| 摘要 |
Measurement apparatus (2;90;100;150;200;250) is described that comprises a measurement portion (6;158;254) for acquiring object measurements and an output portion (8;46) for outputting measurement data relating to the acquired object measurements. A deactivation portion (10;58;260) is provided for inhibiting normal operation of the measurement apparatus such that output of the measurement data prevented. The deactivation portion (10;58;260), in use, reads apparatus usage information from an apparatus usage module (18;114b;162;206;268) and inhibits normal operation of the measurement apparatus if said apparatus usage information fails to meet one or more predetermined criteria. The apparatus usage module may be provided as an integral part of the measurement apparatus (114b;162;206) or as a separate activation button (18;268). The measurement apparatus may comprise a measurement probe (2;90;100;150;200) such as a touch trigger measurement probe.
The apparatus usage information may comprise, for example, a count value relating to a number of measurements previously taken, the amount of time the measurement apparatus has been operating or the amount of time that has elapsed since the measurement apparatus was initially activated. |
