Source: http://www.google.fr/patents/US20110178765
Timestamp: 2017-09-22 22:42:09
Document Index: 474348411

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 608', 'art 608', 'art 608', 'art 608', 'art 608', 'art 608', 'art 608', 'art 608']

Brevet US20110178765 - Multi-functional coordinate measurement machines - Google Brevets
A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) includes a manually positionable arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal, a measurement...http://www.google.fr/patents/US20110178765?utm_source=gb-gplus-shareBrevet US20110178765 - Multi-functional coordinate measurement machines
Numéro de publication US20110178765 A1
Numéro de demande US 13/006,524
Autre référence de publication CN102597895A, CN102597896A, CN102639959A, CN102639959B, CN102656422A, CN102687433A, CN102712091A, CN102713498A, CN102713498B, CN102713499A, CN102713499B, CN102713500A, CN102713500B, CN102725702A, CN102725702B, CN102771079A, CN102844642A, CN102844642B, CN102859314A, CN104075638A, DE112011100193B4, DE112011100193T5, DE112011100289B4, DE112011100289T5, DE112011100291T5, DE112011100292B4, DE112011100292T5, DE112011100293T5, DE112011100295T5, DE112011100296T5, DE112011100299T5, DE112011100300T5, DE112011100302T5, DE112011100304B4, DE112011100304T5, DE112011100308T5, DE112011100310B4, DE112011100310T5, US8001697, US8028432, US8171650, US8276286, US8601702, US8763266, US8942940, US9009000, US20110173823, US20110173824, US20110173825, US20110173826, US20110173828, US20110175745, US20110178753, US20110178754, US20110178755, US20110178758, US20110178762, US20110178763, US20110178766, US20130025143, WO2011090887A1, WO2011090889A1, WO2011090890A1, WO2011090891A1, WO2011090894A1, WO2011090894A4, WO2011090896A1, WO2011090897A1, WO2011090897A4, WO2011090898A1, WO2011090899A1, WO2011090900A1, WO2011090901A1, WO2011090902A1, WO2011090903A1, WO2011090903A4, WO2011091096A2, WO2011091096A3, WO2011091096A4
Numéro de publication 006524, 13006524, US 2011/0178765 A1, US 2011/178765 A1, US 20110178765 A1, US 20110178765A1, US 2011178765 A1, US 2011178765A1, US-A1-20110178765, US-A1-2011178765, US2011/0178765A1, US2011/178765A1, US20110178765 A1, US20110178765A1, US2011178765 A1, US2011178765A1
Inventeurs Paul C. Atwell, Clark H. Briggs
Citations de brevets (100), Référencé par (46), Classifications (18), Événements juridiques (1)
US 20110178765 A1
providing a portable AACMM comprised of a manually positionable arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal, a measurement device attached to a first end of the AACMM, and an electronic circuit which receives the position signals from the transducers and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device;
identifying a source device from which data is received by determining a transmission path through which the data is transmitted, the source device removably attached to the first end of the AACMM via a coupler;
determining a data type of the data based upon at least an identification of the source device;
performing an action on the data responsive to the data type; and
outputting results of performing the action to a destination device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission path includes a wireless communication path and a wired communication path.
a global positioning system network; and
a short-range communications network.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein data types include at least one of:
metrology data;
radio frequency identification-based data.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the action performed includes converting raw measurement data to coordinate data.
radio frequency identification scanner;
thermal scanning device; and
painting device.
8. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) having interchangeable accessories, the portable AACMM comprising:
a source device removably attached to the first end of the portable AACMM via a coupler, the source device configured for capturing data; and
logic executable by the electronic circuit, wherein the logic identifies the source device from which the data is received by determining a transmission path through which the data is transmitted, determines a data type of the data based upon at least an identification of the source device, performs an action on the data responsive to the data type, and outputs results of performing the action to a destination device.
9. The portable AACMM of claim 8, the transmission path includes a wireless communication path and a wired communication path.
11. The portable AACMM of claim 8, wherein data types include at least one of:
12. The portable AACMM of claim 8, wherein the action performed includes converting raw measurement data to coordinate data.
