Patent ID: 6519043
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: G01B,G05B

Abstract:
A method of determining the accuracy a body is moved under computer control using position measuring apparatus which includes beam directing means which directs a reflectable energy beam in a given direction therefrom and reflector means including at least one reflector, one of said at least one reflector and beam directing means with any other associated reflectors to be mounted on said body and the other to be mounted at a relatively stationary point, said at least one reflector being sufficiently large to intercept and first reflect said beam in a manner which will ultimately cause the beam to return back to said beam directing means even when the body is moved along a given path or paths in a path direction different from the beam direction, said apparatus being adapted to make measurements of the distance between said at least one reflector and beam directing means from a characteristic of the received beam at various measuring points along the body's path of movement, said method comprising the steps of:placing one of said at least one reflector and beam directing means with any other reflectors needed on said body and mounting the other of same at a stationary point relative thereto so that as said body is moved by said computer along said given path or paths said measuring apparatus measures and records the distance between said at least one reflector and beam directing means at said measuring points; operating a computer to direct said body to move the same along said given path or paths so that said at least one reflector intercepts and causes said beam ultimately to return to said beam directing means where said measuring apparatus measures the distances changes between said one large reflector and beam directing means, there being stored in a memory the ideal body position data for said measuring points; and comparing the various actual body position measurements as determined from said one reflector to beam directing means distance measurements with said stored ideal position data to determine the body position error when the body is at said measuring points.