Patents Assigned to Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
  • Publication number: 20160110873
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for generating at least one virtual image of a measurement object, in which a virtual position and/or a virtual orientation of the measurement object is determined and a virtual position and/or virtual orientation of at least one imaging or image recording device of a coordinate measuring machine is determined. The virtual image is generated on the basis of geometric data of the measurement object and on the basis of optical properties of the measurement object and the virtual image is additionally generated on the basis of imaging parameters of the imaging or image recording device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: THOMAS ENGEL, STEPHAN RIEGER
  • Patent number: 9261344
    Abstract: A probe head for a coordinate measuring machine has a coupling part having a retaining pin, on which a probe tool is detachably arranged. The probe tool has at least one stylus for touching a measurement object, and a rotary plate. The rotary plate is coupled to the coupling part by means of the retaining pin in one of a plurality of defined rotation angle positions. Moreover, the rotary plate has a latching mechanism including at least one adjustable latching element and a detector. The latching element has a latching position in which it fastens the rotary plate on the retaining pin, and it has a release position in which it releases the retaining pin. The detector generates a signal which is representative of at least one from the latching position and the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Kurt Brenner, Walter Jenisch
  • Patent number: 9234736
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for determining a spatial position of a first part relative to a second part has at least one magnet disposed on the first part. The magnet generates a magnetic field that extends to the second part. The sensor assembly further has a pair of magnetic field sensors arranged at a spatial distance from each other on the second part. The magnet is positioned in an interval defined by the spatial distance between the magnetic field sensors. The magnetic field sensors each produce an output signal depending on the magnetic field. The output signals of the two magnetic field sensors are combined to form a common sensor signal related to the spatial position of the first part relative to the second part. The output signals of the two magnetic field sensors essentially represent a direction of the magnetic field at the location of the respective magnetic field sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH, SENSITEC GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Engel, Uwe Loreit
  • Patent number: 9207059
    Abstract: A method for operating a coordinate measuring machine or a machine tool. A movement of a machining part is controlled in such a way that, during the movement of the machine part, a predetermined maximum acceleration and/or a predetermined maximum jerk is not exceeded. The maximum acceleration and/or the maximum jerk is varied depending on the position of the machine part and/or depending on the alignment of the machine part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Henning Schon, Jochen Burger, Guenter Grupp, Otto Ruck, Eugen Aubele, Ralf Bernhardt
  • Patent number: 9188428
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine for measuring a measurement object, comprising a workpiece support for supporting the measurement object and a measuring head carrying an optical sensor. The measuring head and the workpiece support are movable relative to one another. The optical sensor has an objective and a camera for capturing an image of the measurement object. The objective has a light entrance opening and a light exit opening, and comprises a multitude of lens-element groups arranged in the objective between the light entrance opening and the light exit opening one behind another along a longitudinal axis of the objective. A clearance is provided in the objective between the first and second lens-element groups. The coordinate measuring machine furthermore has a white light sensor and a partly reflective coupling element that is selectively moveable into the clearance for coupling the white light sensor into the objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Engel
  • Patent number: 9140532
    Abstract: A measuring head for a coordinate measuring machine for determining spatial coordinates on a measurement object has a coupling part for detachably receiving a measurement tool. The coupling part has a number of first bearing elements, a magnet and a retaining pin. The measurement tool has a disk with a number of second bearing elements, an anchoring plate and at least one adjustable locking element. The magnet is configured to attract the anchoring plate so as to bring the first and second bearing elements into engagement with one another. The first and second bearing elements, in the engaged state, define a defined position of the measurement tool on the coupling part. The at least one locking element secures the measurement tool to the retaining pin. The anchoring plate is detachably secured to the disk and the at least one locking element retains the anchoring plate on the retaining pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Kurt Brenner, Walter Jenisch, Tobias Woletz, Dieter Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 9080845
