Abstract:
A multi-mode metrology user interface device includes a signal processing and control portion, a user input interface portion, and a communication portion. The signal processing and control portion includes a measurement display mode configured to display measurement values from multiple metrology devices. The signal processing and control portion further includes at least one of: a) a computational mode configured to compute a value based on measurement values from multiple metrology devices; and b) a combination display mode configured to plot a graph of values from two metrology devices.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to a variety of precision measurement instruments configured to communicate with each other. 
       Description of the Related Art 
       [0002]    Various manufacturing devices such as milling machines or lathes are equipped with linear scales for measuring a position of a machine tool or a workpiece. For example, Mitutoyo model AT116 or AT715 linear scales may be configured to detect an absolute position using inductive sensing and output a signal indicative of the absolute position. Such linear scales may be configured to communicate position measurements through a digital read out (DRO) system. A typical DRO system may include a digital display to show the measured position. For example, a Mitutoyo KA Counter system may be configured as part of a DRO package to display a position of a linear scale coupled with a milling machine or a lathe. 
         [0003]    Various handheld or portable metrology tools are available such as calipers, micrometers or digital indicators, which may be configured to output data to external devices, such as a desktop computer. The data may be output through wired systems such as RS-232C communication, or wireless systems utilizing Bluetooth or other wireless communication technology. For example, a caliper such as a Mitutoyo ABS Digimatic Caliper model CD-15CX may use Mitutoyo U-WAVE wireless data communication to communicate with a computer configured with Mitutoyo MeasurLink software. Wireless connectivity may be provided by an external transmitter unit attached to a handheld or portable metrology tool. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,930,096 and 6,502,057. 
         [0004]    In various applications, it may be desirable for a DRO system to have the capability to communicate with multiple metrology devices, e.g., linear scales of a machine tool as well as handheld or portable metrology tools, in order to provide speed and convenience of dimensional verification while manufacturing a workpiece. Furthermore, it may be desirable for such a DRO system to be configured for multiple modes of operation on a portable display to provide additional convenience and flexibility to an operator. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0006]    A multi-mode metrology user interface device includes a signal processing and control portion, a user input interface portion, and a communication portion. The signal processing and control portion includes a measurement display mode configured to display measurement values from multiple metrology devices, and at least one of: 
         [0007]    a) a computational mode configured to compute a value based on measurement values from multiple metrology devices; and 
         [0008]    b) a combination display mode configured to plot a graph of values from two metrology devices. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a multi-mode metrology user interface device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a multi-mode metrology user interface device operating in a measurement mode. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the multi-mode metrology user interface device of  FIG. 2 , showing additional features. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a multi-mode metrology user interface device operating in a combination mode. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a multi-mode metrology user interface device operating in a computation mode. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a multi-mode metrology user interface device operating in a model interaction mode. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a multi-mode metrology user interface device operating in a setup control mode. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a multi-mode metrology user interface device  100 . The multi-mode metrology user interface device  100  comprises a signal processing and control portion  101 , a user input interface portion  102 , and a communication portion  103 . 
         [0017]    The signal processing and control portion  101  comprises a measurement display mode  110 , a combination display mode  120 , a computation mode  130 , a model interaction mode  140 , a setup control mode  150 , a memory  160 , and a processor  170 . The measurement mode  110  comprises measurement mode processing  111 . The combination display mode  120  comprises combination display mode processing  121 . The computation mode  130  comprises computation display mode processing  131 . The model interaction mode  140  comprises model interaction mode processing  141 . The setup control mode  150  comprises setup control mode processing  151 . 
         [0018]    The user input interface portion  102  comprises a measurement mode display  112 , a combination mode display  122 , a computation mode display  132 , a model interaction mode display  142 , and a setup control mode display  152 . The measurement mode display  112  comprises measurement display and selection elements  113 . The combination mode display  122  comprises combination display and selection elements  123 . The computation mode display  132  comprises computation display and selection elements  133 . The model interaction mode display  142  comprises model interaction display and selection elements  143 . The setup control mode display  152  comprises setup control display and selection elements  153 . 
         [0019]    The communication portion  103  may be configured to communicate with multiple types of metrology devices through various wireless communication means such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cloud based data infrastructure. 
