Electronic micrometers employing digital processing techniques

Claim 2

Apparatus for performing accurate measurements of a dimension of a work piece or similar article positioned at a fixed reference point, comprising: a. a micrometer spindle rotatably positioned with respect to said reference point to move upon rotation towards or away from said point, b. a bidirectional stepper motor having an output shaft which can rotate by a discrete number of steps in either a clockwise or counter-clcokwise direction upon application to said motor of a repetitive signal to either a first input for clockwise rotation or a second input for counter-clockwise rotation, c. gearing means coupling said output shaft of said motor to said spindle for moving said spindle away from said reference point in one of said clockwise or counter-clockwise rotations and towards said reference point for said other rotations, d. counting means coupled to said first and second inputs of said motor and responsive to the difference between repetitions applied to said first input as compared to repetitions applied to said second input to store therein a count indicative of the total number of effective repetitions applied to said motor to move said spindle towards said reference point, said stored count determinative of the total distance traveled by said spindle in the direction towards said reference point, and e. time delay means having an output coupled to said first or second input of said stepper motor and responsive to said spindle contacting said work piece to activate means for displaying said stored count for a desired time, after which said time delay means causes said motor to drive said spindle away from said reference point by a given distance according to a setting of said time delay means.

Claim 3

In an electronic micrometer of the type employing a spindle which is driven into contact with a work piece resting on an anvil to thusly locate said work piece between said spindle and anvil, said work piece having a desired dimension to be measured, the improvement therewith comprising apparatus for driving said spindle into contact with said work piece, comprising: a. a bi-directional stepping motor including a shaft capable of rotating a full revolution in either a clockwise or Counter-clockwise direction upon application of a suitable repetitive signal to either a first or second input associated with said motor, b. gear means coupling said shaft to said micrometer spindle so that each repetition of said signal corresponds to a predetermined movement of said spindle, c. means including a counter responsive to the difference of the number of repetitions of said signal as applied between said first and second input of said motor to store therein a number indicative of the movement of said spindle and therefore the dimension of said work-piece, d. a switchable adjustable time delay having an input responsive to a control signal for activating an output after a predetermined adjustable time delay, said output coupled to either said first or second inputs associated with said motor to drive said spindle away from said workpiece by a predetermined adjustable distance, and e. means coupled to said input of said time delay for applying said control signal thereto in response to said spindle contacting said work piece to thereby cause said motor to drive said spindle away from said workpiece by said predetermined distance.

Claim 4

In an electronic micrometer of the type employing a spindle which is driven into contact with a work piece resting on an anvil to thusly locate said work piece between said spindle and anvil, said work piece having a desired dimension to be measured, the improvement therewith comprising apparatus for driving said spindle into contact with said work piece, comprising: a. a bi-directional stepping motor including a shaft capable of rotating a full revolution in either a clockwise or Counter-clockwise direction upon application of a suitable repetitive signal to either a first or second input associated with said motor, b. gear means coupling said shaft to said micrometer spindle so that each repetition of said signal corresponds to a predetermined movement of said spindle, c. means including a counter responsive to the difference of the number of repetitions of said signal as applied between said first and second input of said motor to store therein a number indicative of the movement of said spindle and therefore the dimension of said work-piece, d. a switchable adjustable time delay having an input responsive to a control signal for activating an output after a predetermined adjustable time delay, said output coupled to either said first or second inputs associated with said motor to drive said spindle away from said workpiece by a predetermined adjustable distance, and e. means coupled to said input of said time delay for applying said control signal thereto in response to said spindle contacting said work piece to thereby cause said motor to drive said spindle away from said workpiece by said predetermined distance.

Claim 5

In apparatus for measuring a dimension of a work piece which work piece is positioned on a reference plane and thusly located above a movable micrometer spindle, which spindle moves an accurate, ascertainable distance for a complete revolution, said spindle rotatably mounted to move in a first direction towards said work piece and in a second direction away from said workpiece, the improvement therewith comprising apparatus for moving said spindle in either direction and providing an indication of the distance moved to contact said workpiece as positioned, which distance manifests the desired dimension of said work piece, comprising: a. a bi-directional stepper motor having a first input adapted to receive a series of pulses for rotating a shaft coupled to said motor a fixed number of degrees clockwise for each pulse applied to said first input, and a second input for rotating said fixed number of degrees counter-clockwise for each pulse applied to said second input, b. gear means coupling said motor shaft to said spindle to cause said spindle to move said ascertainable distance towards said work piece in said first direction for either said clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of said motor shaft and to move said distance away from said work piece in said second direction for said other rotation of said motor shaft, c. means including an up/down counter coupled to said first and second inputs of said stepper motor, said counter responsive to said pulses received by said inputs to store a count indicative of the difference between the number of pulses on said first and second inputs as applied to said motor to cause rotation in either direction, said stored count being displayed for a desired period after said spindle contacts said work and determinative of the dimension of said work piece, and d. an adjustable time delay circuit responsive to said spindle contacting said work piece, said time delay circuit coupled to one of said first or second inputs to cause said spindle to move a predetermined distance away from said work piece after a predetermined time period according to the setting of said adjustable time delay.

