Measuring Device for Rapid Shape Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dial gauges are inefficient in quickly measuring the shape of objects, particularly for features like roundness, flatness, or straightness, as they require slow sliding of the measuring element and manual recording of displacement data, making the process time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A measuring device equipped with a detector, storage unit, data collecting unit, display unit, and display controller that acquires and stores displacement data in cycles, allowing for graphical representation and real-time analysis, enabling rapid measurement and easy data utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the measuring element is slowly slid on the surface of the object to be measured to read the trend of displacement amount in detail, then the shape measurement accuracy is improved, but the measurement time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshape measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical reading process with an automatic detection and storage system. The detector automatically detects displacement amounts and the storage unit stores them without requiring manual reading operations, enabling both rapid measurement and accurate shape capture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy of the displacement amount trend by storing detected values in the storage unit. This digital representation allows for rapid analysis and shape determination without requiring repeated physical measurements or slow manual reading.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Loss of time

If the measuring element is slid quickly on the surface of the object to be measured, then the measurement time is reduced, but the ability to read the trend of displacement amount in detail is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement timeVSAvoiddisplacement amount trend information

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual reading with automatic detection and storage. The detector continuously captures displacement amounts at high speed, and the storage unit preserves all data points, enabling rapid measurement while maintaining complete information about the displacement trend.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous detection and storage of displacement amounts throughout the measurement process. The detector operates continuously without interruption, capturing the complete trend of displacement changes, which is then stored intact for later analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If manual recording of displacement data is performed during measurement, then the measurement process can be documented, but the measurement process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement data documentationVSAvoidmeasurement efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual recording operations with an automatic detection and storage system. The detector automatically captures displacement amounts and the storage unit stores them without human intervention, eliminating the time-consuming and error-prone manual recording process while ensuring complete documentation of measurement data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement system performs self-documentation through the detector and storage unit. The system automatically records all displacement data during measurement without requiring external human operation for data capture, thereby improving both reliability of documentation and measurement efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables quick and efficient measurement of object shapes by storing and graphically displaying displacement data, facilitating real-time analysis and reducing measurement time, while allowing for easy comparison and identification of object types.

Implementation Method 1

a detector that detects a displacement amount of the measuring element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDisplacement detection:

Data Source

PatentUS11092423B2Measuring device and measuring system

Publication Date: 2021.08.17 MITUTOYO CORP

AI summary

The measuring device according to the present invention includes: a measuring element that contacts with an object to be measured; a detector that detects a displacement amount of the measuring element in a process in which the measuring element slides relatively in a certain direction on a surface of the object to be measured during time from a measurement start to a measurement end; a storage unit; a data collecting unit that acquires the displacement amount detected by the detector in a predetermined cycle and causes the storage unit to successively store the displacement amount; a display unit that can perform graphical displaying; and a display controller that causes the display unit to display predetermined information on the basis of a displacement amount for each predetermined cycle.