         [0020]    The multi-mode metrology user interface device  100  provides a convenient and versatile means of displaying and interacting with data from multiple metrology sources in multiple modes as outlined in  FIGS. 2-7 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a multi-mode metrology user interface device  200  operating in a measurement mode (e.g., measurement mode  110 ) which comprises measurement mode processing (e.g., measurement mode processing  111 ). The multi-mode metrology user interface device  200  is similar or identical to the multi-mode metrology user interface device  100 . The multi-mode metrology user interface device  200  comprises a control portion  201 , a user input interface portion  202 , and a communication portion  203 . 
         [0022]    The user input interface portion  202  comprises a measurement mode display  212 . The measurement mode display  212  comprises measurement display and selection elements  213 . 
         [0023]    The measurement mode  110  is configured to display measurement values from multiple metrology devices in the user input interface portion  202 . More specifically, the measurement mode display  212  is configured to display measurements from multiple types of metrology devices such as lathes, calipers, micrometers or other metrology devices. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the measurement display and selection elements  213  comprise a lathe X measurement display and selection element  213   a,  a lathe Y measurement display and selection element  213   b,  a caliper measurement display and selection element  213   c,  and a micrometer display and selection element  213   d  which are each configured to display measurement values from their respective metrology devices. The lathe X measurement display and selection element  213   a,  the lathe Y measurement display and selection element  213   b,  the caliper measurement display and selection element  213   c,  and the micrometer display and selection element  213   d  each comprise respective zero setting selection elements  214   a,    214   b,    214   c,    214   d  which are configured to set the measurement values to zero. This may assist a user in determining relative positions for a cut, for example, when operating a lathe tool. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, the multi-mode metrology user interface device  200  may comprise a touch screen, for example, on a tablet device. In some embodiments, the touch screen may be portable and the communication portion  203  may be configured with wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth technology) in order to provide a convenient user interface that may be moved around a working environment. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the multi-mode metrology user interface device  200  of  FIG. 2 , showing additional features. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the multi-mode metrology user interface device  200  additionally comprises an indicator display and selection element  213   e  and a tolerance range display element  213   f.  The indicator display and selection element  213   e  provides a display configured according to the structure of an analog dial indicator, which shows an analog representation of a measurement taken by an indicator. The tolerance range display element  213   f  shows whether a measurement is within a specified tolerance, i.e., in order to provide a “go/no go” inspection tool. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tolerance range display element  213   f  is configured to input the same indicator signal as the indicator selection element  213   e.  The tolerance range display element  213   f  shows that a measurement of 0.900 mm is within a tolerance range of 1.00+/−0.20 mm, as indicated by a checkmark in a circle. In some embodiments, the checkmark may be displayed in a green circle. If a measurement is not within the tolerance range the tolerance range display element  213   f  may be configured to display an X in a red circle. It should be appreciated that other types of customized “go/no go” inspection tools may be provided by the multi-mode metrology user interface device  200 . For example, two indicators may be used to measure a step height which may be displayed for a specified tolerance using a similar tolerance range display element. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a multi-mode metrology user interface device  400  operating in a combination mode (e.g., combination mode  120 ) which comprises combination mode processing (e.g., combination mode processing  121 ). The multi-mode metrology user interface device  400  is similar or identical to the multi-mode metrology user interface device  100 . The multi-mode metrology user interface device  400  comprises a control portion  401 , a user input interface portion  402  and a communication portion  403 . 
         [0027]    The user input interface portion  402  comprises a combination mode display  422 . The measurement mode display  422  comprises combination display and selection elements  423 . The combination display and selection elements  423  comprise a lathe Y display and selection element  423   a,  a caliper display and selection element  423   b,  an indicator display and selection element  423   c,  and a plot display element  423   d.    
         [0028]    The combination mode is configured to plot a graph of values from two metrology devices which may be selected by the combination display and selection elements  423 . More specifically, the plot display element  423   d  is configured to show a graph of indicator values corresponding to lathe Y positions. A user may mount an indicator on a lathe carriage such that it is positioned to engage a workpiece, and move the lathe carriage while the multi-mode metrology user interface device  400  receives lathe Y signals and indicator signals through the communication portion  403 , which may then be displayed as a set of coordinates  424  in the plot display element  423   d.    