    Abstract: A coupled state versus a decoupled state of a part relative to a machine, in particular of a coordinate measuring device or a machine tool, is determined. The part to be coupled can be moved toward a contact region of the machine in an axial direction in order to establish the coupled state, and can be moved away from the contact region in the axial direction in order to establish the decoupled state. A magnetoresistive sensor is used to generate a sensor signal that depends on an axial position of the part and a further sensor signal that depends on a rotational position of the part relative to the machine. The sensor signals are evaluated and the result is used to determine whether the part is coupled to the contact region of the machine and/or whether the part is decoupled from the contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Engel
  • Patent number: 9046335
    Abstract: A method for measuring the coordinates of workplaces on a coordinate-measuring device has a probe head including a probe and a probe sensor associated therewith. The method includes generating a probe signal when the probe contacts a workpiece. From this signal, dimensional values are determined that represent the position of the probe head when the workpiece is contacted. The probe head additionally includes an acceleration sensor generating an acceleration signal when the probe head accelerates, wherein the probe signal and the acceleration signal are fed to a control and analysis unit for analysis. This unit determines the dimensional values so that an analysis signal is determined by subtracting the probe signal and the acceleration signal from each other, and the dimensional values representing the position of the probe head when contacting the workpiece are determined only using the analysis signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Anton Fuchs, Rudolf Kern
  • Patent number: 8983795
    Abstract: A work piece is measured by at least one point of a surface of the work piece being sampled by a feeler. The feeler exerts a probing force on the surface and the feeler is deflected relative to a mounting of the feeler. On the basis of the deflection, a position of the point of the surface is determined. A directional dependence of a flexibility of the feeler is determined and/or is known. The feeler and the work piece are positioned and/or oriented relative to each other, while taking into consideration the directional dependence, such that during sampling of the point of the surface unintentional slipping of the feeler on the surface does not occur, or occurs only with low probability, or an unintentional deviation of the feeler from an intended path on the surface does not occur, or occurs only with low probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Lotze, Steffen Kunzmann, Tobias Held
  • Patent number: 8950078
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a measurement object, comprising a workpiece support for supporting the measurement object and a measuring head carrying an optical sensor. The measuring head and the workpiece support are movable relative to one another. The optical sensor has an objective and a camera designed to capture an image of the measurement object. The objective has a light entrance opening and a light exit opening, and comprises a multitude of lens-element groups arranged in the objective between the light entrance opening and the light exit opening one behind another along a longitudinal axis of the objective. Furthermore, the apparatus has a reflection element and a calibration arrangement. The reflection element can selectively be introduced into a beam path running from the measurement object through the objective to the camera. The calibration arrangement is coupled into the beam path to the camera by means of the reflection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Engel
  • Patent number: 8823930
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for optically inspecting an object, comprising an object carrier for carrying the object, a pattern generating unit for illuminating the object with a measurement pattern, an image capture unit for capturing a number of images of the object, imaging optics for influencing a light beam path between the object and the image capture unit, and a data processing unit for determining at least one property of the object on the basis of the captured images. The apparatus can be set to at least a first operating distance and a second operating distance, and furthermore has a diffusing unit, which can be changed between an active state, in which the diffusing unit influences the light beam path in front of the pattern generating unit and an inactive state, in which the diffusing unit does not influence the light beam path in front of the pattern generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Engel
  • Patent number: 8825427
    Abstract: A reference measurement object having known properties is used for the purpose of calibrating a coordinate measuring machine. A plurality of reference measured values are picked up on the reference measurement object. Calibration data are determined using the reference measured values and using the known properties of the reference measurement object. The calibration data comprises a first number of polynomial coefficients that are selected to correct nonlinear measuring errors using at least one polynomial transformation. The first number of polynomial coefficients is reduced in an iterative method to a lesser second number, with a plurality of pairs of polynomial coefficients being formed and with a polynomial coefficient of a pair being eliminated in each case when a statistical dependence between the polynomial coefficients of the pair is greater than a defined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Kunzmann, Tobias Held, Thomas Engel
  • Publication number: 20140236520
