Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Coordinate movable probe or machine
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-08
2001-04-24
Fulton, Christopher W. (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Coordinate movable probe or machine
C702S150000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219928
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to three dimensional coordinate measuring machines (CMM's). More particularly, this invention relates to a three dimensional CMM including a serial network for transmitting data from the arm to a controller.
2. Prior Art
Conventional CMM's use encoders to provide information on the position of the arm in three dimensional space.
FIG. 1
is a side view, partially in cross-section, of an exemplary CMM
10
having six degrees of freedom as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,582, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. At each joint, or degree of freedom, a transducer (such as a rotary encoder)
80
is used to produce signals indicating the rotation of each joint and thus, the position of the arm. At the distal end of the CMM
10
is a probe/switch assembly
56
having two switches
150
and
152
. Switch
150
is for taking data and switch
152
is for accepting data. As shown in
FIG. 1
, six encoders
80
are used, one for each degree of freedom. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,582, the CMM may also include an option port at the probe/switch assembly
56
for the attachment of a variety of options and a temperature transducer.
A drawback to the conventional CMM
10
is the large amount of wiring that must be housed within the arm. Each encoder
80
can require 7 or more wires. The option port, temperature transducer and control buttons
150
and
152
require additional wires. This large number of wires results in increased expense and reliability problems related to the increased number of parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above-discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by the articulated arm having a serial network of the present invention. The arm includes a serial network for communicating data from transducers located in the arm to a controller. Each transducer is connected to a transducer interface having a memory which stores transducer data. The controller serially addresses each transducer interface and handshaking is performed to transfer the data from the transducer interface memory to the controller.
The above-discussed and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4676002 (1987-06-01), Slocum
patent: 4794513 (1988-12-01), Müller
patent: 4811561 (1989-03-01), Edwards et al.
patent: 4888877 (1989-12-01), Enderle et al.
patent: 5402582 (1995-04-01), Raab
patent: 5724264 (1998-03-01), Rosenberg et al.
patent: WO 97/40336 (1997-10-01), None
patent: WO 98/08050 (1998-02-01), None
Parguian Joselito
Raab Simon
Sajedi Ali Seyed
Cantor & Colburn LLP
Faro Technologies Inc.
Fulton Christopher W.
LandOfFree
Serial network for coordinate measurement apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Serial network for coordinate measurement apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Serial network for coordinate measurement apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2530659