Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-02
2003-06-24
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S462320, C235S462330, C235S462360, C235S454000, C235S435000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06581833
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to optical or other energy directing systems and more particularly to an intelligent energy emitting head.
BACKGROUND
FIG. 1
is a simplified functional block diagram of a conventional two dimensional energy emitting system
100
which could, for example, be used for reading, writing, marking, drilling, welding or various other purposes. As shown, the system
100
includes a user interface and command signal generator
110
for entering user commands and generating command signals corresponding to the user commands. A command control generator
120
generates emitter control and trajectory control signals in accordance with the command signals.
An energy emitter
130
emits energy, for example in the form of a beam, in accordance with the emitter control signals, e.g. emitter off and emitter on signals over time. The emitter may be in the form of a gas laser, e.g. a CO2 laser, a solid state laser, e.g. a Yag or laser diode, a fiber optic laser, or any other type energy emitter, including an x-ray, acoustic, e.g. ultrasound, or microwave emitter.
An X-scanner
140
directs the emitted energy in an X direction and a Y-scanner
150
directs the emitted energy in a Y direction, in accordance with the trajectory control signals, e.g. positions for the emitted energy, such as at X-grid positions and Y-grid positions, over time, on a plane
160
.
It will be recognized that the trajectory control signals may correspond to any parameter(s) necessary for the directed energy to accomplish the desired task. For example, if the user commands entered using the user interface
110
designate or correspond to a desired character font type for product marking, the command control generator
120
generates the control signals by translating the font type commands into emitter and trajectory control signals corresponding thereto.
The processing performed by the command control generator
120
may be complex. More particularly, to move the mirrors in the scanners, which will be described further below, in a manner that ensures that the emitted energy is directed to very precise location settings, forms straight rather than curved lines, and/or has other desirable features, the command control generator
120
must perform concise coordinate transformations which anticipate and remove errors and anomalies from the motion of the emitted energy and guide the emitted energy so as to properly perform the desired task, such as writing an A, B, or C in a way that is acceptable for the job. These coordinate transformations are sometimes referred to as grid calibrations or corrections. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, algorithms are commonly utilized by the command control generator
120
in performing such coordinate transformations.
By properly controlling the trajectory of the X and Y-scanners, in synchronization with the emitting of energy from the emitter
130
, the emitted energy can be directed at a desired location, e.g. a point or area, anywhere on an x-y coordinate plane
160
or along a desired path anywhere within the x-y coordinate plane
160
. It will be recognized that the emitted energy might actually pass through the x-y coordinate plane
160
and impinge upon something on the other side of the plane, for example to illuminate an item, if so desired.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, a conventional commercially packaged two-dimensional energy emitting system
200
, includes a computer
210
, typically a personal computer (PC), which functions as the user interface
110
of FIG.
1
. The computer
210
includes a processor
220
programmed using off-the-shelf software and/or specialized software, or corresponding logic in another form, to initially process user commands entered on a standard keyboard, mouse or other user input device
230
, and to optionally process other inputs as will be discussed further below. A controller
240
, which functions as the command control generator
120
of
FIG. 1
, processes the output from the processor
220
to generate command control signals, i.e. the emitter and trajectory control signals.
As also shown in
FIG. 2
, the system
200
includes an energy emitting head
250
which includes a receiver
260
for receiving the command control signals. An energy emitter
270
may or may not be attached to the head
250
. The head
250
and energy emitter
270
are often manufactured by different manufacturers and most typically the emitter
270
is not attached, but rather remains separated from the head
250
. In any event the emitter
270
functions as the energy emitter
130
of FIG.
1
.
The head
250
includes a servo
280
a
/galvo
285
a
/mirror
290
a
subsystem which functions as the X-scanner
140
of
FIG. 1
, and a servo
280
b
/galvo
285
b
/mirror
290
b
subsystem which functions as the Y-scanner
150
of FIG.
1
. These subsystems operate in synchronization with the emitter
270
according to the received command control signals to direct the energy emitted from the emitter
270
to a desired location(s), as is well understood in the art.
For example, the synchronized operation of the energy emitter
270
, servo
280
a
/galvo
285
a
/mirror
290
a
subsystem, and servo
280
b
/galvo
285
b
/mirror
290
b
subsystem, in accordance with the received command control signals might result in a label on a stationary box, or one moving on a conveyor, being read for inventory or other purposes, a label being written on a stationary box, or one moving on a conveyor, to identify a shipping destination or some other information, a weld being made on a stationary device, or one moving on a conveyor, to manufacture a product, a parameter of a stationary device, or one moving on a conveyor, being sensed for quality control or other purposes, or some other desired action.
In the system
200
, the computer
210
and energy emitting head
250
are interconnected by a high bandwidth communications interface
295
. The command control signals generated by the controller
240
are communicated to the receiver
260
via the interface
295
. As is well understood in the art, the interface
295
between the computer
210
and head
250
must be noise protected. This is because, if the interface
295
is insufficiently protected, noise could seriously interfere with communications between the computer
210
and head
250
in practical industrial implementations, and result in the improper operation of the head. The interface
295
, is commonly implemented using an XY100 interface, which was originally developed by the predecessor of the assignee of all rights in the present application for its GMAX™ product line. Typically, the interface can be used to interconnect the computer with various different types of heads. Thus, although
FIG. 2
depicts a particular head
250
being interconnected to computer
210
via interface
295
, it will be recognized that any type of head designed to interconnect via interface
295
could be substituted for head
250
and commanded by the computer
210
. However, because a high bandwidth interface is conventionally required, standard PCs that will be used to control energy emitting heads must be modified to accommodate the required interface.
To summarize, in conventional energy emitting systems all commanding is performed by the computer, i.e. outside of the head, and the head simply operates in accordance with the received command control signals. Thus, all intelligence resides in the computer. Accordingly, the computer receives user commands for a task to be performed, such as marking a product as it moves down an assembly line, via the user interface
230
. The user commands are processed by the processor
220
to transform the task command into operational parameters. The output of the processor is then translated and formatted by the controller
240
to generate the command control signals that correspond to the operational parameters and can be understood by the head. The head receiver
260
receives the command control signals via the high bandwidth interface
295
, and fo
Ellis Alfred Lee
Kaplan Alvaro
Manukian Gagik
Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus LLP
Frech Karl D.
GSI Lumonics Inc.
Nguyen Kim
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