Feeler pin using an optical contact sensor
AssigneeWild Leitz Messtechnik GmbH
InventorUbbo Ricklefs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A feeler pin having a contact element with a contact sensor, which is constructed as a laser feedback interferometer whose resonator quality is varied by changes in position of the contact element enabling measurement of radiation flux or the internal resistance of the laser. These measurements can then be related to a mechanical contact. The interferometer is preferably arranged inside the feeler pin which is constructed as a tube and the sapphire ball, conventional as contact element is used as a third cavity facet. Different variations are represented.
Claims19
A feeler pin comprising:
- contact element means for contacting an external object, said contact element means pivotably movable from side-to-side;
- and
- a laser feedback interferometer means whose external reflector is coupled to said contact element means for sensing changes in resonator quality of said laser feedback interferometer means, said resonator quality corresponding to changes in a side-to-side movement of said contact element means with respect to an optical axis of said laser feedback interferometer means.
A feeler pin comprising:
- contact element means for contacting an external object;
- and
- a laser feedback interferometer means whose external reflector is coupled to said contact element means for sensing changes in resonator quality of said laser feedback interferometer means, said resonator quality corresponding to changes in position of said contact element means;
- wherein a laser from said laser feedback interferometer means is assigned to a base, and a mirror is rigidly arranged on said contact element means, said mirror operating as an external third cavity facet, thereby effecting a self-feedback of said laser, said contact element means being connected to said base with a beam element and wherein said base is fastened to a movable tilting bearing element.
A feeler pin assembly comprising:
- a first contact element means for contacting an external object;
- a second contact element means for contacting said external object;
- and
- a laser feedback interferometer means, having external reflectors coupled to said first and second contact element means, for sensing changes in resonator quality of said laser feedback interferometer means, said resonator quality corresponding to changes in position of at least one of said first and second contact element means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.