Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090288306 | DIGITAL RULER WITH LOW-FRICTION SLIDING CONTACT - A low cost digital ruler with desirable ergonomic characteristics and accuracy. A low friction sliding position indicator includes a compliant element that forces its connection pads against the ruler's electronic scale contacts, to determining measurement positions. The position indicator includes an instrument receiving feature that engages a writing instrument and moves in conjunction with it, thereby measuring a line as it is drawn. A position indicator preload arrangement includes the compliant element, which is deflected to exert a preload that forces the sliding position indicator against a housing of the digital ruler. Alignment features of the position indicator and housing have cross sections that provide a self-aligning angled interference fit, which accurately aligns the sliding position indicator, under the action of the preload force. Misalignment constraint surfaces constrain the sliding position indicator in approximate alignment by, even if an external force overcomes the preload force. | 11-26-2009 |
20100145650 | ON-SITE CALIBRATION METHOD AND OBJECT FOR CHROMATIC POINT SENSORS - 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. | 06-10-2010 |
20130076892 | METHOD UTILIZING IMAGE CORRELATION TO DETERMINE POSITION MEASUREMENTS IN A MACHINE VISION SYSTEM - A method utilizing image correlation to determine position measurements in a machine vision system. In a first operating state, the machine vision system utilizes traditional scale-based techniques to determine position measurements, while in a second operating state, image correlation displacement sensing techniques are utilized to determine position measurements. The image correlation techniques provide for higher accuracy for measuring distances between features that are separated by more than one field of view. The user may toggle between the operating states through a selection on the user interface, and guidance may be provided regarding when the image correlation mode is likely to provide higher accuracy, depending on factors such as the distance to be measured and the characteristics of the surface being measured. | 03-28-2013 |
20130162972 | CHROMATIC POINT SENSOR CONFIGURATION INCLUDING REAL TIME SPECTRUM COMPENSATION - A chromatic point sensor system configured to compensate for potential errors due to workpiece material effects comprises a first confocal optical path including a longitudinally dispersive element configured to focus different wavelengths at different distances proximate to a workpiece; a second optical path configured to focus different wavelengths at substantially the same distance proximate to the workpiece; a light source connected to the first confocal optical path; a light source connected to the second optical path; a first confocal optical path disabling element; a second optical path disabling element; and a CPS electronics comprising a CPS wavelength detector which provides output spectral profile data. The output spectral profile data from the second optical path is usable to compensate output spectral profile data from the first confocal optical path for a distance-independent profile component that includes errors due to workpiece material effects. | 06-27-2013 |
20140033554 | HANDHELD MEASUREMENT TOOL WITH USER DEFINED DISPLAY - 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. | 02-06-2014 |
20140126804 | EDGE MEASUREMENT VIDEO TOOL AND INTERFACE INCLUDING AUTOMATIC PARAMETER SET ALTERNATIVES - A user interface for setting parameters for an edge location video tool is provided. In one implementation, the user interface includes a multi-dimensional parameter space representation with edge zones that allows a user to adjust a single parameter combination indicator in a zone in order to adjust multiple edge detection parameters for detecting a corresponding edge. The edge zones indicate the edge features that are detectable when the parameter combination indicator is placed within the edge zones. In another implementation, representations of multiple edge features that are detectable by different possible combinations of the edge detection parameters are automatically provided in one or more windows. When a user selects one of the edge feature representation, the corresponding combination of edge detection parameters is set as the parameters for the edge location video tool. | 05-08-2014 |
20140150272 | Electronic Caliper Configured to Generate Power for Measurement Operations - An electronic caliper generates power for measurement operations. The caliper comprises a scale member, a slider, a signal processing portion configured to measure a displacement between the scale member and slider, a power generating arrangement attached to the slider comprising a gear assembly configured to rotate in response to a force provided through a power generating handle to the gear assembly by a user moving the power generating handle relative to the gear assembly, and a power generator coupled to the gear assembly and configured to rotate in response to force provided by the rotating gear assembly and provide power to the signal processing portion. The power generating arrangement generates power as the user moves the power generating handle, and the power generating arrangement contributes a motion resistance force component of at most 20N as the user moves the power generating handle with a maximum manual acceleration. | 06-05-2014 |
20140150274 | Electronic Caliper Configured to Generate Power for Measurement Operations - An electronic caliper generates power for measurement operations. The caliper comprises a scale member, a slider, a signal processing portion configured to measure a displacement between the scale member and slider, a power generating arrangement attached to the slider comprising a gear assembly configured to rotate in response to a force provided through the scale member to the gear assembly by a user opening or closing the caliper, and a power generator coupled to the gear assembly and configured to rotate in response to force provided by the rotating gear assembly and provide power to the signal processing portion. The power generating arrangement generates power as the user opens or closes the caliper and is configured such that it contributes a motion resistance force component of at most 20N during the user opening or closing the caliper using a maximum manual acceleration and/or speed. | 06-05-2014 |
20140150570 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SETTING MEASUREMENT FORCE THRESHOLDS IN A FORCE SENSING CALIPER - An electrically powered caliper is provided which includes a scale member, a slider, a displacement sensor, a force sensing arrangement and a signal processing portion. The signal processing portion is configured to receive a force signal and indicate a respective force corresponding to the respective position of the slider. Force data is acquired comprising a plurality of respective forces corresponding to respective positions of the slider. The signal processing portion defines an acceptable measurement force range defined by at least a minimum force threshold that is determined such that it exceeds a compensation force corresponding to at least one force component included in the force signal that is independent of user variations of the measurement force. It may analyze acquired force data to identify pre-contact data, and set the minimum force threshold for a current measurement procedure based on that pre-contact data. | 06-05-2014 |
20150059431 | Calibration Control Device for Metrology Tools - 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. | 03-05-2015 |