Patent ID: 7847955
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. A surface sensing device for use in position determining apparatus, comprising: an elongate stylus having a workpiece-contacting stylus tip; an optical element at or near or connected to the tip so as to be subjected to lateral displacements of the tip; an optical transducer system which projects a light beam along the stylus between a the optical element and a detector, thereby to measure said lateral displacements of the tip; a mounting for the stylus the surface sensing device which enables longitudinal displacement of the stylus, the mounting for the stylus disposed within a housing of the surface sensing device, wherein the longitudinal displacement of the stylus is at the mounting for the stylus within the housing of the surface sensing device; and a displacement measurement transducer arranged to measure said longitudinal displacement of the stylus.