Laser sensor for detecting the extended state of an object in continuous motion

A sensor for detecting characteristics of a rotating drill bit having flutes and a shank section, comprising:

• an energy source for generating energy;
• means for focusing energy from the energy source on the rotating drill bit;
• means for detecting energy reflected from the fluted section of the rotating drill bit;
• means for inducing relative motion between the rotating drill bit and the energy source;
• and
• means, responsive to signals from the means for detecting energy, for determining length characteristics of the fluted section of the rotating drill bit.

A system for determining linear dimensions of an object in continuous rotational motion having regions of different surface characteristics comprising:

• an energy source for generating energy;
• a sensor for sensing energy reflected off the object in continuous rotational motion, wherein the sensor senses an energy signal which fluctuates, due to the continuous rotational movement of the object, when the energy is reflected off of a first region of the object having a first surface characteristic;
• a signal processor, responsive to information received from the sensor, for providing a first signal indicative of the first surface characteristic of the object in continuous rotational motion, and a second signal indicative of a second surface characteristic of the object in continuous rotational motion;
• a computer, receiving the first and second signals indicative of the surface characteristics of the object in continuous rotational motion, which determines a length dimension of the first region of the object containing the first surface characteristic;
• and
• a system, responsive to signals from the computer for inducing the energy from the energy source to be focused on different relative positions on the object.

A sensor for detecting characteristics of a rotating drill bit having a tip, a fluted section, and a shank section, comprising:

• a laser light source for generating laser light;
• a focusing system for focusing the laser light on the rotating drill bit;
• a sensor responsive to light reflected from the fluted section of the rotating drill bit for producing signals representative of surface characteristics of the rotating drill bit;
• a first signal processor, receiving signals from the sensor, for indicating the presence of the drill bit;
• a second signal processor, receiving signals from the sensor, for indicating clogged flutes in the drill bit;
• a system to for inducing relative movement between the drill bit and the laser light source;
• and
• a computer, responsive to signals from the first signal processor and from the second signal processor, for providing a first state of the drill bit wherein the first state is at least one of:
• drill bit present and clean, drill bit present and clogged;
• the computer further responsive to signals from the system for inducing relative movement, and providing a second state of the drill bit wherein the second state is either a drill bit with sufficient flute length or a drill bit having insufficient flute length.

A method of ensuring a drill bit, having a tip, a fluted section, and a shank section, has a sufficient flute length for a drilling application, the method comprising the steps of:

• inducing a first relative movement between the drill bit and a light source so that light is focused on a first location on the drill bit, wherein the first location is located substantially at one end of the fluted section of the drill bit;
• receiving light reflected from the first location of the drill bit;
• processing the light received from the first location so as to generate a first signal indicative of the drill bit characteristics detected from the received light;
• inducing a second relative movement between the drill bit and the light source so that the light is focused on the drill bit at a second location which is a pre-selected distance from the first location;
• receiving light reflected from the second location of the drill bit;
• processing light received from the second location so as to generate a second signal indicative of the drill bit characteristics detected from the received light;
• and
• determining that the drill bit has a sufficient flute length when the second signal indicates that the light is incident on the fluted section of the drill bit.

A method of measuring the length of a selected section of a tool wherein the selected section has a substantially uniform surface characteristic comprising the steps of:

• inducing a first relative movement between the tool and an energy source so that energy is incident on a first location of the tool, wherein the first location is located substantially at one end of the selected section of the tool;
• receiving energy reflected from the first location of the tool;
• processing the energy reflected from the first location of the tool to thereby generate a first signal indicative of the reflected energy;
• inducing a second relative movement between the tool and the energy source so that energy is incident over a substantially continuous path along the selected section of the tool;
• receiving energy reflected from the substantially continuous path on the selected section of the tool;
• processing the energy reflected from the continuous path of the selected section of the tool to thereby generate a second signal indicative of the reflected energy;
• halting the second relative movement between the tool and the energy source when the second signal indicative of the energy reflected from the continuous path indicates that energy from the energy source is no longer incident upon the selected section of the tool;
• and
• determining the length of the selected section based at least in part on the distance of the second relative movement.

A method of determining that a selected section of a tool having a substantially uniform surface characteristic has a length greater than a pre-selected minimum length comprising the steps of:

• inducing a first relative movement between the tool and an energy source so that energy is incident on a first location of the tool, wherein the first location is located substantially at one end of the selected section of the tool;
• receiving energy reflected from the first location of the tool;
• processing the energy reflected from the first location of the tool so as to generate a first signal indicative of the reflected energy;
• inducing a second relative movement between the tool and the energy source so that energy is incident on the tool at a second location a pre-selected distance, substantially equal to the pre-selected minimum length, from the first location;
• receiving energy reflected from the second location of the tool;
• processing the energy reflected from the second location of the tool so as to generate second signal indicative of the reflected energy;
• and
• determining that the length of the selected section is equal to or greater than the pre-determined minimum length when the second signal is indicative of the energy being reflected from the selected portion of the tool.