Mitutoyo Corporation

Caterpillar Inc.

Kim W Atherton

Michael Nahum

Nils Ingvar Andermo

Karl G Masreliez

Joseph Daniel Tobiason

Paul Gerard Gladnick

Casey Edward Emtman

Benjamin K Jones

Avron Zwilling

Patrick H Mawet

Charles R Clow

David William Sesko

Scott Allen Harsila

Dahai Yu

Andrew Patzwald

Michael M Van Schoiack

Gregory J Gerhard

Richard M Wasserman

Karl Gustav Masreliez

Michael E Meichle

Mike Goldsworthy

Patrick A Renalds

Bruno Lefebvre

A Brinkley Barr

Thomas M Harmon

Marvin E Vandehey

Richard D Weyerts

Gary Olson

A supplementary metrology position coordinates determination (SMPD) system is used with a robot. 'Robot accuracy' (e.g., for controlling and sensing an end tool position of an end tool that is mounted proximate to a distal end of its movable arm configuration) is based on robot position sensors included in the robot. The SMPD system includes an imaging configuration and an XY scale and an alignment sensor for sensing alignment/misalignment therebetween, and an image triggering portion and processing portion. One of the XY scale or imaging configuration is coupled to the movable arm configuration and the other is coupled to a stationary element (e.g., a frame above the robot). The imaging configuration acquires an image of the XY scale with known alignment/misalignment, which is utilized to determine metrology position coordinates that are indicative of the end tool position, with an accuracy level that is better than the robot accuracy.

Supplementary metrology position coordinates determination system including an alignment sensor for use with a robot

A power transfer configuration is disclosed for providing power to a stored coordinate measurement machine (CMM) probe. A storage rack comprising at least one CMM probe receptacle is mounted proximate to a CMM. The CMM may automatically attach and detach from the CMM probe and insert and remove it from the storage rack probe receptacle. The power transfer configuration comprises a primary electromagnetic winding mounted to the storage rack proximate to the probe receptacle, and a secondary electromagnetic winding located internal to and proximate to the CMM probe housing. When the CMM probe is in the probe receptacle, the primary electromagnetic winding receives alternating current and generates a changing electromagnetic field proximate to the CMM probe housing. The secondary electromagnetic winding generates power in the CMM probe in response to receiving the changing electromagnetic field. The CMM probe may be internally heated while stored, using the generated power.

Power transfer configuration for supplying power to a detachable probe for a coordinate measurement machine

A variable focal length (VFL) lens system is provided including a tunable acoustic gradient (TAG) lens and an optical focus monitoring configuration for providing a focus monitoring signal that reflects a focus state with high accuracy and without significant latency. An input illumination pattern is transmitted through the TAG lens to provide a corresponding output illumination pattern that has a size and intensity that depends on the optical power of the TAG lens. An optical focus signal detector portion includes a filtering configuration and a focus photodetector that provides a focus output signal that varies in relation to the total light energy that the focus photodetector receives, wherein the filtering configuration receives the output illumination pattern and limits the amount of included focus detection light that reaches the focus photodetector. A focus monitoring signal is provided based on the focus output signal provided by the focus photodetector.

Variable focal length lens system with focus monitoring and control

A calibration control device for being coupled to a measuring device such as a caliper, micrometer, or gauge is provided. The calibration control device includes a circuit portion and couples to a coupling feature on the measuring device. A calibration limit portion defines a parameter limit as related to a usage limit for which the measuring device is certified as calibrated. A controller operates a host-side data connection portion of the calibration control device to output measuring data in a first mode when the usage limit is not exceeded, and operates the calibration control device to perform a calibration limit function when the usage limit is exceeded. The calibration limit function may include stopping the output of the measuring data through the host-side data connection or providing an out-of-calibration warning to the host, or the like.

