Smart probe

Abstract

The present system, method, article of manufacture, software, and apparatus is an “intelligent” probe system and components thereof and may openly encompass, in at least an embodiment, an embedded IC chip located in an interchangeable probe(s) which offers repeatable, fast, easy, and error free probe swapping on a CCM.

1 . A removable probe for use with a coordinate measuring machine, the removable probe comprising:
 a probe body having a probe tip;   a memory that stores probe data corresponding to the removable probe; and   a connector that connects the probe body to an arm of the coordinate measuring machine, wherein communication between the probe body and the arm occurring through wired or wireless methods;   wherein the probe data comprises one or more attributes of the removable probe and a serial number that identifies the removable probe to the coordinate measuring machine when the probe body is connected to the arm of the coordinate measuring machine.   
   
   
       2 . The removable probe of  claim 1 , wherein the coordinate measuring machine stores calibration data indicative of a calibration of the removable probe to the coordinate measuring machine. 
   
   
       3 . The removable probe of  claim 2 , wherein the calibration data is further indicative of a plurality of calibrations of a corresponding plurality of connectable combinations of each one of a plurality of the removable probes and the coordinate measuring machine, and wherein each one of the plurality of calibrations is unique to one of the plurality of connectable combinations of a corresponding one of the plurality of removable probes and the coordinate measuring machine. 
   
   
       4 . The removable probe of  claim 2 , wherein the calibration data further comprises probe tip diameter, coefficient of thermal expansion, probe type, coordinate offsets, or six degrees of freedom for the probe body either by itself or when connected to the coordinate measuring machine. 
   
   
       5 . The removable probe of  claim 1 , wherein the probe body stores calibration data indicative of a calibration of the removable probe to the coordinate measuring machine. 
   
   
       6 . The removable probe of  claim 5 , wherein the calibration data is further indicative of a plurality of calibrations of a corresponding plurality of connectable combinations of the removable probe and each one of a plurality of coordinate measuring machines, and wherein each one of the plurality of calibrations is unique to one of the plurality of connectable combinations of the removable probe and a corresponding one of the plurality of coordinate measuring machines. 
   
   
       7 . The removable probe of  claim 5 , wherein the calibration data further comprises probe tip diameter, coefficient of thermal expansion, probe type, coordinate offsets, or six degrees of freedom for the probe body either by itself or when connected to the coordinate measuring machine. 
   
   
       8 . The removable probe of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more attributes of the removable probe comprise dimensions or characteristic data of the probe body and/or the probe tip. 
   
   
       9 . The removable probe of  claim 1 , wherein the removable probe further comprises one of a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, a magnetic sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, and a radio sensor. 
   
   
       10 . The removable probe of  claim 1 , wherein the coordinate measuring machine recognizes each one of a plurality of removable probes connected to the coordinate measuring machine by reading information from the connected removable probe using a wireless system. 
   
   
       11 . The removable probe of  claim 10 , wherein the wireless system comprises one of an RFID system, a WLAN system, a WPAN system or a Bluetooth system. 
   
   
       12 . A method of using a coordinate measuring machine with a plurality of removable probes, the method comprising:
 storing data in each of the plurality of removable probes, wherein the stored data comprises a serial number unique to each one of the plurality of removable probes;   connecting one of the plurality of removable probes to the coordinate measuring machine; and   automatically recognizing the one of the plurality of removable probes connected to the coordinate measuring machine by reading the serial number for the connected removable probe.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the stored data comprises calibration data indicative of a calibration of the one of the plurality of removable probes connected to the coordinate measuring machine. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising storing in the coordinate measuring machine calibration data indicative of a calibration of the one of the plurality of removable probes connected to the coordinate measuring machine. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of automatically recognizing comprises automatically recognizing the one of the plurality of removable probes connected to the coordinate measuring machine by reading the serial number for the connected removable probe using a wireless system. 
   
