Touch Probe Rest Position Signaling Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch probes in coordinate measuring machines and machine tools face issues with accurately signaling the return to the rest position after contact with a workpiece, leading to incorrect signaling and potential mechanical stresses due to complex and costly circuits or delayed response times.
Innovation Solution
A touch probe with a processing circuit that includes a laminar piezoelectric transducer and a microcontroller to detect the state of contacts, allowing for precise signaling of the rest position by processing signals from multiple contacts in parallel, reducing the risk of mechanical stresses and increasing reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex circuits are used to detect rest position, then reliability of rest position signaling is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic circuits with a purely mechanical detection system. The rest position is detected through mechanical stops that physically block the armset's movement, providing a simple and reliable method to determine when the probe has returned to its initial position without requiring additional electronic components or complex signal processing circuits.
2Device complexity
If mechanical stops and contacts are used to detect rest position, then device complexity is reduced, but response time may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical stops are pre-positioned at the rest location before the probe begins its measurement cycle. When the armset returns to the rest position, the stops immediately engage with the armset's mechanical elements, providing instantaneous detection of the rest position without requiring signal processing delays or electronic response time.
3Reliability
If multiple contacts in series are used to detect rest position, then reliability of position detection is improved, but mechanical stress on individual contacts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from multiple serial contacts and concentrates it into a single mechanical stop system. Instead of using multiple contacts that must all be closed to detect rest position, the mechanical stop provides a single, clear mechanical engagement point that reliably indicates rest position without distributing stress across multiple contact points.
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
The solution enables accurate and reliable signaling of the rest position, reducing mechanical stresses and operational costs while maintaining fast response times, even in situations where the detection system may not transmit information about armset displacement.
Implementation Method 1
A touch probe with a processing circuit that includes a laminar piezoelectric transducer and a microcontroller to detect the state of contacts
Data Source
AI summary
A probe (100) comprises a frame (2), a movable armset (3) and a processing circuit (30; 30′) for processing signals. The processing circuit is able to individually detect the state of contacts (13) defined by the cooperation between mechanical elements of the armset and mechanical elements of the frame, that is the closing or opening of the contacts, and provide a signal indicative of a rest position of the probe when it detects no more than one open contact. A method for processing signals uses said circuit in order to provide a signal indicative of a rest position of the probe. The circuit and the method for processing signals are advantageously implemented for processing the output signals of a touch probe adapted to check dimensions or position of a workpiece in coordinate measuring machines and machine tools.