Carl-zeiss-stiftung

Carl-zeiss-stiftung, Heidenheim/brenz

Klaus-Peter Koch

Karl-Hermann Breyer

Helmut Heier

Wilhelm Ulrich

Albrecht Hof

Horst Ballmer

Reinhard Prinz

Berndt Kammleiter

Lothar Rubl

Ulrich Nagele

Hans-Gerd Pressel

Method of making coordinate measurements on workpieces

A plurality of video cameras (7a-d) are mounted on a table which is adapted support a workpiece or other object to be measured, and the mounting of each camera to the table provides for controlled universal orientation of each camera via an articulating head having provision for selective rotation about each of two orthogonally related axes. The table is provided with vibration damping, whereby both the measured object, and the cameras which provide triangulation data for each measurement, can operate from the same rigid base, isolated from external sources of mechanical shock. The video signals of the cameras are fed, along with instantaneous optical-axis orientation data for each camera, to the computer of a coordinate-measuring machine. The computer relies upon stored calibration data and angular-position data sensed about each of the rotary axes of the articulating heads to derive the orientation data; and the computer additionally relies on video-image analysis to calculate the coordinates of each measured point on the object.

Coordinate-measuring machine for non-contact measurement of objects

Pictures of an object to be measured are taken from several different positions or aspects by a video camera which is mounted via a two-axis articulating head to the measurement arm of a coordinate-measuring machine. The pictures taken from the different positions or aspects are stored and are evaluated with respect to the coordinates of characteristic points of interest on the surface of the object by the method of space intersection, known from photogrammetry. And, in this connection, the position-measurement values supplied by the scales of the coordinate-measuring machine and the angle-measurement values supplied by the articulating head are used for a calculated determination of the coordinates for each of the points of interest on the surface of the object.

Method and apparatus for non-contact measurement of object surfaces

The invention relates to an illuminating arrangement for illuminating an object with incident light wherein the angle of the incident light is selectable. The illuminating arrangement includes a plurality of individual light sources which can be switched on and off. The light sources are advantageously arranged in several concentric circles in different planes from which the light can be radiated along different beam axes. An illumination at different selectable angles is possible without a mechanical adjustment of the light sources or the imaging elements. The light sources can be advantageously mounted in a hemispherically-shaped carrier. The illuminating arrangement can be a component of a closed control loop and be controlled quickly and completely automatically via an image processing unit or by manual instructions of desired values via a control console.

Illuminating arrangement for illuminating an object with incident light

The invention is directed to a coordinate measuring apparatus having an optical sensing head. The optical sensing head is held on the measuring arm of the coordinate measuring apparatus. The optical sensing head includes a holder and a plurality of detachable front optic units which can be exchanged as required. Each of the front optic units has its own objective and its own illuminating optic arrangement adapted to the objective. The illuminating optic is supplied via light conductors with the light conductors being guided over a change interface where the front optic unit is attached to the holder of the sensing head in a reproducible manner. The light conducting ends for the illumination are coupled in the change interface by means of a coupling device which achieves this coupling with low losses. This device includes, for example, self-centering sleeves which enable flexible supply light conductors to be centrally seated on the end faces of half-rigid plastic light conductors. Interface losses are avoided in this manner.

Coordinate measuring apparatus having an optical sensing head

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the quantity of emitted light in an optical measuring head. The control of the emitted light quantity of a laser diode mounted in the optical measuring head is dependent upon the stray light characteristics of the workpiece and is achieved by controlling the pulse width of the laser diode. The light pulses are synchronized with the machine clock frequency of the coordinate measuring apparatus on which the measuring head is fixedly mounted such that the center of the pulse coincides always with the counter strobe of the measuring system of the coordinate measuring apparatus.

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Aalen, Germany

Klaus-Peter Koch