15. A computer program product for implementing a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), the computer program product comprising a computer storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied thereon, which when executed by a computer causes the computer to implement a method, the method comprising:
identifying a source device from which data is received by determining a transmission path through which the data is transmitted, the source device removably attached to a first end of the AACMM;
16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the transmission path includes a wireless communication path and a wired communication path.
18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein data types include at least one of:
19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the action performed includes converting raw measurement data to coordinate data.
20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the destination device includes at least one of a user interface display onboard the AACMM and a remote computer processor.
An embodiment is a method of implementing a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) having interchangeable accessories. The portable AACMM includes a manually positionable arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a number of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal, a measurement device attached to a first end of the AACMM, and an electronic circuit which receives the position signals from the transducers and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device. Implementing the portable AACMM includes identifying a source device from which data is received by determining a transmission path through which the data is transmitted, the source device removably attached to the first end of the AACMM via a coupler. Implementing the portable AACMM also includes determining a data type of the data based upon at least an identification of the source device. The source device is removably attached to the AACMM. Implementing the portable AACMM also includes performing an action on the data responsive to the data type, and outputting results of performing the action to a destination device.
Portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machines (AACMMs) are used in a variety of applications to obtain measurements of objects. Embodiments of the present invention provide advantages in allowing an operator to easily and quickly couple different measurement accessory devices to a probe end of the AACMM. Embodiments of the present invention provide further advantages in providing for integrating some level of control of the probe end with the accessory device. Embodiments of the present invention provide still further advantages in providing power and data communications to a removable accessory without having external connections or wiring.
In other embodiments of the present invention, a device 600 (FIG. 6) coupled to the AACMM 100 may include a functional device 602. Depending on the type of device 600, the functional device 602 may be a still camera, a video camera, a bar-code scanner, thermal scanner, a light source (e.g. a flashlight), or an image projector. In one embodiment, the functional device 602 may include a retroreflector holder such as that described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,804,602 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Relocating an Articulating-Arm Coordinate Measuring Machine” which is incorporated herein in its entirety. In yet another embodiment, the functional device 602 may include an ultrasonic probe such as that described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,880 entitled “Method of Constructing a 3-Dimensional Map of a Measurable Quantity Using Three Dimensional Coordinate Measuring Apparatus” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The device 600 includes an interface 426 allowing a device to be electrically and mechanically coupled to the probe housing 102. Device 600 further includes a controller electrically connected to the functional device 602. The controller is arranged in asynchronous bi-directional communication with the electronic data processing system 210. The bidirectional communication connection may be wired (e.g. via arm bus 218), wireless (e.g. Bluetooth or IEEE 802.11). In one embodiment, the communications connection is a combination of wired and wireless connections wherein a first signal type is transmitted via a wired connection via controller 420 and a second signal type is transmitted via a wireless connection. In an embodiment wherein the functional device 602 includes multiple functions such as an image projector and a laser line probe, The image (e.g. CAD) data may be sent via a wireless connection to the image projector while the data acquired by the LLP image sensor is sent via a wired connection. It should be appreciated that the integration of these devices may provide advantages in allowing the operator to acquire measurements faster and with a higher degree of reliability. For example, with the still camera or video camera device attached, the operator may record an image or images of the object being measured with the device. These images may be displayed on display 328 or incorporated into an inspection report for example. In one embodiment, the operator may place graphical markers on the displayed image to define measurement points via the user interface board 202. In this way, the operator can later recall the marked up image from memory and quickly see where to make measurements. In other embodiments, a video is captured of the object being measured. The video is then replayed via the user interface board 202 to assist the operator in repeating multiple measurements on the next object to be inspected or as a training tool for new operators.
