Coordinate measuring system, coordinate measuring method, and probe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9354042-B2
Application number	US-201514700514-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2015
Priority date	May 7, 2014
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A coordinate measuring system includes a probe provided with first to ninth infrared LEDs, and an image capture apparatus and calculation controller detecting the position of the probe. The probe includes a distance obtainer acquiring distance data for a distance from the probe to the image capture apparatus; and an illumination controller controlling an illumination time of the first to ninth infrared LEDs based on the distance represented by the distance data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coordinate measuring system having a probe provided with a measurement light source and being movable to a desired position, and further having a position detector configured to receive light from the measurement light source and to detect the position of the probe, the position detector comprising:
an image capturer comprising:
a pair of first optical systems separate from each other and configured to collect the light from the measurement light source on a first axis;
a pair of first line sensors configured to receive the light collected on the first axis by the respective pair of first optical systems, and further configured to detect a first brightness distribution on the first axis;
a second optical system configured to collect light from the measurement light source on a second axis orthogonal to the first axis; and
a second line sensor configured to receive the light collected on the second axis by the second optical system, and further configured to detect a second brightness distribution on the second axis; and

a calculation controller comprising a position calculator configured to calculate position data representing the position of the probe based on the first brightness distribution and the second brightness distribution, wherein:
one of the probe and the calculation controller further comprises:
a distance obtainer configured to acquire distance data for a distance from the probe to the image capturer; and
an illumination controller configured to control an illumination time of the measurement light source based on the distance represented by the distance data.

2. The coordinate measuring system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the calculation controller comprises:
a first wireless communicator; and
a reference time transmitter configured to transmit, via the first wireless communicator, reference illumination time data representing a reference amount of time to illuminate the measurement light source,

the probe comprises:
a second wireless communicator;
a power supply movable to a predetermined position;
the distance obtainer; and
the illumination controller,

the power supply is configured to supply electric power to the measurement light source, the second wireless communication portion, the distance obtainer, and the illumination controller, and
the illumination controller configured to obtain the reference illumination time data via the second wireless communicator; correct the reference illumination time based on the distance represented by the distance data; and control the illumination time of the measurement light source based on the correction results.

3. The coordinate measuring system according to claim 2 , wherein:
the image capturer comprises:
a third wireless communicator; and
a measurement signal transmitter configured to transmit the measurement signal via the third wireless communicator, and

the probe comprises a distance measurer configured to measure a distance from the probe to the image capturer, and further configured to generating the distance data based on the signal reception strength of the measurement signal in the second wireless communicator.

4. A coordinate measuring method utilizing a probe provided with a measurement light source and capable of being moved to a desired position, and a position detection apparatus receiving light from the measurement light source and detecting the position of the probe, the method comprising:
configuring the position detection apparatus with an image capture apparatus and a calculation controller;
providing the image capture apparatus with:
a pair of first optical systems provided so as to be separated from each other and collecting the light from the measurement light source on a first axis;
a pair of first line sensors receiving the light collected on the first axis by the pair of first optical systems and detecting a first brightness distribution on the first axis;
a second optical system collecting light from the measurement light source on a second axis orthogonal with respect to the first axis; and
a second line sensor receiving the light collected on the second axis by the second optical system and detecting a second brightness distribution on the second axis; and

causing one of the probe and the calculation controller to acquire distance data for a distance from the probe to the image capture apparatus; control an illumination time of the measurement light source based on the distance represented by the distance data; and calculate position data representing the position of the probe based on the first brightness distribution and the second brightness distribution.

5. A probe provided with a measurement light source and capable of being moved to a desired position, the probe comprising:
a second wireless communication portion configured for wireless communication with a first wireless communication portion provided to a calculation controller;
a power supply movable to a desired position;
a distance obtainer configured to acquire distance data for a distance from the probe to an image capturer; and
an illumination controller configured to control an illumination time of the measurement light source based on a distance represented by the distance data, wherein:
the power supply is configured to supply electric power to the measurement light source, the second wireless communication portion, the distance obtainer, and the illumination controller, and
the illumination controller obtains, via the second wireless communication portion, reference illumination time data transmitted from the first wireless communication portion and representing a reference amount of time to illuminate the measurement light source; corrects the reference illumination time based on the distance represented by the distance data; and controls the illumination time of the measurement light source based on the correction results.

Assignees

• Mitutoyo Corp

Inventors

• Tsujii Masaharu
• Mori Satoko

Classifications

• G01B11/005 Primary

  coordinate measuring machines · CPC title

• G01B5/004 Primary

  for measuring coordinates of points · CPC title

• G01B11/002

  for measuring two or more coordinates · CPC title