Patent ID: 8860952
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus configured to measure at least one physical characteristic of an internally threaded surface of an object, the internally threaded surface comprising a plurality of crests, the apparatus comprising: (A) a support member comprising at least two distal contact surfaces and at least two proximal contact surfaces, wherein the at least two distal contact surfaces and the at least two proximal contact surfaces are separated from one another by a space and are configured to register to at least four separate contact locations on the internally threaded surface of the object including two or more latitudinally spaced contact locations and two or more longitudinally spaced contact locations, wherein said registration of the contact surfaces defines a registration plane; (B) at least one external contact configured to make physical contact with an external surface of the object; and (C) at least one motion stage configured to controllably move an optical head along a measurement axis that is substantially parallel to the registration plane of the internally threaded surface, wherein the optical head is configured and disposed such that the first incident light beam and the receive axis form a triangulation plane along with the measurement point on the internally threaded surface.