Referring now to FIG. 6 and FIGS. 8-12, an embodiment is shown of a device 600 incorporating one or more image projectors 602. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, one or more relatively small, commercially available projectors (e.g., “ultra miniature” or “pico” projectors) 604 may be mounted to, connected with, or otherwise attached to the probe end 401 of AACMM 100 or at other various positions thereon (e.g. opposite the handle, on an arm segment). In FIG. 8A-8D, the projector 604 is shown mounted to the device 600 adjacent to the handle 126. However, the projector 604 may be mounted anywhere on the AACMM 100, and may be mounted to a laser line probe, if utilized in conjunction with the AACMM 100. The projector 604 may contain some amount of processing capability. In an embodiment, the projector 604 is connected with, or in communication with, the electronic data processing system 210. As such, the projector 604 may be provided with visual guidance information or data (e.g., an image 606) that the projector 604 then projects onto the part or object 608 to be measured or otherwise worked on by an operator of the AACMM 100, as shown in “Position 1” of FIG. 8B.
Once the orientation of the part 608 is aligned within the coordinate system of the AACMM 100, the scale of the projected image 606 and its perspective can be synchronized to the movement of the AACMM 100 using the positional data of the arm 104. The image 606 projected on the part 608 can be adjusted by a processor associated with the projector 604 or via the electronic data processing system 210 as a function of the position of the probe end 401, such that as the device 600 is moved, the image 606 projected on the part 608 is stationary, changing both in scale and orientation to present a stable image to the operator. This can be seen in “Position 2” of FIG. 8C. As an example, a colored (e.g. green) circle 610 could be projected to align with a hole 612 in the part to be measured. As the probe angle or distance relative to the part 608 is changed, the position of the circle 610 in the projected image 606 changes, yet the circle 610 remains “locked” in position over the hole 612, and remains the same size as the hole 612. This is comparable to locking on and tracking a target. An advantage of this configuration is that the operator does not need to look away from the part 608 at a computer screen, user interface or other visual display as the operator moves the AACMM 100.
Using projected imagery on the part 608 as opposed to simple grid lines in the prior art provides a wide range of projected information options, including but not limited to: (1) Color control—a red circle may change to green after completing a measurement successfully. The color of the marker or graphics may change to provide the highest visibility (contrast) for the color of the part 608. (2) Animations—markers, arrows, or other indicators may flash, changing frequency, alternately changing colors to start or finish an operation. (3) Text—messages, data, or dimensions can be projected on the part. A digital read-out normally displayed on the computer screen can be projected on the part 608. (4) CAD images—can be overlaid on parts, with notes, dimensions or other information. Features to be measured can be sequentially highlighted with color or animation. (5) Photographs—actual images of the part (as designed) can be projected onto the part to be measured, immediately indicating anything that is different, such as a missing hole or a feature in the wrong location. (“Projection with Guidance”; see FIG. 9A). (6) Range Indicator—for non-contact devices like LLP500, range indicators 614 can be projected onto the part surface 608. These can be animated, colored, and include text and/or data.
At step 1304, the base computer processor identifies the source of the data. The source of the data (e.g., one of devices 400, 600, and 700) may be identified by determining a transmission path through which the data is transmitted. For example, if the source device is physically engaged with the AACMM 100, the transmission path includes the peripheral component interface bus 240, probe end electronics 230, and arm buses 218 (shown in FIG. 2), as well as the interface 426 and connector 534 (shown in FIG. 5). If the source device is removed from the interface 426 of the AACMM 100, the transmission path may be wireless (e.g., through a wireless network) to the electronic data processing system 210. As indicated above, the respective controllers of devices 400, 600, and 700 may include wireless components for communicating with the AACMM 100 (e.g., to the electronic data processing system 210), as well as other devices that may be configured to receive data therefrom. The wireless transmission path may be implemented, e.g., via a cellular communication network, a global positioning system network, a short-range communication network (e.g., a BlueTooth™-enabled network), or similar type of network.
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Classification internationale G01B5/008, G06F15/00
Classification coopérative G01B21/047, G05B2219/40233, G05B19/401, G05B2219/24067, G05B2219/40596, G01B5/012, G05B2219/45061, G05B2219/37193, G05B19/406, G01B11/007
Classification européenne G05B19/401, G05B19/406, G01B11/00D1B, G01B5/012, G01B21/04D
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:ATWELL, PAUL C.;BRIGGS, CLARK H.;REEL/FRAME:025639/0057