Patents by Inventor David Kenneth Thomas
David Kenneth Thomas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8890546Abstract: An apparatus for digitizing an impedance is provided that comprises a first impedance element having a first impedance that varies with a property to be measured and a second impedance element having a second impedance. The apparatus also includes a drive signal generator for applying a first alternating drive signal to the first impedance element and a second alternating drive signal to the second impedance element. An analog-to-digital converter, ADC, receives a resultant signal comprising the combination of the signals produced by the application of the first and second alternating drive signals to the first and second impedance elements. The first alternating drive signal is phase shifted relative to the second alternating drive signal such that the resultant signal received and sampled by the ADC sequentially relates to the sum of, and the difference between, the first and second impedances.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2010Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Renishaw PLCInventor: David Kenneth Thomas
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Publication number: 20110316566Abstract: An apparatus for digitising an impedance is provided that comprises a first impedance element having a first impedance that varies with a property to be measured and a second impedance element having a second impedance. The apparatus also includes a drive signal generator for applying a first alternating drive signal to the first impedance element and a second alternating drive signal to the second impedance element. An analogue-to-digital converter, ADC, receives a resultant signal comprising the combination of the signals produced by the application of the first and second alternating drive signals to the first and second impedance elements. The first alternating drive signal is phase shifted relative to the second alternating drive signal such that the resultant signal received and sampled by the ADC sequentially relates to the sum of, and the difference between, the first and second impedances.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventor: David Kenneth Thomas
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Patent number: 8029217Abstract: The invention relates to the transmission of power and/or data from/to a stationary part of a machine tool 200 to/from an accessory 100 mounted in the spindle 210 of the machine tool 200. A first electrical link or interface 1a,1b,1c,1d provides electrical communication between the stationary part 200 and the spindle 210, and a second electrical link or interface 3 is provided electrically connected to the first electrical link at the accessory mounting area 230. The second link 3 is in the form of electrical contacts. The invention extends to an accessory shank 360 for mounting to the spindle 210 of the machine tool, and also to an accessory 100 e.g. in the form of a measurement probe, connected to the said shank 360.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Renishaw PLCInventors: David Collingwood, Graham Richard Ferguson, Timothy Donald Hayter, Tim Prestidge, Clive Esmond Harwood Renton, Edward Stott, David Kenneth Thomas
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Patent number: 7970488Abstract: A workpiece inspection system is disclosed for determining measurements of a workpiece on a machine tool. The system utilizes a measurement device which outputs data relating to the workpiece (e.g. in place of a conventional cutter). The problem of obtaining real time data relating to the position of the machine tool is overcome by recording a machine tool position data set and a measurement device data set at selected instants which are defined by a synchronization signal. The data sets are combined later in the correct relative position because the synchronization signal was used. The synchronization signal can issue from the machine tool controller, an interface, measurement device or another part of the system.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2005Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Renishaw PLCInventors: Tim Prestidge, John Charles Ould, David Kenneth Thomas, Andrew James Harding
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Publication number: 20100156056Abstract: The invention relates to the transmission of power and/or data from/to a stationary part of a machine tool 200 to/from an accessory 100 mounted in the spindle 210 of the machine tool 200. A first electrical link or interface 1a,1b,1c,1d provides electrical communication between the stationary part 200 and the spindle 210, and a second electrical link or interface 3 is provided electrically connected to the first electrical link at the accessory mounting area 230. The second link 3 is in the form of electrical contacts. The invention extends to an accessory shank 360 for mounting to the spindle 210 of the machine tool, and also to an accessory 100 e.g. in the form of a measurement probe, connected to the said shank 360.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2010Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Collingwood, Graham Richard Ferguson, Timothy Donald Hayter, Tim Prestidge, Clive Esmond Harwood Renton, Edward Stott, David Kenneth Thomas
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Patent number: 7695223Abstract: The transmission of power and/or data from/to a stationary part of a machine tool to/from an accessory mounted in the spindle of the machine tool. A first electrical link or interface provides electrical communication between the stationary part and the spindle, and a second electrical link or interface is provided electrically connected to the first electrical link at the accessory mounting area. The second link is in the form of electrical contacts. An accessory shank for mounting to the spindle of the machine tool, and also to an accessory e.g. in the form of a measurement probe, connected to the said shank.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2008Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Renishaw PLCInventors: David Collingwood, Graham Richard Ferguson, Timothy Donald Hayter, Tim Prestidge, Clive Esmond Harwood Renton, Edward Stott, David Kenneth Thomas
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Patent number: 7594337Abstract: A tool shank (18;38;138) is described that comprises a spindle attachment portion (20) that is removably attachable to the rotatable spindle (12) of a machine tool (10), a shank body portion (21;121) which extends beyond the end of the spindle when the tool shank (18;38;138) is attached to the spindle (12) of a machine tool (10) and the first part (26;38;148) of a separable electrical coupling (22;132). The shank body portion comprises a feature (28;128) suitable for engagement with a tool change device (29) and the first part (26;38;148) of the separable electrical coupling (22;132) is located on the shank body portion (21;121) between the feature (28;128) and the spindle attachment portion (20). A machine tool (10), and a kit for retrofitting a machine tool (10), that comprise the second part (24;148) of the separable electrical coupling (22;132) are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2006Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Renishaw PLCInventors: David Roberts McMurtry, Geoffrey McFarland, David Kenneth Thomas