Claim 6

In apparatus for measuring a dimension of a work piece which work piece is positioned on a reference plane and thusly located above a movable micrometer spindle, which spindle moves an accurate, ascertainable distance for a complete revolution, said spindle rotatably mounted to move in a first direction towards said work piece and in a second direction away from said workpiece, the improvement therewith comprising apparatus for moving said spindle in either direction and providing an indication of the distance moved to contact said workpiece as positioned, which distance manifests the desired dimension of said work piece, comprising: a. a bi-directional stepper motor having a first input adapted to receive a series of pulses for rotating a shaft coupled to said motor a fixed number of degrees clockwise for each pulse applied to said first input, and a second input for rotating said fixed number of degrees counter-clockwise for each pulse applied to said second input, b. gear means coupling said motor shaft to said spindle to cause said spindle to move said ascertainable distance towards said work piece in said first direction for either said clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of said motor shaft and to move said distance away from said work piece in said second direction for said other rotation of said motor shaft, c. means including an up/down counter coupled to said first and second inputs of said stepper motor, said counter responsive to said pulses received by said inputs to store a count indicative of the difference between the number of pulses on said first and second inputs as applied to said motor to cause rotation in either direction, said stored count being displayed for a desired period after said spindle contacts said work and determinative of the dimension of said work piece, and d. an adjustable time delay circuit responsive to said spindle contacting said work piece, said time delay circuit coupled to one of said first or second inputs to cause said spindle to move a predetermined distance away from said work piece after a predetermined time period according to the setting of said adjustable time delay.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said bi-directional stepper motor moves at least n*, where n a positive integer greater than 1 for each pulse applied to one of said inputs, whereby a full rotation of 360* is accomplished in 360 divided by n steps.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising: a. a sensor circuit having an input coupled to said micrometer spindle and responsive to said spindle contacting said work piece to provide at an output thereof a signal indicative of said contact, and b. display means responsive to said signal and coupled to said up/down counter to cause said stored count to be displayed.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said series of pulses are derived from the AC power mains and have a repetition rate equal to said frequency of said AC power mains.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each pulse applied to said motor in either direction causes said spindle to move said ascertainable distance in a range between 0.001 and 0.0000001 inches.

Claim 11

Apparatus for measuring a desired dimension of a work piece to a given accuracy, comprising: a. a fixed reference plane defining a work piece accommodating surface, b. a micrometer spindle rotatably mounted with respect to said reference plane to move in a first direction towards said plane and in a second direction away from said plane, said spindle as positioned adapted to contact said work piece as placed on said reference plane, c. a bi-directional stepper motor having a rotatable output shaft, said shaft capable of being rotated in a series of discrete steps either in a first clockwise direction or in a second counter-clockwise direction upon application of a series of pulses to either a first clockwise input or a second counter-clockwise input, d. gear means coupling said motor shaft to said micrometer spindle to cause said spindle to move in said first direction for said counter-clockwise rotation and in said second direction for said clockwise rotation of said motor shaft, e. control means coupled to said first and second inputs of said motor to selectively activate said first or second input with said series of pulses, f. reciprocal counter means coupled to said control means and responsive to said series of pulses as applied to either of said first and second inputs to store a count indicative of the total number of pulses effectively utilized to move said spindle towards said work piece, g. sensor means responsive to said spindle contacting said workpiece for de-energizing said motor and activating means for displaying the stored count of said counter means upon said contacting, and h. adjustable control means responsive to the displaying of said stored count to cause said spindle to move in said second direction away from said work piece for a desired adjustable distance.

Claim 12

Apparatus for measuring a desired dimension of a work piece to a given accuracy, comprising: a. a fixed reference plane defining a work piece accommodating surface, b. a micrometer spindle rotatably mounted with respect to said reference plane to move in a first direction towards said plane and in a second direction away from said plane, said spindle as positioned adapted to contact said work piece as placed on said reference plane, c. a bi-directional stepper motor having a rotatable output shaft, said shaft capable of being rotated in a series of discrete steps either in a first clockwise direction or in a second counter-clockwise direction upon application of a series of pulses to either a first clockwise input or a second counter-clockwise input, d. gear means coupling said motor shaft to said micrometer spindle to cause said spindle to move in said first direction for said counter-clockwise rotation and in said second direction for said clockwise rotation of said motor shaft, e. control means coupled to said first and second inputs of said motor to selectively activate said first or second input with said series of pulses, f. reciprocal counter means coupled to said control means and responsive to said series of pulses as applied to either of said first and second inputs to store a count indicative of the total number of pulses effectively utilized to move said spindle towards said work piece, g. sensor means responsive to said spindle contacting said workpiece for de-energizing said motor and activating means for displaying the stored count of said counter means upon said contacting, and h. adjustable control means responsive to the displaying of said stored count to cause said spindle to move in said second direction away from said work piece for a desired adjustable distance.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said bi-directional stepper motor completes either a full clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation in n discrete steps, where n is a positive integer greater than 10.