first reference sensor and said second reference sensor being embodied to measure a first distance and a second distance, respectively, to the at least one reference object, said computer program comprising: program means for capturing a surface contour of an object, mounted on the carrier, in a scanning manner by means of the distance measuring device, program means for measuring a plurality of distances between the measuring points of the object and reference points of the reference body and for generating a surface image of the object, program means for ascertaining a position and alignment of the holder, or of the reference body thereof, relative to the at least one reference object by means of the first reference sensor and the second reference sensor, and program means for correcting the surface image on the basis of the position and alignment of the holder, or of the reference body thereof, relative to the at least one reference object. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for the geometric measurement of an object, comprising: a carrier for the object, at least one reference object fixable in relation to the carrier, and a holder movable in relation to the at least one reference object in at least one direction, with a reference body and a distance measuring device being arranged on said holder, said distance measuring device being configured to measure a distance between the object and the reference body, wherein a first reference sensor and a second reference sensor are arranged spaced apart from one another, facing the at least one reference object on the holder or on the reference body, said first reference sensor and said second reference sensor being embodied to measure a first distance and a second distance, respectively, to the at least one reference object, wherein the first reference sensor is embodied to measure the first distance to a first point of a reference surface of the at least one reference object facing the holder or the reference body, wherein the second reference sensor is embodied to measure the second distance to a second point of the reference surface of the at least one reference object facing the holder or the reference body, and wherein a distance (d) between the first point and the second point of the reference surface correlates with a distance (D) between the first reference sensor and the second reference sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the holder is movable relative to a first reference object and to a second reference object in a plane (x,z) spanned by a first direction (x) and a second direction (z). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first reference sensor and the second reference sensor are aligned to the first reference object and wherein a third reference sensor is aligned to the second reference object. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A method for the geometric measurement of an object by means of an apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein a surface contour of an object mounted on the carrier is captured in a scanning manner by means of the distance measuring device, the method comprising: a plurality of distances between the measuring points of the object and reference points of the reference body being measured by means of the distance measuring device and a surface image of the object being generated, the position and the alignment of the holder, or of the reference body thereof, relative to the at least one reference object being established by means of the first reference sensor and the second reference sensor, and the surface image being corrected on the basis of the position and alignment of the holder, or of the reference body thereof, relative to the at least one reference object. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A computer program for the geometric measurement of an object by means of an apparatus as claimed in claim 13, said computer program comprising: program means for capturing a surface contour of an object, mounted on the carrier, in a scanning manner by means of the distance measuring device, program means for measuring a plurality of distances between the measuring points of the object and reference points of the reference body and for generating a surface image of the object, program means for ascertaining a position and alignment of the holder, or of the reference body thereof, relative to the at least one reference object by means of the first reference sensor and the second reference sensor, and program means for correcting the surface image on the basis of the position and alignment of the holder, or of the reference body thereof, relative to the at least one reference object.