Optical Gear Toothing Measurement With Adjustable Numerical Aperture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Optical gear measurement systems face issues with shadowing due to the geometry of the toothing, leading to suboptimal imaging quality and longer measuring times, especially when compared to tactile methods.

Innovation Solution

The method involves adjusting the numerical aperture of the optical measuring system based on the geometric parameters of the toothing to avoid or reduce shadowing, ensuring complete imaging with full backscattered illumination intensity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a high numerical aperture is used for optical measurement, then measurement resolution is improved, but shadowing occurs during measurement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement resolutionVSAvoidshadowing

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the numerical aperture adjustable rather than fixed. The optical measuring system dynamically adapts its numerical aperture based on the specific geometric parameters of the toothing being measured, allowing optimization between resolution and shadowing avoidance for each measurement scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by varying the numerical aperture parameter according to the geometric characteristics of the toothing. By changing this optical parameter based on measured or known geometric data, the system achieves optimal measurement conditions that prevent shadowing while maintaining sufficient resolution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a low numerical aperture is used for optical measurement, then shadowing is reduced, but measurement resolution deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveshadowingVSAvoidmeasurement resolution

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the numerical aperture based on real-time geometric parameter data, allowing it to operate at higher apertures when the geometry permits (maintaining resolution) and lower apertures when shadowing would occur (reducing harmful effects)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The numerical aperture parameter is varied according to the specific geometric characteristics of the toothing being measured, optimizing the balance between resolution and shadowing avoidance for each measurement case

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If tactile measurement method is used, then measurement accuracy is achieved, but measuring time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasuring time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical tactile measurement system with an optical measuring system. This substitution eliminates the need for physical contact and threading into gaps, enabling continuous rotation measurement that is both fast and accurate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical measuring system enables continuous rotation of the gear during measurement, creating a periodic measurement process that covers all tooth spaces efficiently, reducing total measuring time compared to the step-by-step tactile method

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Productivity

If optical measurement is performed with continuous rotation, then measuring time is reduced, but imaging quality deteriorates due to shadowing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasuring speedVSAvoidimaging quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the numerical aperture during continuous rotation measurement based on the instantaneous geometric parameters, ensuring optimal imaging quality throughout the rotation cycle while maintaining high measurement speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from geometric parameter measurements to continuously optimize the numerical aperture setting, ensuring that imaging quality requirements are met while maintaining the benefits of continuous rotation measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach ensures high measurement resolution and complete imaging without shadowing, reducing measuring time and improving the accuracy of optical gear measurements.

Implementation Method 1

essentially complete imaging with essentially full backscattered illumination intensity is ensured

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBackscattered illumination: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

backscattered illumination intensity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS12560511B2Method and device for measuring a toothing

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 KLINGELNBERG GMBH

AI summary

A method having the steps of measuring a geometry of a toothing using an optical measuring system, wherein a numerical aperture of the optical measuring system is adjustable and the numerical aperture of the optical measuring system is adapted depending on at least one geometric parameter of the toothing to be measured and/or is enlarged or reduced.