Abstract: Method of operating a measurement system comprising a coordinate measuring machine (200), a configurable tool rack (100) that can accept a plurality of stations (105,106), each station capable of holding a tool (95). In the method, the system measures a workpiece according to a measuring plan that includes tool change operations and measures of the workpiece with different tools available in the rack. The tool change operations are changed automatically based on a set of operational parameters acquired by electronic devices and sensor installed on the tool rack or on the tool stations or on the tools in the rack, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: An articulating wrist for reorienting a measure probe relatively to a measuring apparatus, including a support element connectable to a positioning platform of a coordinate measuring machine, a first reorientable element pivotably connected to the support element for rotation about a first rotation axis, a first actuator, actuatable to cause the first reorientable element to turn about the first rotation axis, a first angle encoder configured to determine an angular position of the first reorientable element relative to the support element and to generate a time series of position values, characterized by a wrist controller receiving the time series of position values, determine in real time desired positions of the first reorientable element and command the first actuator to move towards the desired positions

Abstract: Tool rack for an automatic machine comprising a control unit and a positioning platform connectable to a plurality of tools, the tool rack having a linear guide, one tool station or more than one tool stations connected to the linear guide for receiving and/or providing at least one of said plurality of tools in an operating volume of the positioning platform, a position transducer for detecting a position of the tool station or at least one of the tool stations relative to the linear guide and transmitting the position to the control unit.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a coordinate measuring machine in which the immutable parameters of the articulated probe head are determine and stored at factory, while the connection parameters and other parameters dependent on the configuration of the system are determined in-situ, with a calibration artifact. The process builds a mathematical model that is the composition of an immutable factory-determined model with the in-situ model. The immutable model can be stored in a non-volatile memory physically provided in the articulated head. The method can fall back to a correction look up table for certain selected orientations of the probe where improved accuracy is needed.

Abstract: An absolute position encoder for a measuring instrument, comprising a digital scale and a reader movable relative to the digital scale. The digital scale is arranged along a travel direction of the reader. The digital scale comprises at least one absolute position track having a sequence of discrete regions sharply separated from each other by separating regions. The reader comprises a first and a second series of detectors configured to sense the discrete regions and separating regions to detect at least one of a first and a second absolute position code. The sequence of discrete regions and the first and second series of detectors are disposed such that none of the detectors of at least one of said first and second series of detectors is aligned with a transition between a discrete region and a separating region at each possible position of the reader relative to the digital scale.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a contactless sensing unit for a measuring apparatus or machine tool 1, notably for a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). The contactless sensing unit comprises an optical probe device, a coupling element for mechanical connection to a complementary coupling element on the measuring apparatus or machine tool and a housing for housing the optical probe device. The housing is mechanically connected to the coupling element. The optical probe device comprises an optical objective at a distal end of a lower portion of the probe device for sensing a surface of a workpiece. The contactless sensing unit further comprises a collar for adjusting a relative axial, radial and/or angular position of the optical probe device with respect to a fastening portion of the housing. The collar circumferentially clamps the optical probe device essentially around an upper portion of the optical probe device.

Abstract: A physiological parameter measurement and motion tracking system including a control system, a sensing system, and a stimulation system is disclosed. The sensing system includes one or more physiological sensors including at least brain electrical activity sensors. The stimulation system includes one or more stimulation devices including at least a visual stimulation system. The control system includes an acquisition module configured to receive sensor signals from the sensing system, and a control module configured to process the signals from the acquisition module and control the generation of stimulation signals to one or more devices of the stimulation system. The control system further includes a clock module and the control system is configured to receive content code signals from the stimulation system and to time stamp the content code signals and the sensor signals with a clock signal from the clock module.