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the combination mode may be configured to perform curve or line fitting. For example, a curve fit  425  may be applied to the set of coordinates  424  as shown in the plot display element  423   d.  The curve fit  425  may be utilized to determine a diameter of a round workpiece feature. The plot display element  423   d  shows a diameter of 15.3375 mm. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a multi-mode metrology user interface device  500  operating in a computation mode (e.g., computation mode  130 ) which comprises computation mode processing (e.g., computation mode processing  131 ). The multi-mode metrology user interface device  500  is similar or identical to the multi-mode metrology user interface device  100 . The multi-mode metrology user interface device  500  comprises a control portion  501 , a user input interface portion  502  and a communication portion  503 . 
         [0031]    The user input interface portion  502  comprises a computation mode display  532 . The computation mode display  532  comprises computation display and selection elements  533 . The computation display and selection elements  533  comprise a first indicator computation display and selection element  533   a,  a second indicator computation display and selection element  533   b,  an average computation display and selection element  533   c,  and a computation calculator display and selection element  533   d.  Each of the first indicator computation display and selection element  533   a,  the second indicator computation display and selection element  533   b,  and the average computation display and selection element  533   c  comprises respective value input buttons  534   a,    534   b,    534   c.    
         [0032]    A user may construct a formula using the computation calculator display and selection element  533   d  which may input values the user selects by using the value input buttons  534   a,    534   b,    534   c.  For example, a user may select the first indicator computation display and selection element  533   a  and the second indicator computation display and selection element  533   b  as values to be averaged. By selecting the value input button  534   a,  a value “[Indicator  1 ]” appears in the computation calculator display and selection element  533   d  which represents a value input by the first indicator computation display and selection element  533   a  from a first electronic indicator. By selecting the value input button  534   b,  a value “[Indicator  2 ]” appears in the computation calculator display and selection element  533   d  which represents a value input by the second indicator computation display and selection element  533   b  from a second electronic indicator. The formula and result for this average may then be displayed, for example, by the average computation display and selection element  533   c.  The result may also be used as a “virtual” data source in a similar manner to the values of the first indicator computation display and selection element  533   a  and the second indicator computation display and selection element  533   b.    
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a multi-mode metrology user interface device  600  operating in a model interaction mode (e.g., model interaction mode  140 ) which comprises model interaction mode processing (e.g., model interaction mode processing  141 ). The multi-mode metrology user interface device  600  is similar or identical to the multi-mode metrology user interface device  100 . The multi-mode metrology user interface device  600  comprises a control portion  601 , a user input interface portion  602 , and a communication portion  603 . 
         [0034]    The user input interface portion  602  comprises a model interaction mode display  642 . The computation mode display  642  comprises model interaction display and selection elements  643 . The model interaction display and selection elements  643  comprise a model display and selector element  643   a.  The model display and selection element  643   a  may be configured to input a model of a workpiece. In various embodiments, the model may be a  2 D drawing or a CAD model of the workpiece. A user may add an annotation to the model, such as a note of “value within tolerance”  644  or an actual value from a measurement input by the communication portion  603 . An annotation may be added, for example, through a touchscreen keypad or a voice input. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a multi-mode metrology user interface device  700  operating in a setup control mode (e.g., setup control mode  150 ) which comprises setup control mode processing (e.g., setup control mode processing  151 ). The multi-mode metrology user interface device  700  is similar or identical to the multi-mode metrology user interface device  100 . The multi-mode metrology user interface device  700  comprises a control portion  701 , a user input interface portion  702 , and a communication portion  703 . 
         [0036]    The user input interface portion  702  comprises a setup control mode display  752 . The setup control mode display  752  comprises setup control display and selection elements  753 . The setup control display and selection elements  753  comprise a mode selection element  753   a  and a metrology device selection element  753   b.  The mode selection element  753   a  may be used to select a mode in which the multi-mode metrology user interface device  700  will operate (e.g., measurement mode  110 , combination mode  120 , computation mode  130 , or model interaction mode  140 ). In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the entirety of the setup control mode display  752  may be used for the mode selection element  753   a  by responding to a swipe gesture left or right to scroll through available modes. It should be appreciated that this is exemplary only and not limiting and many alternative selection structures may be utilized for the mode selection element  753   a  such as a drop down menu or a list box. The metrology device selection element  753   b  may be used to select one or more metrology tools from which the communication portion  703  may input measurement data. In some embodiments, the metrology device selection element  753   b  may comprise an area marked “devices” which a user may hold to bring forth a device selection menu  754  which shows metrology devices which are available for input to the multi-mode metrology user interface device  700 . 
         [0037]    Various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents and U.S. patent applications referred to in this specification are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents and applications to provide yet further embodiments. 
         [0038]    These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.