Wireless taper gauge and method of using same
View Patent ↗A taper gauge that includes an elongate taper assembly that has a tip section and an electronics section that includes a location determining element that collects data related to a measurement area when the tip section is inserted in the measurement area and a power source. An embodiment allows for increased precision, accuracy, and speed for wireless measurement of gaps. A method and system that uses the taper gauge.
1. A taper gauge comprising:
an elongate taper assembly having a tip section;
an electronics section comprising:
a location determining element configured to collect data related to a measurement area when the tip section is inserted in the measurement area, the location determining element comprises a sensor section comprising a linear displacement sensor configured to obtain a displacement of a slidable measurement assembly upon engaging thereof, wherein the slidable measurement assembly is slidably engaged with the elongate taper assembly, the location determining element comprises a linear encoded section that is further in communication with the elongate taper assembly, wherein the linear encoded section comprises a magnetic encoded section comprising two rows of pole pairs, the first row of pole pairs having n pole pairs and the second row having n−1 pole pairs and a the linear displacement sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor associated with each of the first and second row of pole pairs; and
a power source.
2. The taper gauge of claim 1 , the electronics section further comprising a transmitting element configured to wirelessly transmit the collected data to a computing device.
3. The taper gauge of claim 1 , the electronics section further comprising a receiving element configured to wirelessly receive data derived from the collected data.
4. A method comprising:
inserting an elongate taper assembly of a taper gauge into a measurement area, wherein the taper gauge further comprises:
a slidable measurement assembly; and
an electronics section comprising:
a location determining element configured to collect data related to a measurement area, the location determining element comprises a sensor section comprising a linear displacement sensor configured to obtain a displacement of a slidable measurement assembly upon engaging thereof, wherein the slidable measurement assembly is slidably engaged with the elongate taper assembly, the location determining element comprises a linear encoded section that is further in communication with the elongate taper assembly, wherein the linear encoded section comprises a magnetic encoded section comprising two rows of pole pairs, the first row of pole pairs having n pole pairs and the second row having n−1 pole pairs and a the linear displacement sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor associated with each of the first and second row of pole pairs; and
a power source;
sliding the slidable measurement assembly until a portion of slidable measurement assembly contacts a surface of the measurement area; and
initiating the location determining element so as to collect data related to a dimension of the measurement area.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the dimension comprises a width of a gap.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising digitally calibrating the taper gauge.
7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising wirelessly connecting the taper gauge to a computing device.
8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting the collected data to a computing device.
9. The method of claim 4 , further comprising wirelessly receiving from the computing device data derived from the collected data.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the data received is received at the taper gauge.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
transmitting the collected data to one of: a computer cloud, a taper gauge, a second computing device, a person;
processing the collected data.
12. The method of claim 11 , the processing comprising providing the dimension.
13. A measurement system comprising:
a taper gauge comprising:
an elongate taper assembly having a tip section at a first end distal from a second end; and
a measurement assembly engaging the taper assembly, wherein the measurement assembly comprises an electronics section, said electronics section comprising a location determining element configured to collect data related to a measurement area when the tip section is inserted in the measurement area and a power source, the location determining element comprises a sensor section comprising a linear displacement sensor configured to obtain a displacement of a slidable measurement assembly upon engaging thereof, wherein the slidable measurement assembly is slidably engaged with the elongate taper assembly, the location determining element comprises a linear encoded section that is further in communication with the elongate taper assembly, wherein the linear encoded section comprises a magnetic encoded section comprising two rows of pole pairs, the first row of pole pairs having n pole pairs and the second row having n−1 pole pairs and a the linear displacement sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor associated with each of the first and second row of pole pairs; and
a computing device in wireless communication with the taper gauge.
14. The measurement system of claim 13 , wherein the electronics section is configured to wirelessly transmit the collected data and wirelessly receive data derived from the collected data.
15. The taper gauge of claim 1 , wherein the first row of pole pairs has 64 pairs and the second row has 63 pole pairs.
16. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first row of pole pairs has 64 pairs and the second row has 63 pole pairs.
17. The measurement system of claim 13 , wherein the first row of pole pairs has 64 pairs and the second row has 63 pole pairs.