Systems and methods for improved coordinate acquisition member comprising calibration information

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for an improved probe for a coordinate measurement machine (PCMM) is disclosed herein. The probe comprises a machine readable unique serial number, which the PCMM can read from the probe to identify the probe and obtain information relating to calibration of the probe by matching the unique serial number with unique serial number stored with the information relating calibration. The coordinate information device further comprises modules configured to store and provide the machine readable unique serial number, and also information relating to calibrating the probe.

1 . A coordinate measurement system comprising:
 a processor;   a first transfer member,   a second transfer member movably coupled to the first transfer member,   a probe movably coupled to the second transfer member, the probe comprising one or more powered electronic components;   wherein the probe is electrically coupled to the processor with a wire bundle consisting essentially of a power wire and a ground wire, the power wire and ground wire being configured to transmit both data and power.   
     
     
         2 . The coordinate measurement system of  claim 1 , wherein the power wire is configured to transmit data between the probe and the processor. 
     
     
         3 . The coordinate measurement system of  claim 1 , wherein the probe is electrically coupled to the processor using the 1-wire device communications protocol. 
     
     
         4 . The coordinate measurement system of  claim 2 , wherein the power wire is configured to transmit data through the transmission of pulses. 
     
     
         5 . The coordinate measurement system of  claim 4 , wherein the pulses have a predetermined duration. 
     
     
         6 . The coordinate measurement system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one rotational transducer configured to measure an angle between the transfer members, the rotational transducer being configured to communicate with the processor by an additional data connection separate from the wire bundle. 
     
     
         7 . The coordinate measurement system of  claim 6 , wherein the rotational transducer is configured to communicate wirelessly with the processor. 
     
     
         8 . The coordinate measurement system of  claim 1 , wherein the probe further comprises a solid-state memory device configured to store data. 
     
     
         9 . The coordinate measurement system of  claim 8 , wherein the probe, wherein the solid-state memory device comprises a non-volatile electrically eraseable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) device. 
     
     
         10 . The coordinate measurement system of  claim 8 , wherein the solid-state memory device is further configured to store nominal data relating to the characteristics of the probe. 
     
     
         11 . The coordinate measurement system of  claim 1 , wherein the probe further comprises a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The coordinate measurement system of  claim 1 , wherein the probe further comprises a presence detection sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The probe of  claim 12 , wherein the presence detection sensor detects presence using only the two wires. 
     
     
         14 . A probe for a coordinate measurement system, the probe comprising:
 one or more powered electronic components; and   a single connection portion configured to connect to a measuring end of a coordinate measurement system, the connection portion comprising only two electronic connection portions for connection to only two wires for both power and data communication with the coordinate measurement system.   
     
     
         15 . The probe of  claim 14 , wherein the probe is configured to transmit data using the 1-wire device communications protocol. 
     
     
         16 . The probe of  claim 14 , wherein the probe is configured to transmit data through the transmission of pulses. 
     
     
         17 . The probe of  claim 16 , wherein the pulses have a predetermined duration. 
     
     
         18 . The probe of  claim 14 , wherein the probe further comprises a solid-state memory device configured to store data. 
     
     
         19 . The probe of  claim 18 , wherein the probe, wherein the solid-state memory device comprises a non-volatile electrically eraseable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) device. 
     
     
         20 . The probe of  claim 18 , wherein the solid-state memory device is further configured to store nominal data relating to the characteristics of the probe. 
     
     
         21 . The probe of  claim 14 , wherein the probe further comprises a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         22 . The probe of  claim 14 , wherein the probe further comprises a presence detection sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The probe of  claim 22 , wherein the presence detection sensor detects presence using only the two wires.