Patent ID: 6563130
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: B23K,B25J,G01S,G05B

Abstract:
A distance tracking control system, comprising:a non-contact distance sensor for sensing a distance of a movable working member from a surface; an actuator for making positional adjustments of the working member in response to changes in the distance sensed by the non-contact distance sensor; a controller connected to the distance sensor and the actuator, the controller receiving data from the non-contact distance sensor and then sending signals to the actuator to make positional adjustments of the working member; and the non-contact distance sensor being one of a single sensor mounted on an arm which sweeps a portion of the surface adjacent to the working member to provide data from which the controller calculates a topographical map, and an array of sensors which blanket a portion of the surface adjacent to the working member to provide data from which the controller calculates a topographical map.