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US 5,794,356 AGranted
Three dimensional coordinate measuring apparatus
AssigneeFaro Technologies, Inc.
InventorSimon Raab
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel, portable coordinate measuring machine comprises a multijointed (preferably six and/or seven joints) manually positionable measuring arm for accurately and easily measuring a volume, which in a preferred embodiment, comprises a sphere ranging from six to eight feet in diameter and a measuring accuracy of 2 Sigma .+-.0.003 inch. In addition to the measuring arm, the present invention employs a controller (or serial box) which acts as the electronic interface between the arm and a host computer. Additionally, a number of end effector probes are provided that fulfill functions other than measurement only.
Claims57
A three dimensional coordinate measuring system comprising:
- a movable arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of joints with each joint corresponding to a degree of freedom such that said arm is movable within a selected volume, each of said joints comprising a rotational transfer housing, said transfer housing including a housing shoulder and a shaft shoulder for housing a position transducer, said transducer producing a position signal;
- a support base attached to said first end of said movable arm;
- a probe attached to said second end of said movable arm;
- an electronic circuit for receiving said position signals from said transducer and providing a digital coordinate corresponding to the position and orientation of said probe in a selected volume;
- a groove in both the transfer housing shoulder and the transfer shaft shoulder to allow a preselected rotation of each transfer housing;
- and
- a shear shuttle for preventing mechanical overload due to mechanical stressing of said transfer housing.
4 more elements
A three dimensional coordinate measuring system comprising:
- a movable arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of joints with each joint corresponding to a degree of freedom such that said arm is movable within a selected volume, each of said joints comprising a rotational transfer housing, said transfer housing including a housing shoulder and a shaft shoulder for housing a position transducer, said transducer producing a position signal;
- a support base attached to said first end of said movable arm;
- a probe attached to said second end of said movable arm;
- an electronic circuit for receiving said position signals from said transducer and providing a digital coordinate corresponding to the position and orientation of said probe in a selected volume;
- a groove in the transfer housing shoulder to allow a preselected rotation of each transfer housing;
- and
- an endstop in said transfer housing shaft positioned in said groove for preventing mechanical overload due to mechanical stressing of said transfer housing.
4 more elements
A three dimensional coordinate measuring system comprising:
- a movable arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of joints with each joint corresponding to a degree of freedom such that said arm is movable within a selected volume, each of said joints comprising a rotational transfer housing for housing a position transducer, at least one of said rotational transfer housings including a pair of counterpositioned layered bearings, said transducer producing a position signal;
- a support base attached to said first end of said movable arm;
- a probe attached to said second end of said movable arm;
- and
- an electronic circuit for receiving said position signals from said transducer and providing a digital coordinate corresponding to the position and orientation of said probe in a selected volume.
2 more elements
A three dimensional coordinate measuring system comprising:
- a movable arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of joints with each joint corresponding to a degree of freedom such that said arm possesses seven degrees of freedom and is movable within a selected volume, each of said joints comprising a transducer, said transducer producing a position signal;
- a support base attached to said first end of said movable arm;
- a probe attached to said second end of said movable arm;
- and
- an electronic circuit for receiving said position signals from said transducer and providing a coordinate corresponding to the position and orientation of said probe in a selected volume.
2 more elements
A three dimensional coordinate measuring system comprising:
- a movable arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of joints with each joint corresponding to a degree of freedom such that said arm is movable within a selected volume, each of said joints comprising a rotational transfer housing, said transfer housing including a housing shoulder and a shaft shoulder for housing a position transducer, said transducer producing a position signal;
- a probe attached to said second end of said movable arm;
- an electronic circuit for receiving said position signals from said transducer and providing a coordinate corresponding to the position of said probe in a selected volume;
- a groove in both said transfer housing shoulder and said transfer shaft shoulder to allow a preselected rotation of each transfer housing;
- and
- a shuttle positioned in the groove in said transfer housing shoulder and in the groove in said transfer shaft shoulder.
3 more elements
A three dimensional coordinate measuring system comprising:
- a movable arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of joints with each joint corresponding to a degree of freedom such that said arm is movable within a selected volume, each of said joints comprising a rotational transfer housing, said transfer housing including a housing shoulder and a shaft shoulder for housing a position transducer, said transducer producing a position signal;
- a probe attached to said second end of said movable arm;
- an electronic circuit for receiving said position signals from said transducer and providing a coordinate corresponding to the position of said probe in a selected volume;
- a groove in said transfer housing shoulder to allow a preselected rotation of each transfer housing;
- and
- an endstop in said transfer housing shaft positioned in said groove.
3 more elements
A three dimensional coordinate measuring system comprising:
- a movable arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of joints with each joint corresponding to a degree of freedom such that said arm is movable within a selected volume, each of said joints comprising a rotational transfer housing for housing a position transducer, at least one of said rotational transfer housings including a pair of counterpositioned layered bearings, said transducer producing a position signal;
- a probe attached to said second end of said movable arm;
- and
- an electronic circuit for receiving said position signals from said transducer and providing a coordinate corresponding to the position of said probe in a selected volume.
1 more element
A three dimensional coordinate measuring system comprising:
- a movable arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of joints with each joint corresponding to a degree of freedom such that said arm possesses seven degrees of freedom and is movable within a selected volume, each of said joints comprising a transducer, said transducer producing a position signal;
- a probe attached to said second end of said movable arm;
- and
- an electronic circuit for receiving said position signals from said transducer and providing a coordinate corresponding to the position of said probe in a selected volume.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.