Patents Assigned to Renishaw, PLC
  • Method and apparatus for illumination and inspection of an object in a machine vision apparatus
    Patent number: 10775159
    Abstract: A method of inspecting an object including locating an object on a machine vision apparatus, attaching a light panel to the object to backlight a region of the object, obtaining an image of the region when backlit by the light panel and identifying a geometric property of the object from the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Calum Conner McLean, Timothy Charles Featherstone, Richard George Dewar
  • Optical element
    Patent number: 10768026
    Abstract: An optical element for generating diffraction orders for an encoder apparatus, in which the optical element includes an array of diffraction features arranged such that the spacing between the centres of adjacent diffraction features varies irregularly from one pair of adjacent features to the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventor: Jason Kempton Slack
  • SPATIAL MAPPING OF SENSOR DATA COLLECTED DURING ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Publication number: 20200276669
    Abstract: A method of generating a spatial map of sensor data collected during additive manufacturing, in which a plurality of layers of powder are selectively melted with an energy beam to form an object. The method includes receiving sensor data collected during additive manufacturing of an object, the sensor data including sensor values, the sensor values captured for different coordinate locations of the energy beam during the additive manufacturing of the object, and generating cell values for a corresponding cell-based spatial mapping of the sensor data. Each of the cell values is determined from a respective plurality of the sensor values extending over an area/volume comparable to an extent of the melt pool or the energy beam spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: John DARDIS, Kiera Megan JONES, Ceri BROWN, Nicholas Henry Hannaford JONES
  • Neurosurgical apparatus and methods
    Patent number: 10751513
    Abstract: A neurosurgical kit includes a catheter and a guide tub. The catheter includes a distal section of tubing having a distal end with a port or ports for delivering fluid to a target site within the brain. The distal section of tubing has an outer diameter that is smaller than an internal diameter of the guide tube. The catheter and guide tube are arranged such that, when the catheter is inserted into the guide tube to locate the port or ports at the target site, a recess is provided in a distal end section of the guide tube between the guide tube and the distal section of tubing of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Steven Streatfield Gill, Maxwell Roy Woolley, Thomas Gill
  • IN-PROCESS MONITORING IN LASER SOLIDIFICATION APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200262152
    Abstract: A laser solidification apparatus for building objects by layerwise solidification of material. The laser solidification apparatus includes a build platform for supporting the object and a material bed, an optical module including a movable guiding element for directing the laser beam to solidify material of the material bed, and a detector module including a sensor for detecting radiation emitted from the material bed and transmitted to the sensor by the movable guiding element of the optical module. The detector module is removably mounted to the optical module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: John DARDIS, James Stephen GARRARD, Callum HEALEY
  • COORDINATE POSITIONING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20200262055
    Abstract: A coordinate positioning machine that includes: a structure moveable within a working volume of the machine, a hexapod metrology arrangement for measuring the position of the structure within the working volume, and a non-hexapod drive arrangement for moving the structure around the working volume. Also, a coordinate positioning machine including a structure moveable within a working volume of the machine, a drive arrangement for moving the structure around the working volume in fewer than six degrees of freedom, and a metrology arrangement for measuring the position of the structure within the working volume in more degrees of freedom than the drive arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventor: Stephen Mark ANGOOD
  • Additive manufacturing apparatus and method
    Patent number: 10744598
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus and corresponding method for building an object by layerwise consolidation of material wherein the apparatus includes a build enclosure containing a build support for supporting the object during the build, a material source for providing material to selected locations for consolidation, a radiation device for generating and directing radiation to consolidate the material at the selected locations and an acoustic sensing system. The acoustic sensing system may be arranged to detect acoustic signals generated in the build enclosure by consolidation of the material with the radiation. The acoustic sensing system may be a passive acoustic sensing system arranged to detect acoustic signals generated in the build enclosure that are indicative of at least one condition of the building process and/or the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventor: Liam David Hall
  • NON-CONTACT TOOL SETTING APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20200238468
