Optical measuring apparatus for measuring objects on machines
AssigneeRenishaw PLC
InventorsVictor G. Stimpson, Jon P. Fuge, William K. Davies, Norman J. Leete, Colin T. Bell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention teaches a method and apparatus for making measurement of an object on a machine, such as a machine tool, using an optical measuring apparatus which includes a light source for generating a beam of light which is incident on a detector. A detection signal is generated within the detector each time the beam is interrupted. The duration and/or frequency of the detection signals are evaluated and an output signal is emitted from the detection only if a further detection signal is present within the detector in a specified time interval from the generation of an earlier detection signal.
Claims10
A method of making measurements of an object on a machine using an optical measuring apparatus which includes a light source which generates a beam of light which is incident upon a detector, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating a detection signal within the detector each time the beam is interrupted;
- evaluating the frequency and/or duration of the occurrences of said detection signals;
- emitting an output signal from the detector only if a further detection signal is present within the detector in a specified time interval from the generation of an earlier detection signal.
Optical apparatus for measuring objects on machines comprising a light source for generating a light beam and a detector for receiving said beam and which generates a signal when the beam is interrupted, wherein the detector includes a detection circuit which generates a signal each time the beam is interrupted, and signal processing means for evaluating the frequency and/or duration of the occurrences of said signals and which emits an output signal only if a second signal is generated by the detection circuit within a specified time interval after the occurrence of said signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.