Faro Technologies, Inc.

Kulicke and Soffa Investments, Inc.

Spatialmetrix Corp.

Datacolor Holding Ag

Faro Laser Trackers, LLC

Lawrence B Brown

Robert E Bridges

James K West

D Scott Ackerson

Jonathan Robert Day

David T Beatson

John M Hoffer, Jr

Christian Hoffman

Michael Woodward

James Schloss

Simon Raab

Ding Wang

Nils P Steffensen

Daniel G Lasley

Zhiguang Xu

Jacob J Mertz

Jeremy Markee Garey

Alan Ingleson

Matthew Frederick Evans

Daniel J O'Neill

Joseph Reed

Max K Kim

William W Christine

Robert Mark Neal

Kevin R Ackley

Quintin Stotts

John Mountney

Ricardo Martins

Mathieu Antoina

Mikhail Atlas

Scott D Ackerson

A system that measures six degrees-of-freedom of a remote target, the system including a dimensional measuring device having a camera, the remote target including a retroreflector, at least three light markers, and a pitch-yaw sensor, the six degrees-of-freedom determined based at least in part on measured 3D coordinates of the retroreflector by the dimensional measuring device, on a captured image of the at least three light markers by the camera, and on readings of the pitch-yaw sensor.

System for measuring six degrees of freedom

A method for measuring a distance includes modulating the light beam at a first frequency, receiving a second beam by the optical detector to produce a first electrical signal having the first frequency and a first phase; modulating the light beam at a second frequency different than the first frequency; receiving the second beam by the optical detector to produce a second electrical signal having the second frequency and a second. After these steps, the retroreflector is moved while modulating the light beam continuously at the second frequency; and a first distance to the retroreflector is determined based at least in part on a the first and second frequencies and phases.

Laser-based coordinate measuring device and laser-based method for measuring coordinates

A dimensional measuring device sends a beam of light to a remote probe having a retroreflector and a pitch/yaw sensor. The pitch/yaw sensor passes the light through an aperture and a lens to a position sensor that generates an electrical signal indicative of the position of the received light. A processor uses the electrical signal to determine a pitch angle and a yaw angle of the remote probe.

Apparatus and method of measuring six degrees of freedom

Intensity modulation at two frequencies for interferometric measuring of distance

Locator camera arrangement having multiple light sources

A laser based coordinate measuring device measures a position of a remote target. The laser based coordinate measuring device includes a stationary portion, a rotatable portion, and at least a first optical fiber. The stationary portion has at least a first laser radiation source and at least a first optical detector, and the rotatable portion is rotatable with respect to the stationary portion. The first optical fiber system, which optically interconnects the first laser radiation source and the first optical detector with an emission end of the first optical fiber system, has the emission end disposed on the rotatable portion. The emission end emits laser radiation to the remote target and receives laser radiation reflected from the remote target with the emission direction of the laser radiation being controlled according to the rotation of the rotatable portion.

Laser-based coordinate measuring with a camera for target orientation

A target includes a cube corner retroreflector including three planar reflectors, each planar reflector capable of reflecting light, each planar reflector perpendicular to the other two planar reflectors, each planar reflector intersecting the other two planar reflectors in a common vertex, and each planar reflector having two intersection junctions, each intersection junction shared with an adjacent planar reflector for a total of three intersection junctions within the cube corner retroreflector. The target further includes a non-reflecting portion of each intersection junction, wherein, for at least one intersection junction, the non-reflecting portion is wider in a first region than in a second region.

Cube corner retroreflector for measuring six degrees of freedom

A method includes providing: an optics assembly including a housing, a beam splitter, and a position detector; and an alignment fixture; placing the assembly on the fixture which makes contact with the assembly on the first region; projecting the third beam of light onto a first surface; rotating the assembly about the sixth axis on the fixture; sensing a change in a position of the third beam of light in response to rotation of the assembly about the sixth axis; adjusting the first path to align the third beam of light to the sixth axis; attaching the assembly to a dimensional measurement device; directing the third beam of light to a retroreflector target; reflecting a portion of the third beam from the target as a fourth beam of light; and sending a third portion of the fourth beam from the beam splitter to the position detector.

Gimbal instrument having a prealigned and replaceable optics bench

A laser tracker system for measuring six degrees of freedom may include a main optics assembly structured to emit a first laser beam, a pattern projector assembly structured to emit a second laser beam shaped into a two-dimensional pattern, and a target. The target may include a retroreflector and a position sensor assembly. A center of symmetry of the retroreflector may be provided on a different plane than a plane of the position sensor assembly. A method of measuring orientation of a target may include illuminating the target with a laser beam comprising a two-dimensional pattern, recording a position of the two-dimensional pattern on a position sensor assembly to create a measured signature value of the two-dimensional pattern, and calculating an orientation of the target based on the measured signature value.

Device and method for measuring six degrees of freedom

A device sends a first light beam to a target which returns a portion of the first beam as a second beam. First and second motors direct the first light beam to a first direction determined by first and second angles of rotation about first and second axes. First and second angle measuring devices measure first and second angles of rotation. A distance meter measures a first distance between device and target. A second portion of the second beam passes through a diffuser and onto a position detector which produces a first signal in response. A control system sends a second signal to the first motor and a third signal to the second motor, the second and third signals based on the first signal. The control system adjusts the first direction of the first beam to the target position. A processor provides a 3D coordinate of the target.

Enhanced position detector in laser tracker

A method of steering a laser beam from an instrument toward a point on a retroreflector, including: intercepting with the retroreflector a cone of light from the instrument; obtaining a first image of retroreflected light on a photosensitive array and transmitting an electrical data signal in response; determining a position on the photosensitive array of the first image; calculating first and second angular increments to steer the laser beam to the point; rotating the first and second motors to intercept with the position detector the retroreflected laser beam and to place the laser beam at a preferred location on the position detector; measuring fifth and sixth angles with first and second angle transducers; measuring a distance with a distance meter; and determining three-dimensional coordinates of the point based at least in part on the fifth angle, the sixth angle, and the distance.

Methods for using a locator camera in a laser tracker

A laser based coordinate measuring device measures a position of a remote target using a camera having an adjustable magnification set based on the distance from the coordinate measuring device to the remote target. The laser based coordinate measuring device includes a structure rotatable about two axes. The device includes a distance meter, a position detector for use in tracking the remote target, and two angular encoders for measuring the angles about the two axes.

Laser tracker having a camera with a constant magnification

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Cochranville, PA, United States of America

Lawrence B Brown