Patents by Inventor Norbert Steffens

Norbert Steffens 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).

  • Patent number: 10495455
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine based on a delta robot structure comprising a base plate, arms, a movable platform with a probe, and a control unit for controlling the movement of the movable platform. The base plate is configured to accommodate a first workpiece and the probe is arranged the movable platform so as to utilize the free inside space of the delta robot structure between the arms as measuring volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Bo Pettersson, Norbert Steffens, Pascal Jordil
  • Publication number: 20170227355
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine based on a delta robot structure comprising a base plate, arms, a movable platform with a probe, and a control unit for controlling the movement of the movable platform. The base plate is configured to accommodate a first workpiece and the probe is arranged the movable platform so as to utilize the free inside space of the delta robot structure between the arms as measuring volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Bo PETTERSSON, Norbert STEFFENS, Pascal JORDIL
  • Patent number: 8174684
    Abstract: In a modular measuring head system comprising a central module having the shape of a parallelepiped block with six sides, the central module encloses an interior space and is provided on at least five sides with attachment sites, each having at least one opening leading to the interior space. Together with additional modules, the central module forms a modular building structure based on a highly diverse optical measuring head including at least several of an illumination module, a lens module, a mirror module and a camera module. Each of these optional modules can be at least indirectly attached to at least one of the attachment sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Frank Brossette, Norbert Steffens
  • Patent number: 8072608
    Abstract: The apparatus and method according to the invention includes an objective (8) which is capable of operating basically in two different measuring modes. In a first interference mode, a measuring object (9) is interference—optically measured. In a second imaging operating mode on a detector array (12) designed like a camera, an optical image is generated, which is supplied to an image processing routine. The switching over between the two operating modes occurs by switching the illumination devices which are associated with different locations of the beam path of the apparatus—when viewed from the camera, one in front of a beam divider and the other behind the beam divider, which couples a reference light path to the beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Carl Mahr Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Steffens, Peter Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20100157288
    Abstract: In a modular measuring head system comprising a central module having the shape of a parallelepiped block with six sides, the central module encloses an interior space and is provided on at least five sides with attachment sites, each having at least one opening leading to the interior space. Together with additional modules, the central module forms a modular building structure based on a highly diverse optical measuring head including at least several of an illumination module, a lens module, a mirror module and a camera module. Each of these optional modules can be at least indirectly attached to at least one of the attachment sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Frank Brossette, Norbert Steffens
  • Patent number: 7545505
    Abstract: The apparatus according to the invention comprises an object lens which can operate in at least two different measuring modes. In a first, interference mode a workpiece is measured by means of interference optometry. In a second, imaging measuring mode an optical image is produced, for example, on a camera-like detector array and may be applied to an image processing routine. Switching between the two measuring modes is performed by the type of illumination of the object lens and an element which is disposed preferably in the reference beam path of an interferometer and which activates or deactivates the reference beam path dependent on the spectral composition of the utilized light. In this manner a simple and rapid changeover between the two measuring modes is provided, without the need for replacing or even for moving the object lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Carl Mahr Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Lehmann, Norbert Steffens
  • Publication number: 20090059208
    Abstract: The apparatus and method according to the invention includes an objective (8) which is capable of operating basically in two different measuring modes. In a first interference mode, a measuring object (9) is interference—optically measured. In a second imaging operating mode on a detector array (12) designed like a camera, an optical image is generated, which is supplied to an image processing routine. The switching over between the two operating modes occurs by switching the illumination devices which are associated with different locations of the beam path of the apparatus—when viewed from the camera, one in front of a beam divider and the other behind the beam divider, which couples a reference light path to the beam path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Norbert Steffens, Peter Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20070035744
    Abstract: The apparatus according to the invention comprises an object lens which can operate in at least two different measuring modes. In a first, interference mode a workpiece is measured by means of interference optometry. In a second, imaging measuring mode an optical image is produced, for example, on a camera-like detector array and may be applied to an image processing routine. Switching between the two measuring modes is performed by the type of illumination of the object lens and an element which is disposed preferably in the reference beam path of an interferometer and which activates or deactivates the reference beam path dependent on the spectral composition of the utilized light. In this manner a simple and rapid changeover between the two measuring modes is provided, without the need for replacing or even for moving the object lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Inventors: Peter Lehmann, Norbert Steffens