IP Library › Patent Application 16287825
Patent Application
App. No. 16/287,825

Fiducial Marks for Articles of Manufacture with Non-Trivial Dimensional Variations

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
16/287,825
Abstract

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention uses a tangible three-dimensional structure as a fiducial mark, which structure is, at least partially, tolerant of dimensional variations in the article. The illustrative embodiment uses three such tangible three-dimensional structures: (1) a portion of a tangible conical surface, (2) a portion of a tangible spheroidal surface, and (3) a portion of a tangible pyramidal surface.

Claims (67)

1 . An article of manufacture comprising:

a first hole in a first portion of a first material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the first hole in the first portion of the first material is defined, at least in part, by a first portion of a first tangible conical surface, wherein the first tangible conical surface establishes (i) a first conical apex, and (ii) a first conical-surface volume;

a second hole in a second portion of the first material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the second hole in the second portion of the first material is defined, at least in part, by a second portion of a second tangible conical surface, wherein the second tangible conical surface establishes (i) a second conical apex, and (ii) a second conical-surface volume; and

a third hole in a third portion of the first material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the third hole in the third portion of the first material is defined, at least in part, by a third portion of a third tangible conical surface, wherein the third tangible conical surface establishes (i) a third conical apex, and (ii) a third conical-surface volume; and

a coating of a second material that fills, at least partially, the first hole such that the coating prevents the mating surface of a conical probe from fitting with the first tangible conical surface;

wherein the first conical apex, the second conical apex, and the third conical apex are non-collinear; and

wherein the first conical-surface volume does not equal the second conical-surface volume.

2 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 :

wherein the second conical-surface volume does not equal the third conical-surface volume; and

wherein the first conical-surface volume does not equal the third conical-surface volume.

3 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 :

wherein the first tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a first conical axis;

wherein the second tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a second conical axis; and

wherein the first conical axis and the second conical axis are non-parallel.

4 . The article of manufacture of claim 3 wherein the first conical axis and the second conical axis are skew.

5 . The article of manufacture of claim 3 :

wherein the third tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a third conical axis;

wherein the first conical axis and the third conical axis are non-parallel; and

wherein the second conical axis and the third conical axis are non-parallel.

6 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 further comprising:

a fourth hole in a fourth portion of the first material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the fourth hole is defined, at least in part, by a fourth portion of a fourth tangible conical surface, wherein the fourth tangible conical surface defines a fourth conical apex; and

wherein the first conical apex, the second conical apex, the third conical apex, and the fourth conical apex are non-coplanar.

7 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 :

wherein the first hole in the first portion of the first material is a blind hole; and

wherein the coating fully fills the first hole.

8 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 :

wherein the first hole in the first portion of the first material is a through hole; and

wherein the coating fully occludes the first hole.

9 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 :

wherein the third tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a third conical-surface area;

wherein the first conical-surface area does not equal the third conical-surface area; and

wherein the first conical-surface area does not equal the second conical-surface area.

10 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein the first material is fiber-reinforced thermoplastic and the second material is paint.

11 . An article of manufacture comprising:

a first hole in a first portion of a first material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the first hole in the first portion of the first material is defined, at least in part, by a first portion of a first tangible conical surface, wherein the first tangible conical surface establishes (i) a first conical apex, and (ii) a first conical axis;

a second hole in a second portion of the first material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the second hole in the second portion of the first material is defined, at least in part, by a second portion of a second tangible conical surface, wherein the second tangible conical surface establishes (i) a second conical apex, and (ii) a second conical axis; and

a third hole in a third portion of the first material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the third hole in the third portion of the first material is defined, at least in part, by a third portion of a third tangible conical surface, wherein the establishes (i) a third conical apex, and (ii) a third conical axis; and

a coating of a second material that fills, at least partially, the first hole such that the coating prevents the mating surface of a conical probe from fitting with the first tangible conical surface;

wherein the first conical apex, the second conical apex, and the third conical apex are non-collinear; and

wherein the first conical axis and the second conical axis are non-parallel.

12 . The article of manufacture of claim 11 :

wherein the first conical axis and the third conical axis are non-parallel; and

wherein the second conical axis and the third conical axis are non-parallel.

13 . The article of manufacture of claim 11 :

wherein the first conical axis and the second conical axis are skew.

14 . The article of manufacture of claim 11 wherein:

wherein the first tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a first conical-surface volume;

wherein the second tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a second conical-surface volume; and

wherein the first conical-surface volume does not equal the second conical-surface volume.

15 . The article of manufacture of claim 14 :

wherein the third tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a third conical-surface volume;

wherein the second conical-surface volume does not equal the third conical-surface volume; and

wherein the first conical-surface volume does not equal the third conical-surface volume.

16 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 further comprising:

a fourth hole in a fourth portion of the first material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the fourth hole is defined, at least in part, by a fourth portion of a fourth tangible conical surface, wherein the fourth tangible conical surface defines a fourth conical apex; and

wherein the first conical apex, the second conical apex, the third conical apex, and the fourth conical apex are non-coplanar.

17 . The article of manufacture of claim 11 :

wherein the first hole in the first portion of the first material is a blind hole; and

wherein the coating fully fills the first hole.

18 . The article of manufacture of claim 11 :

wherein the first hole in the first portion of the first material is a through hole; and

wherein the coating fully occludes the first hole.

19 . The article of manufacture of claim 11 :

wherein the third tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a third conical-surface area;

wherein the first conical-surface area does not equal the third conical-surface area; and

wherein the first conical-surface area does not equal the second conical-surface area.

20 . The article of manufacture of claim 11 wherein the first material is fiber-reinforced thermoplastic and the second material is paint.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2019
From: KASHIKAR, ARCHANA
To: AREVO, INC.
Reel/Frame 048681/0670 →