Contact sensing head

Claim 2

Contact sensing head for a position determining system comprising: (a) a support structure; (b) a sensor having a free end provided for contacting an object to be measured which is able to vibrate at a given frequency and an end attached to the support structure; (c) means for determining the position of said free end at the moment where said contact is detected; and (d) means for detecting the mechanical contact between the free end of the sensor and said object to be measured, the means for detecting comprising means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate at low amplitude at said given frequency, a transducer for transforming the vibrations of said sensor into a corresponding electrical signal, and means for detecting any disturbance of said signal from said transducer caused by said mechanical contact.

Claim 3

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate is an electromagnetic motor.

Claim 4

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate is a piezoelectric motor.

Claim 5

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate is an electro-dynamic motor.

Claim 6

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transducer is an electromagnetic transducer.

Claim 7

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transducer is a piezoelectric transducer.

Claim 8

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transducer is an electro-dynamic transducer.

Claim 9

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate is arranged to be controlled in dependence upon said transducer.

Claim 10

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the given frequency is a resonant frequency of the sensor, and comprising a generator, tuned to said resonant frequency, for controlling said means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate.

Claim 11

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the given frequency is a resonant frequency of the sensor, and comprising a generator, synchronized with said resonant frequency, for controlling said means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate.

Claim 12

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic detection system is sensitive to the frequency of the signal of said transducer.

Claim 13

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic detection system is sensitive to the amplitude of the signal of said transducer.

Claim 14

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement is such that the vibration imparted by said means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate to said sensor will be a planar vibration.

Claim 15

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement is such that the vibration imparted by said means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate to said sensor will be a rotary vibration.

Claim 16

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, and comprising a support for said sensor, said means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate and said transducer being secured to said support.

Claim 17

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate and said transducer are secured to said sensor.

Claim 18

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, and comprising a support for said sensor, said means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate being secured to said support and said transducer being secured to said sensor.

Claim 19

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, and comprising a support, for said sensor, which is a Boys support maintained in equilibrium by a spring.

Claim 20

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, for use in a system for the wireless transmission of an output signal utilizing radio waves.

Claim 21

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, for use in a system for the wireless transmission of an output signal utilizing an optical system.

Claim 22

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1, for use in a system of wireless transmission of an output signal utilizing an ultra-sound system.

Claim 23

Sensing head as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for causing is comprised of actuating means for imparting the transverse oscillating movement at the free end of the sensor and generator means for supplying the necessary power to the actuating means.

Claim 24

Sensing head as claimed in claim 22 wherein the means for monitoring is comprised of a detector device connected to said transducer and providing a charge signal in response to a modification in the steady state of the electrical signal.

Claim 25

Sensing head as claimed in claim 23 wherein said sensor is a rod and further including a means for monitoring the position of said rod.

Claim 26

A contact sensing head comprising: a sensor having a free end which is able to vibrate at a frequency; a motor operable to cause said free end to vibrate at low amplitude at said frequency; a first transducer for sensing the vibrations of said sensor; a second transducer secured to said sensor; and a support for said sensor, said motor and said first transducer being secured to said support.

Claim 27

A contact sensing head comprising: a sensor having a free end which is able to vibrate at a frequency; a motor operable to cause said free end to vibrate at low amplitude at said frequency; a first transducer for sensing the vibrations of said sensor; a second transducer secured to said sensor; and a support for said sensor, said motor and said first transducer being secured to said support.

Claim 28

The method of claim 25 wherein the contact sensing head is comprised of a supporting structure which forms a part of the second reference, a sensor rigidly attached at one end to the supporting structure and provided with a calibrated tip at its free end, an actuating means imparting transverse oscillating movement to the calibrated tip, generator means for supplying the necessary power to the actuating means, at least one transducer transforming the oscillating amplitude and frequency of the calibrated tip into an equivalent electrical signal, and a detector device connected each said transducer, each detector providing a signal in response to modification of a previous stationary state of the oscillating movement of the free end of the sensor rod.

Claim 31

Contacting sensing head for a position determining system comprising: (a) a support structure; (b) a sensor having a free end which is able to vibrate at a given frequency and an end attached to the support structure; (c) means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate at low amplitude at said given frequency; (d) a first transducer for transforming the vibrations of said sensor into a corresponding electrical signal; (e) means for monitoring contact of the free end with an object, said means for monitoring comprising means for monitoring the electrical signal and means for indicating a change in a steady state of the electrical signal whereby contact between the sensor and the object changes the frequency and amplitude of vibrations of the sensor thereby changing the corresponding electrical signal and indicating contact; (f) a support for said sensor, said means for causing the free end to transversely vibrate and the first transducer being secured to said support; and (g) a second transducer secured to said sensor.

Claim 32

Contacting sensing head for a position determining system comprising: (a) a support structure; (b) a sensor having a free end which is able to vibrate at a given frequency and an end attached to the support structure; (c) means for causing said free end to transversely vibrate at low amplitude at said given frequency; (d) a first transducer for transforming the vibrations of said sensor into a corresponding electrical signal; (e) means for monitoring contact of the free end with an object, said means for monitoring comprising means for monitoring the electrical signal and means for indicating a change in a steady state of the electrical signal whereby contact between the sensor and the object changes the frequency and amplitude of vibrations of the sensor thereby changing the corresponding electrical signal and indicating contact; (f) a support for said sensor, said means for causing the free end to transversely vibrate and the first transducer being secured to said support; and (g) a second transducer secured to said sensor.