Probe triggering
AssigneeRenishaw PLC
InventorJonathan Paul Fuge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A touch-trigger probe is described having a workpiece-contact sensor (15) in the form of a kinematic seating (10) and workpiece contacting stylus (12). A processor μP in the form of a reprogammable PIC microcontroller is used to monitor the signal from the sensor (15). When the signal is above a threshold for a continual period of time (CT) then the processor issues a trigger signal. The monitoring of the time period (Ct) may be delayed. This delay (Ci) allows triggering initiated by the shock wave produced initially when workpiece contact occurs.
Claims13
A touch-trigger probe comprising a workpiece-contact sensor for issuing a workpiece-contact signal and a monitoring device for monitoring the time that the workpiece-contact signal exists, the device providing a trigger signal only when the workpiece-contact signal exists for a predetermined continual period of time monitored by the device.
A method for operating a touch-trigger probe comprising the steps, in any suitable order, of:
- i) providing a workpiece-contact sensor for issuing a workpiece-contact signal and a monitoring device for monitoring the workpiece-contact signal;
- ii) employing the device for monitoring the workpiece-contact signal, and;
- iii) using the device to provide a trigger signal only when the workpiece-contact signal exists for a predetermined continual period of time.
A touch-trigger probe comprising a workpiece-contact sensor for issuing a workpiece-contact signal and a monitoring device for monitoring the workpiece-contact signal, the device comprising a processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.