    Abstract: A method for tool measurement using a non-contact tool setting apparatus mounted to a machine tool, which includes a transmitter for emitting a light beam having a beam width and a receiver for receiving the light beam. The receiver generates a beam intensity signal describing the intensity of received light. The method is for measuring a tool having a nominal tool diameter less than the beam width so fully inserting the tool feature into the light beam would only partially occlude the beam. The method includes moving the tool through the beam thereby causing a change in the intensity signal and generating a trigger signal when the intensity signal crosses a trigger threshold. The tool size is derived using the trigger signal generated. Also, a step of applying a tool length correction that accounts for the nominal tool diameter of the tool being less than the beam width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Jason MERRIFIELD, Edward Benjamin EGGLESTONE, Alan James HOLLOWAY
  • MARKING METHOD AND SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20200233377
    Abstract: A method and system for forming a holographic structure in a material. The holographic structure is configured to project a selected target image in the far field under illumination of the holographic structure by a laser. The method calculates a modified design for the holographic structure that encodes a unique identifier within the holographic structure for projecting the target image. The method modifies the material by mapping features corresponding to the modified design into the material so as to form the holographic structure. A basic check of the authenticity of the material is performed by checking whether a projected replica of the target image is as expected. A more detailed check of the authenticity of the material is performed by directly inspecting the features in the holographic structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Nicholas John WESTON, Duncan Paul HAND, Krystian Lukasz WLODARCZYK
  • SELECTIVE LASER SOLIDIFICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20200230944
    Abstract: A method of selecting a scanning sequence of a laser beam in a selective laser solidification process, in which one or more objects are formed layer-by-layer by repeatedly depositing a layer of powder on a powder bed and scanning the laser beam over the deposited powder to selectively solidify at least part of the powder layers, includes determining an order in which areas should be scanned by: projecting a debris fallout zone that would be created when solidifying each area based on a gas flow direction of a gas flow passed over the powder bed; determining whether one or more other areas to be solidified fall within the debris fallout zone; and selecting to solidify the one or more other areas that fall within the debris fallout zone before solidifying the area from which the debris fallout zone has been projected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventor: Ben Ian FERRAR
  • PRODUCTION AND MEASUREMENT OF WORKPIECES
    Publication number: 20200233392
    Abstract: In a workpiece production method a plurality of nominally similar workpieces are produced in a production process on one production machine. The order or time of production of some of the workpieces on the production machine is recorded. Some of the workpieces recorded are measured at two or more inspection stations. Dimensions or points of one workpiece are measured at one of the inspection stations, and corresponding dimensions or points of another of the workpieces are measured at another of the inspection stations. The results of the measurements of corresponding dimensions or points made at the two or more inspection stations are analysed together, taking account of the order or time of production of the workpieces. An output signal is produced based on the analysing of the results together. The output signal indicates performance of the production machine or of one or more of the inspection stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Kevyn Barry JONAS, Stephen WISHER-DAVIES
  • Bearing mount
    Patent number: 10718602
    Abstract: A coordinate positioning apparatus comprising first and second relatively moveable bodies, at least the first body comprising at least one sheet or plate of material arranged to provide a load-bearing structure comprising a plurality of planar load-bearing members and on which at least one member is mounted to the first body via a mount which is coupled to at least three, non-parallel planar load-bearing members of the first body, such that the planes of said at least three non-parallel planar load-bearing members intersect each other at a common point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Stephen Mark Angood, Hugo George Derrick, Stephen Paul Hunter
  • FIXTURING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200225018
    Abstract: A fixturing apparatus is described that can be used with metrology apparatus, such as coordinate measuring machines, flexible gauges and the like. The fixturing apparatus has a base and a plurality of supports extending from the base that are configured to retain an object. At least one of the plurality of supports comprises a floating support having a floating support element that is moveable relative to the base upon contact with an object being loaded into the fixture. A locking mechanism, such as a pneumatic locking mechanism, is provided that can be actuated to immobilise each floating support element relative to the base. The object may have a glass sheet. A corresponding method of fixturing an object is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Thomas Nigel James SILVEY, Ian David STROUD
  • AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING THE BEAM PROFILE OF A NON-CONTACT TOOL SETTING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200198081
    Abstract: A method assesses the beam profile of a light beam of a non-contact tool setting apparatus, the apparatus including a transmitter for emitting the light beam and a receiver for receiving the light beam. The receiver generates a beam intensity signal describing the intensity of received light. The apparatus is mounted to a machine tool having a spindle that is moveable relative to the non-contact tool setting apparatus. The method includes loading an object having an edge into the spindle of the machine tool and using the machine tool to move the spindle relative to the apparatus so that the edge of the object passes through the light beam. The beam profile of the light beam is then determined using the beam intensity signal generated at a plurality of positions during the step (ii) of moving the edge of the object through the light beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Alan James HOLLOWAY, Benjamin Jason MERRIFIELD, Edward Benjamin EGGLESTONE
