초록 ▼

A method and system for routing a digital probe which signals either a triggered or non-triggered state to continuously scan a part surface without having to return to a rest position each time the probe is triggered. The probe is carried by manufacturing equipment capable of moving in response to c

A method and system for routing a digital probe which signals either a triggered or non-triggered state to continuously scan a part surface without having to return to a rest position each time the probe is triggered. The probe is carried by manufacturing equipment capable of moving in response to control signals and providing manufacturing equipment feedback signals indicating the current position of the probe. Continuous movement of the digital probe is achieved by testing the probe to determine if it is triggered or not at a series of closely spaced time intervals, and rotating a move vector (corresponding to desired probe velocity) in each computation cycle to alter the probe trajectory as a function of the operating state of the probe and its position during the previous computation cycle. These techniques allow relatively inexpensive digital probing systems to gather data at speeds comparable to those of much more expensive analog systems. Various computation algorithms for altering the move vector are possible, including increasing or decreasing one component of the move vector by a constant value depending on whether the probe is triggered or not. Another algorithm generates a spiral path around the position of the probe at the previous transition between the triggered and untriggered operating state.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of routing a digital probe around the surface of an object, the probe being capable of signaling a triggered operating state when it is within a predetermined distance from the surface of the object and a non-triggered operating state otherwise, the probe being m

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of routing a digital probe around the surface of an object, the probe being capable of signaling a triggered operating state when it is within a predetermined distance from the surface of the object and a non-triggered operating state otherwise, the probe being mounted on a machine which is capable of responding to control signals to produce relative movement between the probe and the object, the method comprising the steps of:(1) detecting the operating state of the probe;(2) generating a control signal to vary the movement of the probe relative to the object based on the operating state of the probe;(a) the control signal being such that the probe will be in continuous motion relative to the object even when the probe is in its triggered operating state;(b) the control signal further being such that the motion of the probe will be in a direction which (i) will cause it to be triggered if it is in the untriggered state, and (ii) which will cause it to return to the untriggered state if it is in the triggered state; and(3) moving the probe relative to the object according to the control signal.