Optical data system having flash/receiver head for energizing/receiving information from a battery operated transmitter
AssigneeGTE Valenite Corporation
InventorRichard O. Juengel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various techniques are disclosed for controlling the operation of a workpiece inspection procedure using a battery operated probe to contact the workpiece and transmit information back to a controller in a machine tool system. In one embodiment, battery power is applied to the probe transmission circuitry in response to a flash of infrared radiation. In another embodiment, the probe is turned on by touching the probe against a reference surface. In both embodiments, a timer is provided to automatically disconnect the batteries after a predetermined time period. In such manner battery life is prolonged.
Claims18
Apparatus for use in a probing system utilized by a machine tool, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing containing a light source and a photodetector, said light source including means for transmitting an optical signal to an optical signal receiving means prior to a probing operation, said receiving means including means for applying a turn on signal to a power source for applying power to a transmitter means, said transmitter means sending return optical signals to said photodetector, and means coupled to the photodetector for detecting receipt of the return optical signals containing information relating to the probing operation.
Apparatus for use with a remote battery operated optical transmitter, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- light source means in the housing for transmitting an optical signal to a receiving means included with the transmitter, said receiving means providing a signal for coupling battery power to the transmitter thereby turning it on to transmit optical signals to the housing;
- and
- photodetector means in the housing for detecting receipt of optical signals form the transmitter.
Apparatus for transmission and receipt of optical signals, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a light transmissive window;
- light source means contained within the housing, said light source means transmitting optical radiation through said window;
- detector means contained within the housing, said detector means receiving optical radiation through the window;
- said light source means and detector means being positioned adjacent said window;
- and
- lens means in the window for focusing light radiation onto the detector means, said detector means being positioned substantially at the focal point of the lens means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.