   
       16 . A method of using a removable probe with a plurality of coordinate measuring machines, the method comprising:
 storing data in the removable probe, wherein the stored data comprises a serial number unique to the removable probe;   connecting the removable probe to one of the plurality of the coordinate measuring machines; and   automatically recognizing the removable probe connected to the one of the plurality of coordinate measuring machines by reading the serial number for the connected removable probe.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the stored data comprises calibration data indicative of a calibration of the removable probe connected to the one of the plurality of coordinate measuring machines. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising storing in one of the plurality of coordinate measuring machines calibration data indicative of a calibration of the removable probe connected to the one of the plurality of coordinate measuring machines. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of automatically recognizing comprises automatically recognizing the removable probe connected to the one of the plurality of coordinate measuring machines by reading the serial number for the connected removable probe using a wireless system. 
   
   
       20 . A coordinate measuring machine, comprising:
 an arm;   a probe having a probe body connected to the arm, the probe having a probe tip that measures one or more points on an object in one or more dimensions either through contact with the object or without contact with the object;   a processor that processes the measured one or more points on the object to determine dimensional coordinates of at least a portion of the object being measured;   a memory that stores information, wherein the stored information comprises the processed measured one or more points on the object; and   a temperature sensor connected with the arm or the probe, wherein the temperature sensor measures a temperature of the one or more points of at least a portion of the object being measured in one or more dimensions by the probe, wherein the memory stores the measured temperature of the one or more points of at least a portion of the object being measured in one or more dimensions by the probe.   
   
   
       21 . The coordinate measuring machine of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature sensor being connected with the probe comprises the temperature sensor being attached to the probe. 
   
   
       22 . The coordinate measuring machine of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature sensor being connected with the probe comprises the temperature sensor being embedded within the probe. 
   
   
       23 . The coordinate measuring machine of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared, non-contact temperature sensor. 
   
   
       24 . The coordinate measuring machine of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a contact-type temperature sensor that contacts the object to measure a temperature of the object. 
   
   
       25 . The coordinate measuring machine of  claim 20 , wherein the processor processes the measured temperature of the one or more points of the at least a portion of the object being measured in one or more dimensions by the probe. 
   
   
       26 . The coordinate measuring machine of  claim 25 , wherein the processor uses the processed measured temperatures of each of the one or more points of the at least a portion of the object being measured in one or more dimensions by the probe to compensate for at least one of the measured one or more points on the object based on any dimensional changes of the at least a portion of the object being measured due to a coefficient of thermal expansion of the at least a portion of the object being measured. 
   
   
       27 . The coordinate measuring machine of  claim 25 , wherein the processor uses the processed measured temperatures of each of the one or more points of the at least a portion of the object being measured in one or more dimensions by the probe to compensate in real time for at least one of the measured one or more points on the object based on any dimensional changes of the at least a portion of the object being measured due to a coefficient of thermal expansion of the at least a portion of the object being measured. 
   
   
       28 . The coordinate measuring machine of  claim 20 , wherein the stored information comprises one or more attributes of the probe and a serial number that identifies the probe to the coordinate measuring machine when the probe body is connected to the arm of the coordinate measuring machine. 
   
   
       29 . The coordinate measuring machine of  claim 20 , wherein the stored information comprises calibration data indicative of a calibration of the probe to the coordinate measuring machine. 
   
   
       30 . A removable probe for use with a coordinate measuring machine, the removable probe comprising:
 a probe body;   a memory that stores probe data corresponding to the removable probe; and   a connector that connects the probe body to an arm of the coordinate measuring machine;   wherein the probe data comprises one or more attributes of the removable probe and a serial number that identifies the removable probe to the coordinate measuring machine when the probe body is connected to the arm of the coordinate measuring machine.   
   
   
       31 . The removable probe of  claim 30 , wherein the removable probe further comprises one of a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, a radio sensor, and a sonic sensor.