US 6,052,628 A · Method and system for continuous motion digital probe routing

Abstract

A method and system for routing a digital probe which signals either a triggered or non-triggered state to continuously scan a part surface without having to return to a rest position each time the probe is triggered. The probe is carried by manufacturing equipment capable of moving in response to control signals and providing manufacturing equipment feedback signals indicating the current position of the probe. Continuous movement of the digital probe is achieved by testing the probe to determine if it is triggered or not at a series of closely spaced time intervals, and rotating a move vector (corresponding to desired probe velocity) in each computation cycle to alter the probe trajectory as a function of the operating state of the probe and its position during the previous computation cycle. These techniques allow relatively inexpensive digital probing systems to gather data at speeds comparable to those of much more expensive analog systems. Various computation algorithms for altering the move vector are possible, including increasing or decreasing one component of the move vector by a constant value depending on whether the probe is triggered or not. Another algorithm generates a spiral path around the position of the probe at the previous transition between the triggered and untriggered operating state.

Claims50

Dependent claims

A method of routing a digital probe around the surface of an object, the probe being capable of signaling a triggered operating state when it is within a predetermined distance from the surface of the object and a non-triggered operating state otherwise, the probe being mounted on a machine which is capable of responding to control signals to produce relative movement between the probe and the object, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) detecting the operating state of the probe;
(2) generating a control signal to vary the movement of the probe relative to the object based on the operating state of the probe;
(a) the control signal being such that the probe will be in continuous motion relative to the object even when the probe is in its triggered operating state;
(b) the control signal further being such that the motion of the probe will be in a direction which (i) will cause it to be triggered if it is in the untriggered state, and (ii) which will cause it to return to the untriggered state if it is in the triggered state;
and
(3) moving the probe relative to the object according to the control signal.

3 more elements

A method of routing a digital probe around the surface of an object, the probe being capable of signaling a triggered operating state when it is within a predetermined distance from the object surface and a non-triggered operating state otherwise, the probe being mounted on a machine which is capable of responding to control signals to produce relative movement between the probe and the object, and further capable of signalling the position of the probe relative to the object;

the method comprising the steps of:
(1) detecting the non-triggered or triggered operating state of the probe at a succession of computation times;
(2) detecting the position of the probe relative to the object at each computation time;
(3) generating a control signal at each computation time to vary the movement of the probe relative to the object based on the position of the probe relative to the object at the computation time and on the operating state of the probe at that computation time;
(4) the control signal further being such that
(a) the probe will be in continuous motion relative to the object even when the probe is in its triggered operating state, and
(b) such that the motion of the probe will tend to be in a direction
(i) which will cause the probe to be triggered if it was in the untriggered state at the computation time, and
(ii) which will cause it to return to the untriggered state if it was triggered at the computation time;
and
(5) moving the probe relative to the object according to the control signal generated at one computation time during the interval until the next computation time.

8 more elements

Apparatus for routing a digital probe around the surface of an object, the probe being capable of signaling a triggered operating state when it is within a predetermined distance from the surface of the object and a non-triggered operating state otherwise, the probe being mounted on a machine which is capable of responding to control signals to produce relative movement between the probe and the object, the apparatus comprising:

(1) means for detecting the operating state of the probe;
(2) means responsive to the operating state of the probe for generating a control signal to move the probe relative to the object continuously, irrespective of the operating state of the probe;
(3) the control signal generating means including:
(a) means responsive to the probe being in the untriggered state to generate a control signal which will cause the probe to be triggered, and
(b) means responsive to the probe being in the triggered state to generate a control signal which will cause the probe to be returned to the untriggered state;
and
(4) means for coupling the control signal to the machine.

4 more elements

Apparatus for routing a digital probe around the surface of an object, the probe being capable of signaling a triggered operating state when it is within a predetermined distance from the object surface and a non-triggered operating state otherwise, the probe being mounted on a machine which is capable of responding to control signals to produce relative movement between the probe and the object, and further capable of signalling the position of the probe relative to the object;

the apparatus comprising:
(1) means for detecting the operating state of the probe at a succession of computation times;
(2) means for detecting the position of the probe relative to the object at each computation time;
(3) means responsive to the operating state of the probe and the position of the probe for generating a control signal to maintain the probe constantly in motion irrespective of the operating state of the probe;
(a) the control signal generating means further including:
(i) means responsive to the probe being in its untriggered state at a particular computation time to generate a control signal which will tend to cause the probe to be triggered, and
(ii) means responsive to the probe being in the triggered state at the computation time, to generate a control signal which will tend to cause the probe to return to the untriggered state;
and
(4) means for coupling the control signals to the machine.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for continuous motion digital probe routing

Life of this patent

Method and system for continuous motion digital probe routing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims50