Patent US4561776A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4561776A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-optical sensors for tool and robotic inspection
Assignee: LMI Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1981-03-25
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Granted: 1985-12-31
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Expires: 2001-03-25
Abstract
Abstract An electro-optical sensor probe is removably mounted on a conventional machine tool, for example, at a location whereat a tool would normally be mounted, for sensing the condition of a workpiece. Signals received by the sensor probe can be conveyed to a control location either by radio telemetry or across electrical and/or fiber optic lines operationally coupled to the sensor probe. Alternatively, robot based positioning of said probes is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy R. Pryor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/002; G01B11/005; G01B11/007; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/33; G05B2219/33205; G05B2219/33207; G05B2219/37; G05B2219/37038; G05B2219/37196; G05B2219/37198; G05B2219/37204; G05B2219/37206; G05B2219/37228; G05B2219/50; G05B2219/50057; G05B2219/50252; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02; Y10; Y10T; Y10T408/00; Y10T408/05; Y10T408/57
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
A method of determining a dimension and a surface characteristic of an object comprising: providing a machine comprising means for interchangeably positioning sensor members in an operative position on said machine; providing a plurality of different sensor members, each sensor member being positionable in said operative position and comprising optical means mounted therein for receiving light from an object or from a contact member in contact with said object and for conveying said light out of said sensor member, said optical means of a first sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a dimension of an object and said optical means of a second sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a surface characteristic of an object; providing an image scanning light detector remote from said sensor for detecting said light conveyed out of said sensor member; positioning said first sensor member in said operative position on said machine; directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is received by said optical means of said first sensor member and is directed out of said first sensor member and to said remote image scanning light detector; determining, from light detected by said remote image scanning light detector, a dimension of said object; positioning said second sensor member in said operative position on said machine; directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is received by said optical means of said second sensor member and is conveyed out of said sensor member and to said image scanning light detector; and determining, from light detected by said image scanning light detector, a surface characteristic of said object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
296 words
A method of determining a dimension and a surface characteristic of an object comprising: providing a machine comprising means for interchangeably positioning sensor members in an operative position on said machine; providing a plurality of different sensor members, each sensor member being positionable in said operative position and comprising optical means mounted therein for receiving light from an object or from a contact member in contact with said object and for conveying said light out of said sensor member, said optical means of a first sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a dimension of an object and said optical means of a second sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a surface characteristic of an object; providing an image scanning light detector remote from said sensor for detecting said light conveyed out of said sensor member; positioning said first sensor member in said operative position on said machine; directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is received by said optical means of said first sensor member and is directed out of said first sensor member and to said remote image scanning light detector; determining, from light detected by said remote image scanning light detector, a dimension of said object; positioning said second sensor member in said operative position on said machine; directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is received by said optical means of said second sensor member and is conveyed out of said sensor member and to said image scanning light detector; and determining, from light detected by said image scanning light detector, a surface characteristic of said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein each of said sensor members comprises a window and wherein said light directed out of said sensor member is directed through said window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said light is directed onto said object or contact member from a source located remote from said sensor member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said light is directed from said remote source into each of said sensor members and from each of said sensor members onto said object or contact member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said light is directed into and out of each of said sensor members through fiber optic means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising conveying a cooling or cleaning fluid from a remote source into each of said sensor members and directing said fluid out of each of said sensor members and onto a surface of said object onto which said light is directed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein each of said sensor members is rotated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein each of said sensor members comprises a contact member mounted therein, said contact member being mounted to contact said object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein a robot is utilized to position each of said sensor members in said operative position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said sensor member positioning means comprises a turret.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said image scanning light detector comprises a plurality of discrete photodetectors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said photodetectors comprise photodiodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the light received by said optical means of and directed out of said first and second sensor members comprises a light pattern.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 which said light directed out of said first and second sensor members is imaged on said image scanning light detector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 which each of said first and second sensor members comprises a lens for forming an image of the light received by said optical means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
289 words
Apparatus for determining a dimension and a surface characteristic of an object comprising; means for interchangeably positioning a sensor member in an operative position on said apparatus; a plurality of different sensor members, each sensor member being positionable in said operative position and comprising optical means mounted therein for receiving light from an object or from a contact member in contact with said object and for conveying said light out of said sensor member, said optical means of a first sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a dimension of an object and said optical means of a second sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a surface characteristic of an object; an image light scanning detector remote from said sensor for detecting said light conveyed out of said sensor member; means for positioning said first sensor member in said operative position; means for directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is directed out of said first sensor member and to said remote image scanning light detector; means for determining, from light detected by said remote image scanning light detector, a dimension of said object; means for positioning said second sensor member in said operative position on said machine; means for directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is received by said optical means of said second sensor member and is conveyed out of said second sensor member and to said remote image scanning light detector; and means for determining, from light detected by said image scanning light detector, a surface characteristic of said object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
289 words
Apparatus for determining a dimension and a surface characteristic of an object comprising; means for interchangeably positioning a sensor member in an operative position on said apparatus; a plurality of different sensor members, each sensor member being positionable in said operative position and comprising optical means mounted therein for receiving light from an object or from a contact member in contact with said object and for conveying said light out of said sensor member, said optical means of a first sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a dimension of an object and said optical means of a second sensor member being constructed and arranged for determining a surface characteristic of an object; an image light scanning detector remote from said sensor for detecting said light conveyed out of said sensor member; means for positioning said first sensor member in said operative position; means for directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is directed out of said first sensor member and to said remote image scanning light detector; means for determining, from light detected by said remote image scanning light detector, a dimension of said object; means for positioning said second sensor member in said operative position on said machine; means for directing light onto an object or onto a contact member in contact with an object whereby light from said object or contact member is received by said optical means of said second sensor member and is conveyed out of said second sensor member and to said remote image scanning light detector; and means for determining, from light detected by said image scanning light detector, a surface characteristic of said object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each of said sensor members comprise a window whereby said light directed out of said sensor member is directed through said window.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said light directing means comprises a light source located remote from each of said sensor members.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said optical means comprises means for receiving light from said remote source and for directing the received light onto said object or contact member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said light is directed into and out of each of said sensor members through fiber optic means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising means for conveying a cooling or cleaning fluid from a remote source into said sensor member in an operative position and for directing said fluid out of said sensor member and onto a surface of said object onto which said light is directed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising means for rotating each of said sensor members in said operative position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each of said sensor members comprises a contact member mounted therein, said contact member being mounted to contact said object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising robot means for positioning said sensor member in said operative position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said sensor member positioning means comprises a turret.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said image scanning light detector comprises a plurality of discrete photodetectors.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
10 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said photodetectors comprise photodiodes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said optical means comprises means for receiving and conveying a pattern of said light.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising means for imaging said light on said image scanning light detector.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each of said sensor members comprises a lens for forming an image of the light received by said optical means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-30 | 1989-07-01 | 1989-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-30 | 1993-07-01 | 1993-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-30 | 1997-07-01 | 1997-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |