Electronic measuring device
AssigneeMagna International Inc.
InventorsBruno W. Gass, Manuel L. Avelar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An embodiment of an electronic measuring device includes a housing having an exterior surface configured and arranged to be removably secured within a support member. An electrically conductive probe is coupled to the housing and is movable between a position in contact with a workpiece and a position out of contact with the workpiece. A circuit electrically couples an indicator and a power source to the probe such that when the probe is out of contact with the workpiece, the circuit is open and no power is supplied from the power source to the indicator and such that when the probe contacts the workpiece, the circuit closes to supply power from the power source to the indicator to send a signal to the operator of the measuring device that the probe is in contact with the workpiece.
Claims30
An electronic measuring device, comprising:
- a housing having an exterior surface configured and arranged to be removably secured within a support member such that said housing can be removably replaced in the support member;
- an electrically conductive probe coupled to said housing configured and arranged to extend through the support member and move between a position in contact with a workpiece and a position out of contact with the workpiece;
- an indicator and a power source, both disposed within said housing;
- and
- a circuit electrically coupling said probe to said indicator and to said power source such that when said probe is out of contact with the workpiece, said circuit is open and no power is supplied from said power source to said indicator and such that when said probe contacts the workpiece, said circuit closes to supply power from said power source to said indicator to send a signal to the operator that said probe is in contact with the workpiece.
A measuring assembly, comprising:
- a fixture for removably holding a workpiece to be measured;
- a support member positioned a predetermined distance from said fixture;
- an electronic measuring device including
- a housing having an exterior surface configured and arranged to be removably secured within said support member such that said measuring device can be removably replaced in said support member,
- an electrically conductive probe coupled to said housing to move between a position in contact with said workpiece and a position out of contact with said workpiece, and
- an indicator and a power source, both disposed in said housing;
- and
- a circuit electrically connecting said probe to said indicator and to said power source such that when said probe is out of contact with said workpiece, said circuit is open and said power source does not provide power to said indicator and when said probe contacts said workpiece, said circuit closes such that power is provided to said indicator to activate said indicator to send a signal to the operator of said measuring device that said probe is in contact with said workpiece.
A method of measuring, comprising:
- providing a fixture for removably holding a first workpiece to be measured;
- providing a support member positioned a predetermined distance from the fixture;
- providing an electronic measuring device including
- a housing having an exterior surface configured and arranged to be removably secured to the support member,
- an electrically conductive probe coupled to the housing for movement between a position in contact with the first workpiece and a position out of contact with the first workpiece, and
- an indicator and a power source, both disposed within said housing;
- providing a circuit electrically connecting the probe, the indicator and the power source such that when the probe is out of contact with the first workpiece, the circuit is open and no power is supplied from the power source to the indicator and such that when the probe contacts the first workpiece, the circuit closes and power is supplied from said power source to said indicator to signal the operator of the measuring device that the probe is in contact with the first workpiece;
- removably holding the first workpiece in the fixture;
- removably securing the measuring device into the support member;
- moving the probe into contact with the first workpiece until contact is made and the indicator sends a signal that contact with the first workpiece is achieved;
- removing the measuring device from the support member;
- and
- removing the first workpiece from the fixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.