Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for sensing the position of an object 54;154) comprising a fixed member (12;112), a moveable member (10;110), three support units (20,30,40;120,130,140) connected to the members in position therebetween and aligned to respective directions (A,B,C) any one of which is at an angle to the other two, and the units cooperating to constrain the moveable member (10;110) for three-dimensional parallel movement relative to the fixed member (12;112), characterised in that the units (20,30,40;120,130,140) are arranged to constitute parallel connections between the members (10,12;110,112) and each unit (20,30,40;120,130,140) comprises rigid means (21,31,41;120,130,140) constraining the moveable member against rotation about the direction pertaining to the unit, and flexible means (22,25,32,35,42,45) permitting said relative movement in said directions (A,B,C).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for sensing the position of an object 54;154) comprising a fixed member (12;112), a moveable member (10;110), three support units (20,30,40;120,130,140) connected to the members in position therebetween and aligned to respective directions (A,B,C) any one of which is at an angle to the other two, and the units cooperating to constrain the moveable member (10;110) for three-dimensional parallel movement relative to the fixed member (12;112), characterised in that the units (20,30,40;120,130,140) are arranged to constitute parallel connections between the members (10,12;110,112) and each unit (20,30,40;120,130,140) comprises rigid means (21,31,41;120,130,140) constraining the moveable member against rotation about the direction pertaining to the unit, and flexible means (22,25,32,35,42,45) permitting said relative movement in said directions (A,B,C).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
180 words
Position sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said unit (e.g. 20) comprises an arm (21) secured at one end to the fixed member (12), and a pair of parallel links (24) connected between the other end of the arm (21) and the moveable member (10), the arm (21) being rigid in torsion about a first axis (Al) lying in a first said direction (A), first pivot means (22) permitting angular movement of the arm relative to the fixed member about a second axis (23) having a second said direction (B) the links (24) extending in the third said direction ( C ) and being spaced apart in said second direction (B), second pivot means (25) permitting universal angular movement of each said link (24) relative to the moveable member (10) and relative to the arm (21), said links (24) and said arm (21) cooperating to constrain the moveable member (30) against rotation relative to the fixed member about said first axis (Al) while permitting three-dimensional parallel displacement of the moveable member (10) relative to the fixed member (12).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said unit comprises a torsionally rigid but otherwise flexible bellows (120,130,140) connected between the moveable and fixed members (110,112).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flexible means (22,25,32,35,42,45:120,130,140) are relatively stiff to bias the stylus into a rest position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fixed member (120) comprises a housing (149), said moveable member (120) is situated within the housing (149), and comprising a liquid (162) contained within the housing (149) and cooperating to support the moveable member (110) by virtue of the buoyancy thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixed member (12;112) comprises a housing (49;149), the moveable member (10;110) is situated within the housing (49;149) and the stylus (52;152) projects from within the housing (49;149) through a portion thereof defining an opening (60;160) therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said unit comprises a torsionally rigid but otherwise flexible bellows (120,130,140) connected between the moveable and the fixed member (110,112), the fixed member (112) comprises a housing (1 4 9), the moveable member (110) is situated within the housing (149) and the stylus (151,152) projects from within the housing (149) through a'portion defining an opening (160) therein, and one of said bellows (130) is connected in a position between the moveable member (110) and said portion and so as to surround the stylus (151,152) insofar as the latter extends within the housing (149).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means (56,57,58;156,157,158) comprise in respect of each said direction an inductive sensor having an output proportional to a said displacement.