Calibration control device for metrology tools

A method for operating a remote device in relation to a programming environment of a programmable metrology system is provided. The metrology system may comprise an accessory interface portion comprising an accessory communication portion, and a user interface comprising a programming environment having part program instruction representation representations in an editing window, including an active 'current instruction' representation. The method provides a connection between the remote device and the programming environment, which outputs current instruction identifiers for current instruction representations. The remote device receives a current instruction identifier and operates responsive to the that current instruction identifier to display a current instruction reference information user interface portion configured such that it is specifically related to a generic instruction type corresponding to the current instruction representation. That user interface may display customized reference information previously configured by a user of the remote device in association with that generic instruction type.

Remote accessory for generating customized and synchronized reference notes for a programmable metrology system

A micrometer provides a quick adjustment mode and a fine adjustment mode. A spline-like rotary coupling configuration constrains the micrometer thimble and a threaded element to move together with respect to rotation, but does not constrain the position of the threaded element relative to the thimble along the measurement axis. A gear in the micrometer frame includes gear teeth that mesh with the threaded element and roll thereon along the measurement direction. A locking arrangement, when unlocked, allows the meshed gear to be rotated by a user to drive the threaded element along the measuring axis in the quick adjustment mode. When locked, the locking arrangement prevents motion of the gear to provide the fine adjustment mode, wherein the user rotates the thimble to screw the threaded element through the meshed teeth of the gear, to adjust the spindle position.

Ergonomic micrometer including two modes of adjustment

A handheld measurement tool with a display that can be defined by a user. The handheld measurement tool may be a portable measurement gauge (e.g. a digital caliper, digital 'dial' gauge, height gauge, micrometer, indicator, etc.) that may be utilized for measuring precise physical dimensions of workpieces. The display may be independently modified according to a customer's individual needs for various precision measurement applications. A remote device (e.g. PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.) may be utilized for reconfiguring the display, wherein a user can select and modify display format arrangements on the remote device. When the remote device is coupled to the portable measurement gauge, the gauge display is reconfigured so as to have a similar appearance to the defined display format arrangement. In certain embodiments, voice commands may be reconfigured and used for controlling the gauge display.

Handheld measurement tool with user defined display

A position sensing device having a high range to resolution ratio comprises a light source arrangement, a moving aperture arrangement and a multiple position sensitive detector (PSD) arrangement. The multiple PSD arrangement comprises a plurality of position sensitive detectors arranged along at least two detection tracks along a measuring axis. Each of the plurality of position sensitive detectors shares a common portion of a total measuring range along the measuring axis with an adjacent position sensitive detector which is on a different detector track. The total measurement range is larger than the detector range of each of the position sensitive detectors.

Displacement sensor using multiple position sensitive photodetectors

A chromatic point sensor (CPS) calibration object and characterizing data are provided. The calibration object comprises a flat base plane with steps extending from it. Step measurement points provided by the steps and base plane measurement points provided by portions of the base plane are intermingled along a measurement track. The characterizing data characterizes known heights of the measurement points. A calibration method acquires measurement data such that some base plane measurement points should be at nearly the same measurement distance and therefore have the same common mode errors relative to known base plane measurement point heights. If such base plane measurement points exhibit minimal error variations, then measurements for those and proximate measurement points may provide reliable calibration data. In contrast, error variations outside an expected range indicate unreliable measurements that should be screened or replaced by new calibration measurements.

On-site calibration method and object for chromatic point sensors

An electronic hand tool type caliper includes a scale track located along a scale member reference edge that forms a sliding bearing with a mating surface of the caliper slide, thereby maintaining proper alignment of the slide jaw. Placing the scale track along the reference edge is advantageous in that the reference edge surface is inherently precisely machined and particles are excluded by the inherently close fit and the wiping action of the sliding bearing. A readhead sensor is mounted within the slide surface that mates to the reference edge to provide the sliding bearing. Thus, a very small readhead sensor may be reliably positioned at an extremely small gap relative to the scale in a protected operating environment, without detrimentally affecting cost, slider friction, or signal strength. High resolution digital signals may be provided.