  • MEASUREMENT PROBE APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20200191564
    Abstract: A measurement probe is described that includes a probe body, a stylus that is deflectable relative to the probe body, and a plurality of sensor elements for generating a sensor signal indicative of stylus deflection. An analyser is provided, optionally as part of a trigger unit, to analyse the sensor signals and issues a trigger signal to indicate the stylus has contacted an object. The analyser is arranged to combine a plurality of the sensor signals to generate a resultant deflection signal for comparison to a deflection threshold and is also arranged to detect oscillatory motion of the stylus by analysing at least one of the sensor signals. The analyser only issues a trigger signal when the resultant deflection signal crosses the deflection threshold and no oscillatory motion of the stylus is detected. The measurement probe may be used on a machine tool or other coordinate positioning apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Jamie John BUCKINGHAM, Michael John WOOLDRIDGE, Ben Richard HOLDEN, Stephen Peter EWEN
  • POSITIONING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200182599
    Abstract: A positioning apparatus, having first and second members relatively moveable in a substantially vertical degree of freedom. At least one energy conduit is mounted to at least one of the first and second members, which imparts a load on at least one of the members it is mounted to that varies dependent on the relative position of the first and second members. A compensatory member is configured to apply a load that varies, dependent on the relative position of the first and second members, inversely to the variation in load applied by the at least one energy conduit, so as to at least partially counteract the variation in load applied by the at least one energy conduit on said at least one of the members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Hugo George DERRICK, Stephen Paul HUNTER
  • NON-CONTACT TOOL SETTING APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20200180095
    Abstract: A non-contact tool setting apparatus, suitable for use with machine tools and the like, is described in which a transmitter emits light that is received by a receiver. An analysis unit is provided for analysing the light received by the receiver and generating a trigger signal therefrom. The receiver includes an imaging sensor, such as a CMOS or CCD sensor, having a plurality of pixels. The analysis unit generates the trigger signal by analysing the light intensity measured by a first subset of the plurality of pixels. This analysis may involve, for example, determining a resultant received light intensity or performing edge detection. The non-contact tool setting apparatus can thus emulate the operation of a laser based non-contact tool setting apparatus whilst also permitting imaging of cutting tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Edward Benjamin EGGLESTONE, Andrew Paul GRIBBLE
  • Method of measurement on a machine tool
    Patent number: 10678208
    Abstract: A method of scanning an object using an analogue probe mounted on a machine tool, so as to collect scanned measurement data along a nominal measurement line on the surface of the object, the analogue probe having a preferred measurement range. The method includes controlling the analogue probe and/or object to perform a scanning operation in accordance with a course of relative motion, the course of relative motion being configured such that, based on assumed properties of the surface of the object, the analogue probe will be caused to obtain data within its preferred measuring range, as well as cause the analogue probe to go outside its preferred measuring range, along the nominal measurement line on the surface of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Michael Wooldridge, Paul Moore, John Ould
  • Encoder apparatus that includes a scale and a readhead that are movable relative to each other configured to reduce the adverse effect of undesirable frequencies in the scale signal to reduce the encoder sub-divisional error
    Patent number: 10670431
    Abstract: An encoder apparatus including a scale and a readhead including a sensor including an array of sensor elements for detecting a scale signal falling on the sensor, configured such that the sensor elements' outputs that are used to determine the relative position of the scale and readhead are weighted such that the influence of the sensor elements on the determined relative position of the scale and readhead varies across the array according to a predetermined non-rectangular window function that is configured to reduce the adverse effect of undesirable frequencies in the scale signal so as to thereby reduce the encoder apparatus' sub-divisional error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Jason Slack, Richard James Bale
  • MEASURING APPARATUS COUNTERBALANCE
    Publication number: 20200149859
    Abstract: A positioning apparatus including a quill on which a probe apparatus can be mounted, at least one motor for positioning the quill in a substantially vertical dimension, and a pneumatic counterbalance mechanism for the quill. The positioning apparatus is configured, based on at least one factor relating to the quill, to automatically effect a change in the pneumatic counterbalance mechanism's pressure so as to thereby adapt the counterbalance force on the quill provided by the pneumatic counterbalance mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Christian BROWN, Hugo George DERRICK