    Abstract: A measuring arrangement is calibrated for determining rotational positions of a rotary device that has a first part and a second part which can be rotated relative to the first part about a rotational axis. Rotational positions of the first part relative to the second part and/or rotational positions of the second part relative to the first part are detected using a plurality of sensors distributed about the rotational axis. A respective measurement signal corresponding to each detected rotational position is generated such that redundant information on the rotational positions of the first part and the second part relative to each other is provided. The redundant information on the rotational position(s) are analyzed such that effects of a translational movement of the first and the second part relative to each other are corrected, the translational movement running transverse to the extension of the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Engel, Dominik Seitz, Rainer Sagemüller, Fabian Holzwarth
  • Patent number: 8767218
    Abstract: An optical arrangement for the non-contact measurement or testing of properties of a solid's surface, such as curvature, shape, contour, roughness or alignment. An optical arrangement includes structure for establishing a gap between the solid's surface and a reference edge, structure for imaging the gap on a detector, and an analyzing system connected to the detector. The analyzing system is designed to determine gap widths lying adjacent to each other on the basis of the output signals of the detector, and to determine curvature, shape, contour or roughness of the solid's surface on the basis of the gap widths lying adjacent to each other. From the comparison of the images obtained from any two positions within a drilled hole, deductions can be made, among other things, about any tilt between the measuring object and the measuring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Glasenapp
  • Publication number: 20140167745
    Abstract: An arrangement measures coordinates of a workpiece and/or machines the workpiece. The arrangement has a first part and a second part that can be moved relative to the first part. The relative mobility of the first and second parts is specified in addition to a possible mobility of a probe that is optionally additionally fixed to the arrangement. The mobility of the probe is specified by a deflection of the probe from a neutral position during a mechanical probing of the workpiece for the purpose of measuring the coordinates. A measuring body is arranged on the first or second part, and at least one sensor is arranged on the other part, i.e. on the second or first part. The sensor generates a measurement signal corresponding to a position of the measuring body and thus corresponding to the relative position of the first and second part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Held, Rainer Sagemueller, Dominik Seitz, Tobias Woletz
  • Patent number: 8745886
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a measurement process of a coordinate measuring machine for measuring a measurement object, wherein the coordinate measuring machine comprises a controlling device and a feeler head having a feeler pin, and wherein a relative movement between the feeler pin and a surface of the measurement object is controlled by the controlling device. Furthermore, the surface comprises at least one actual section, which corresponds to a measurement object surface, and at least one virtual section. The present invention also relates to a corresponding coordinate measuring machine and computer program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Otto Ruck, Ralf Bernhardt
  • Publication number: 20140144032
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring apparatus for measuring a workpiece having a workpiece surface includes a sensor to capture the workpiece surface and a mechanism to move the sensor in coordinate directions (x, y, z) relative to the workpiece. The mechanism includes a rigid frame, a mount and measuring skids. The rigid frame includes mutually parallel horizontal longitudinal members having respective horizontal guides. The rigid frame includes vertical supports having respective upper and lower ends. The horizontal longitudinal members are rigidly connected to the upper ends of the vertical supports. The rigid frame includes transverse members oriented transverse to the longitudinal members and being rigidly connected to the lower end of the vertical supports. The transverse members are supported via the mount and a first one of the measuring skids is configured to move the sensor in the coordinate direction (x) along the first and second horizontal guides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Berthold Matzkovits
  • Patent number: 8706281
    Abstract: A device and a method for the production of a master die tool for a component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Lettenbauer, Kai-Udo Modrich
  • Publication number: 20140043470
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine has a workpiece support for holding a measurement object and a measuring head which can be displaced relative to the workpiece support. The measuring head carries an optical sensor. An evaluation and control unit is configured to determine spatial coordinates on the measurement object depending on a position of the measuring head relative to the workpiece support and depending on sensor data from the optical sensor. The optical sensor includes a lens assembly and a camera. The lens assembly comprises at least four separate lens-element groups. Three of these separate lens-element groups can be displaced along the optical axis of the lens assembly. A first lens-element group is arranged fixed in the region of the light-entry opening of the lens assembly. The coordinate measuring machine with the above-described lens assembly allows individual variation of magnification, focusing and resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes WINTEROT, Thomas ENGEL
  • Patent number: D712758
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Woletz, Walter Matuschek, Christian Siegel, Walter Jenisch, Kurt Brenner, Thomas Engel