Coordinate Measuring Path Adaptation for Geometry Deviations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coordinate measuring devices face challenges in reliably measuring objects with deviations from ideal geometry, leading to undetectable states due to sensor range issues, particularly at edges or surfaces, which increases production costs and space requirements.

Innovation Solution

A method to determine an adapted measurement path by calculating measuring points that account for deviations from ideal paths, using a combination of ideal and target measuring points, and adjusting sensor poses to ensure reliable detection, thereby reducing the risk of undetectable states and minimizing hardware requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an optical 3D sensor with area-based scanning is used to determine the corrected measuring path, then the measurement reliability is improved, but the manufacturing costs and installation space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a tactile sensor to trace the ideal measuring path and creates a copy of this path information in the form of a corrected measuring path stored in memory. This allows the system to replicate the functionality of complex optical scanning using simpler tactile sensing and computational geometry, thereby reducing hardware complexity while maintaining measurement reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary tracing of the ideal measuring path using the tactile sensor before actual measurement. The corrected measuring path is pre-calculated and stored based on the traced geometry, allowing the measurement process to proceed without requiring complex real-time optical scanning systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the sensor is moved along the ideal measuring path, then the measurement process is simple, but the object may move out of the sensor's detection range due to geometry deviations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement process simplicityVSAvoiddetection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the traced ideal measuring path geometry to continuously adjust the measuring path. The control unit compares the traced geometry with the stored path data and dynamically corrects the measuring path to follow the actual object geometry, ensuring the sensor remains within detection range while maintaining a relatively simple measurement process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The measuring path is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system continuously adapts the measuring path based on the traced geometry of the ideal path, allowing the path to flex and adjust to geometry deviations while keeping the overall measurement process simple and systematic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3901574B1Method and device for determining measuring points of an adapted measuring path for measuring a measuring object by a coordinate measuring device and program
Publication Date: 2023.05.31 CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIKE GMBH
  • EP3901574B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3901574B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4b

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device for determining measuring points (MPa) of a modified measuring path for measuring a measuring object (2, 2') by a coordinate measuring device (3), comprising the steps of: - determining measuring points (MPi) of an ideal measuring path, - determining target measuring points (MPs) of at least one guide path that differs from the ideal measuring path, - acquiring actual measuring points (MPf) along the at least one guide path by the coordinate measuring device (3) or another coordinate measuring device, - determining the deviations (A) between the target measuring points (MPs) and the actual measuring points (MPf) of the at least one guide path, - determining measuring points (MPa) by changing the measuring points (MPi) of the ideal measuring path depending on the deviations (A), and a program.