Measurement probe

Abstract

A method of communicating information to a measurement probe mounted on a coordinate positioning machine includes encoding the information as one or more of a plurality of characteristic movements of the probe, controlling the machine to impart the movement(s) to the probe, detecting the movement(s) at the probe, and decoding the information at the probe from the detected movement(s). A measurement probe for use in such a method is mountable to the machine and includes at least one movement sensor for sensing movement imparted to the measurement probe by the machine, and a controller for determining whether the sensed movement includes one or more of the plurality of characteristic movements of the probe and for performing an operation at or controlling operation of the probe in dependence on the determination.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.