Patents Assigned to Renishaw, PLC
  • Fluid Connector for Fluid Delivery Apparatus
    Publication number: 20090224529
    Abstract: A connector is described that comprises a male connector portion that is releaseably connectable to a complimentary female connector portion. The male fluid connector portion comprises a plurality of hollow needles that are each in fluid communication with a lumen of the associated tubing. The female connector portion comprises plurality of chambers or apertures that comprise a septum seal through which a hollow needle can be passed. Tubing having a plurality of lumens is coupled to the female connector portion and each lumen is in fluid communication with one of said chambers. The male and/or female connector portions also include an alignment guide that allows the hollow needles of the male part to be uniquely aligned with the corresponding septum seals of the female part. The use of the connector for medical purposes is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventor: Steven Streatfield Gill
  • Scale reading apparatus
    Patent number: 7571552
    Abstract: Scale reading apparatus having a scale and readhead moveable relative to one another. The scale has a first incremental scale pattern with a fine pitch and a second incremental scale pattern with a coarse pitch. The readhead has a detector to detect each of the incremental scale patterns. The scale reading apparatus can be used for both slow speed and fast speed measurements. The second incremental scale pattern may be provided in a scale track which has a dual function (e.g. limit track or reference mark) and the readhead may be configured to decode the signal to produce an output suitable for the desired function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventor: Simon Eliot McAdam
  • NEUROSURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
    Publication number: 20090198218
    Abstract: A catheter assembly for insertion into the brain. The assembly comprises a first length of tubing made of a first material. A second material surrounds the first length of tubing, the second material being more flexible than the first material and having a hardness of less than 50 Rockwell E. The second material provides damping to the first length of tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Renishaw PLC
    Inventors: Stephen Streatfield Gill, Mathew David Frederick Stratton, Hugo George Derrick
  • Extendable Leg Assembly for Position Measurement Apparatus
    Publication number: 20090194664
    Abstract: An extendable leg assembly for a measuring machine, such as a co-ordinate measuring machine, is described. The extendable leg assembly has a first end and a second end and comprises metrology apparatus for measuring the separation between the first end and the second end. The metrology apparatus comprises one or more elongate metrology members having a low coefficient of thermal expansion. The extendable leg assembly may be attached to one or more platforms by a pivot joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Renishaw PLC
    Inventors: Finlay Jonathan Evans, David Roberts McMurtry
  • Method of error compensation in a coordinate measuring machine
    Patent number: 7568373
    Abstract: A method of calibrating an articulating probe head comprising the steps of measuring an artefact of known dimensions with the workpiece sensing probe mounted on the articulating probe head, in which the articulating probe head is unlocked. An error functional map is generated corresponding to the difference between the measured and known dimensions of the artefact. Subsequent workpieces are measured with the articulating probe head unlocked and the corresponding correction applied. The true dimensions of the artefact may be determined by measuring it with a probe mounted on an articulating probe head in which the axes of the articulating probe head are locked. A mechanical lock is provided to lock the axes of the articulating probe head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventors: David Roberts McMurtry, Geoff McFarland, Kenneth Cheng-Hoe Nai, Stephen James Trull, Nicholas John Weston
  • Pivot joint
    Patent number: 7568854
    Abstract: A pivot joint has a first structure comprising a ball mounted in a receptacle, wherein the location of the ball is held with respect to the receptacle, and a second structure mounted on and movable with respect to the ball, wherein the second structure has at least one bearing surface which defines its position with respect to the ball. The ball may be held in location by contact with the receptacle at least two positions. At least one of the positions of contact may be adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventor: David Roberts McMurtry
  • Method of Machine Tool Calibration
    Publication number: 20090183610
    Abstract: Methods are described for calibrating a turning machine having a first rotatable portion or chuck for holding a workpiece. The first rotatable portion has a first feature associated therewith. The method comprises the steps of using a measurement probe to determine the position of the first feature, rotating the first rotatable portion through an angle, and using said measurement probe to determine the new position of the first feature. The extension of the technique to swivel head mill-turn machines is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Paul Maxted, Marc Thomas Berkeley Saunders, David Roberts McMurtry, Christopher Ray Watson
  • Rotary Encoder Apparatus
    Publication number: 20090180125
    Abstract: Rotary encoder apparatus is described that comprises one or more readheads (114) and a radial scale (20). Each of the one or more readheads (114) includes a light emitting portion (30, 32) for illuminating the radial scale and a light detecting portion (40, 42) for detecting interference fringes formed at a readhead analyser plane (AP). The readhead analyser plane (AP) is tilted relative to the plane containing the radial scale (20). In a preferred, embodiment, the readhead analyser plane (AP) is tilted towards the centre of rotation (112) of the rotary encoder apparatus by the angle (?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventor: Alan James Holloway
  • Contact Sensing Probe
    Publication number: 20090165318
    Abstract: Contact sensing probe apparatus includes a workpiece contacting stylus, a transducer mechanically coupled to the stylus and an oscillator for supplying an alternating current to the transducer to induce vibration of the stylus. A contact sensor is also provided for monitoring the phase difference between the voltage supplied to the transducer and the current flow to the transducer. The oscillator is arranged to supply the transducer with an alternating current of a first frequency during contact sensing. This first frequency is selected to induce mechanical resonance but to be away from the maximum of the mechanical resonance peak. The probe may be used with co-ordinate positioning machines, such as portable articulated measuring arms, co-ordinate measuring machines (CMM) and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Nicholas John Weston, James Fergus Robertson
  • Scale and readhead apparatus
    Patent number: 7550710
    Abstract: Apparatus for determining angular alignment of a readhead with respect to a scale. The apparatus comprises a scale and readhead. The readhead has at least one sensor which produces an output which is dependent on the angular alignment of the readhead relative to the scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventor: Simon Eliot McAdam
