Optical Hole Gauge for Small-Diameter Precision Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hole measuring devices face challenges in being manufactured in small dimensions for precise measurements of very small holes and suffer from wear or degradation affecting accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A hole measuring device with an end portion and imaging portion, featuring outer contact surface portions and reference surface portions that vary with hole diameter, utilizing an imaging sensor to determine diameter based on relative position of reference surface portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional bore gauge mechanisms are used to measure small holes, then measurement capability is provided, but the device cannot be manufactured in small enough dimensions for very small holes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical displacement conversion mechanism with an optical imaging system. The imaging portion captures images of reference surface portions, and processors determine hole diameter from these images, eliminating the need for mechanical rods and contact pieces that limit miniaturization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy (image) of the hole's reference surface portions. By capturing images and processing them to determine diameter, the system uses a light-based copy rather than direct mechanical measurement, enabling measurement of very small holes without requiring the entire measurement mechanism to be scaled down proportionally.
2Measurement precision
If mechanical displacement conversion mechanisms are used, then radial displacement measurement is achieved, but wear and degradation affect accuracy over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical contact pieces and displacement conversion mechanisms that suffer from wear. Instead, it uses an optical imaging system with reference surface portions that have no moving mechanical parts, thereby preventing wear-related degradation and maintaining measurement accuracy over time.
3Length of moving object
If the device is miniaturized for small hole measurement, then suitability for small holes is improved, but manufacturing precision becomes more difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical imaging to create a copy of the measurement information, allowing the device to be miniaturized without proportionally reducing manufacturing tolerances. The imaging portion and reference surface portions can be manufactured at practical precision levels, and the optical copying process preserves measurement accuracy regardless of the device's small size.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for measuring a hole includes a hole measuring device, processor(s) and a memory. The hole measuring device includes an end portion and an imaging portion. The end portion is configured to be inserted in a hole and includes at least first and second outer contact surface portions configured to be biased against the inner surface of the hole such that a contact distance between the first and second outer contact surface portions varies depending on the diameter of the hole. The end portion includes one or more reference surface portions (e.g., which are each configured to move when a corresponding outer contact surface portion moves). The imaging portion acquires an image of the one or more reference surface portions. The acquired image is used to determine relative positions of the one or more reference surface portions, which in turn are used to determine the diameter of the hole.