Magnetic caliper with reference scale on edge

A handheld metrology imaging system and method. In one embodiment, the device may comprise an imaging portion, a display portion, a signal processing and control portion, an image capture activation element and a user interface. The user interface may comprise user adjustable video measurement tools configurable relative to an image on the display portion, and video tool adjusting elements. Measurement functions are provided that operate to provide a dimensional measurement result based on the configurations of the video measurement tools. The handheld device can be used to measure not only the normal parts which have traditionally been measured by conventional handheld tools such as a caliper or micrometer, but also very small or flat parts that are difficult to measure with conventional tools.

Handheld metrology imaging system and method

All-optical output precision measuring gauges that sense the displacement of an internal scale grating are disclosed. Each type of gauge includes a compact, miniature, or ultra-miniature optical readhead that includes a light source for transmitting light to the scale grating, and optical-fiber detector channels for receiving light from the scale grating and outputting optical measuring signals from the gauge. In various embodiments, the optical-fiber detector channels have respective phase grating masks for receiving a periodic light pattern that moves in correspondence to the scale grating, and the channels are arranged in balanced pairs. In various embodiments, the optical readhead is an interferometric-type optical readhead that provides a measuring resolution as fine as 10&#x2013;50 nanometers or less. In various embodiments, the gauge is provided in an unprecedented miniature size. In various embodiments, the gauge is motorized to provide a precision actuator.

Precision measuring gauges with optical fiber output channels

A method and apparatus for measuring a wavelength-related characteristic of a radiation source is provided. Two beams travel through substantially identical filters at different angles, which produces two different output signals that behave similarly with respect to power and/or temperature variations. In various embodiments, the two beams are filtered through two portions of a single filter. A diffraction grating may be mounted to the filter to split incident radiation into first and second beams. The beams thus travel through the filter at different angles, to produce two output signals that can be combined to compensate for common-mode errors as well as power variations. Extremely small size and high-resolution may be achieved. Single or multiple detectors may also be used. Filter temperature sensitivities may also be compensated based on a direct temperature measurement or based on outputs derived from two additional beams through filters with a different temperature dependency from the filters used for the first two beams. Alternatively, the angle at which a beam travels through a filter may be physically adjusted to compensate for temperature change.

Method and apparatus for measuring wavelength changes in a high-resolution measurement system

An absolute position fiber optic encoder readhead having multiple readhead portions for sensing the displacement of respective scale grating tracks of a scale is disclosed. The detector channels of the readhead portions are fiber optic detector channels having respective phase grating masks. The fiber optic encoder readhead portions are configured to detect the displacement of a self-image of a respective scale grating track of the scale. In various exemplary embodiments, the fiber optic readhead portions are constructed according to various design relationships that provide a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio. Accordingly, high levels of displacement signal interpolation may be achieved, allowing submicrometer displacement measurements. The fiber optic encoder readhead portions may be assembled in a particularly accurate and economical manner and may be provided in a package with dimensions on the order of 1&#x2013;2 millimeters, resulting in a very small overall absolute readhead dimension that is dependent on the number of readhead portions that are incorporated. Optical fiber receiver channels carrying binary optical signals derived from a scale code track may be provided in the readhead, to provide an extended absolute measurement range.

Absolute position miniature grating encoder readhead using fiber optic receiver channels

Auto focus systems and methods for a machine vision metrology and inspection system provide high speed and high precision auto focusing, while using relatively low-cost and flexible hardware. One aspect of various embodiments of the invention is that the portion of an image frame that is output by a camera is minimized for auto focus images, based on a reduced readout pixel set determined in conjunction with a desired region of interest. The reduced readout pixel set allows a maximized image acquisition rate, which in turn allows faster motion between auto focus image acquisition positions to achieve a desired auto focus precision at a corresponding auto focus execution speed that is approximately optimized in relation to a particular region of interest. In various embodiments, strobe illumination is used to further improve auto focus speed and accuracy. A method is provided for adapting and programming the various associated auto focus control parameters.

Growing community of inventors

Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Kim W Atherton