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Publication number: 20090080990Abstract: A tool shank (18;38;138) is described that comprises a spindle attachment portion (20) that is removably attachable to the rotatable spindle (12) of a machine tool (10), a shank body portion (21;121) which extends beyond the end of the spindle when the tool shank (18;38;138) is attached to the spindle (12) of a machine tool (10) and the first part (26;38;148) of a separable electrical coupling (22;132). The shank body portion comprises a feature (28;128) suitable for engagement with a tool change device (29) and the first part (26;38;148) of the separable electrical coupling (22;132) is located on the shank body portion (21;121) between the feature (28;128) and the spindle attachment portion (20). A machine tool (10), and a kit for retrofitting a machine tool (10), that comprise the second part (24;148) of the separable electrical coupling (22;132) are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2006Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: Renishaw PLCInventors: David Roberts McMurtry, Geoffrey McFarland, David Kenneth Thomas
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Publication number: 20080164045Abstract: The invention relates to the transmission of power and/or data from/to a stationary part of a machine tool 200 to/from an accessory 100 mounted in the spindle 210 of the machine tool 200. A first electrical link or interface 1a,1b,1c,1d provides electrical communication between the stationary part 200 and the spindle 210, and a second electrical link or interface 3 is provided electrically connected to the first electrical link at the accessory mounting area 230. The second link 3 is in the form of electrical contacts. The invention extends to an accessory shank 360 for mounting to the spindle 210 of the machine tool, and also to an accessory 100 e.g. in the form of a measurement probe, connected to the said shank 360.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2008Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Collingwood, Graham Richard Ferguson, Timothy Donald Hayter, Tim Prestidge, Clive Esmond Harwood Renton, Edward Stott, David Kenneth Thomas
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Patent number: 7364393Abstract: The invention relates to the transmission of power and/or data from/to a stationary part of a machine tool 200 to/from an accessory 100 mounted in the spindle 210 of the machine tool 200. A first electrical link or interface 1a,1b,1c,1d provides electrical communication between the stationary part 200 and the spindle 210, and a second electrical link or interface 3 is provided electrically connected to the first electrical link at the accessory mounting area 230. The second link 3 is in the form of electrical contacts. The invention extends to an accessory shank 360 for mounting to the spindle 210 of the machine tool, and also to an accessory 100 e.g. in the form of a measurement probe, connected to the said shank 360.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2003Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Renishaw PLCInventors: David Collingwood, Graham Richard Ferguson, Timothy Donald Hayter, Tim Prestidge, Clive Esmond Harwood Renton, Edward Stott, David Kenneth Thomas
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Publication number: 20080051927Abstract: A workpiece inspection system is disclosed for determining measurements of a workpiece on a machine tool. The system utilises a measurement device which outputs data relating to the workpiece (e.g. in place of a conventional cutter). The problem of obtaining real time data relating to the position of the machine tool is overcome by recording a machine tool position data set and a measurement device data set at selected instants which are defined by a synchronisation signal. The data sets are combined later in the correct relative position because the synchronisation signal was used. The synchronisation signal can issue from the machine tool controller, an interface, measurement device or another part of the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2005Publication date: February 28, 2008Applicant: Renishaw PLCInventors: Tim Prestidge, John Charles Ould, David Kenneth Thomas, Andrew James Harding
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Patent number: 7328519Abstract: Transmission of power and/or signal across a machine tool spindle shank is disclosed. Contacts (340) on the shank are connectable to tracks (24/22) on the spindle (210). A circuit (e.g. FIG. 15) is used to determine the orientation of the contacts relative to the tracks when the shank is inserted in an unknown orientation into the spindle.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2004Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Renishaw PLCInventors: Andrew James Harding, David Kenneth Thomas, Timothy Donald Hayter
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Patent number: 6683780Abstract: A displacement responsive device e.g. a measurement probe (110) is disclosed. Displacement of a stylus (130) causes resilient movement of a carriage (134) supported by planar springs (112) and (114). This movement is detected by a capacitance sensor (160), formed from two cylinders (164) and (166). The cylinders move in at least three degrees of freedom and changes in their capacitance during the said movement can be determined by a circuit (e.g. FIG. 5). Movement in x, y and z directions can be sensed.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2002Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Renishaw PLCInventors: David Kenneth Thomas, Andrew Loach, Graham Richard Ferguson
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Publication number: 20030048592Abstract: A displacement responsive device e.g. a measurement probe (110) is disclosed. Displacement of a stylus (130) causes resilient movement of a carriage (134) supported by planar springs (112) and (114). This movement is detected by a capacitance sensor (160), formed from two cylinders (164) and (166). The cylinders move in at least three degrees of freedom and changes in their capacitance during the said movement can be determined by a circuit (e.g. FIG. 5). Movement in x, y and z directions can be sensed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Inventors: David Kenneth Thomas, Andrew Loach, Graham Richard Ferguson