  • Method of calibrating a scanning system
    Patent number: 7543393
    Abstract: A method of measuring an object using a surface sensing device mounted on a coordinate positioning apparatus. The method has the steps of measuring a single surface point of a feature of the object with the surface sensing device, moving the surface sensing device along a path around the feature at a fast speed, thereby taking measurements along the path, including at the surface point, determining the difference between the measurements of the surface point and using the difference determined to apply a correction to the object or subsequent objects having the same feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventors: David R. McMurtry, Geoffrey McFarland, Kevyn B. Jonas, Leo C. Somerville
  • Machine tool probe
    Publication number: 20090140873
    Abstract: A probe has internal circuitry capable of operating in a plurality of different modes, for example a variety of filter modes and turn off modes. A switch on the probe sends an input to a controller which is arranged to set the mode in response to operation of the switch. The switch may be a push button which is operated externally of the probe by means of an actuator in the form of a plunger. The probe has a workpiece-contacting stylus mounted on a seat from which it is deflectable. The stylus and the seat may comprise the switch. An indicator, e.g., an LED, indicates the mode in response to an output from the controller. The controller outputs a plurality of indications of different modes in a sequence and a mode is selected by operating the switch once the desired mode is indicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: David Collingwood, Jonathan Paul Fuge, Geoffrey Salt
  • Probe signalling
    Publication number: 20090130987
    Abstract: A measurement probe 1 for a machine tool has a housing 4/5 incorporating a window 6 which allows the optical transmission or receipt of signals from/to infrared transmitters 12 or receivers 13. To obviate the need to mount the transmitter and receiver components on an external surface of the housing, they are surface mounted to a circuit board 8?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Daniel, Peter K. Hellier
  • Scale Making Method
    Publication number: 20090127131
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for making a metrological scale by electrochemical machining of a scale substrate using a tool having at least one feature. The method has the steps of passing an electrolyte solution between the tool and the scale substrate and forming an electrical connection between the scale substrate and the tool. Electrochemical dissolution of the scale substrate occurs adjacent to the feature of the tool to produce at least one scale marking. This is suitable for making linear, rotary and two dimensional scales.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Renishaw PLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey McFarland, David Roberts McMurtry, Alexander David Scott Ellin
  • Method of error compensation
    Patent number: 7533574
    Abstract: A method of error compensation for measurements taken using a co-ordinate positioning apparatus comprising an articulating probe head having a surface detecting device. The surface detecting device is rotated about at least one axis of the articulating probe head during measurement. The method comprises the steps of: determining the stiffness of the whole or part of the apparatus; determining one or more factors which relate to the load applied by the articulating probe head at any particular instant, and determining the measurement error at the surface sensing device caused by the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventors: David R. McMurtry, Geoff McFarland, Kevyn B. Jonas
  • Use of surface measurement probes
    Patent number: 7526873
    Abstract: A method of measuring an artifact using a machine on which a measuring probe is mounted. The method has the following steps: determining the approximate position of one or more points on the surface of the artifact; using this approximate position to drive at least one of the probe and artifact to one or more desired relative positions of the probe and the surface and taking one or more surface measurements of said point on the surface of the artifact at said location, wherein there is no relative movement between the probe and the artifact whilst the one or more surface measurements are taken; and using data from the measurements to determine a position of the one or more points on the surface in which dynamic error is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventors: Kevyn Barry Jonas, Geoffrey McFarland
  • Machine tool method
    Publication number: 20090112357
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for fitting a workpiece to geometric design data of a workpiece. Nominal data points are selected from the geometric design data. Command codes are created to generate measured data points. The measurement data points have associated nominal measurement points which are used to fit the workpiece to the geometric design data. The apparatus and method may also be used to determine whether a workpiece is within tolerance and for process control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Peter Russell Hammond, Anthony Brown
  • Polarising interferometer
    Patent number: 7525665
    Abstract: A polarising double-passed interferometer comprises a polarising beamsplitter (16), a reference mirror (20) in the path of a reference beam (14) and a movable measurement mirror (26) in the path of a measurement beam (12). The reference and measurement beams have different polarisations. An angular beam deflection device such a glass wedge or prism (32) acts to remove or separate out an error beam (30) caused by leakage of light of one polarisation into the path of light of the other polarisation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventor: William Ernest Lee
  • Measuring methods for use on machine tools
    Patent number: 7523561
    Abstract: On a machine tool, a program receives data from a scanning or analogue probe, measuring a feature of a workpiece. This data is combined with assumed machine position data during the scanning movement. This avoids having to break into the servo feedback loop to get actual measured machine position data. The assumed machine position data can be derived from a part program which controls the scanning movement. Several ways are described for compensating for errors between the assumed machine position values and the actual values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventor: Geoffrey McFarland
  • Contact Sensing Probe
    Publication number: 20090100693
    Abstract: A contact sensing probe having a stylus which is vibrated longitudinally by a piezoelectric transducer. Contact with a workpiece is detected from damping of the vibration. The stylus is mounted to a probe body via parallel diaphragm springs. These cooperate with a counter mass to form a mechanical low pass filter, which isolates the stylus vibrations from influences caused by the mounting or handling of the probe body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Nicholas John Weston, Geoffrey McFarland