Leica Geosystems Ag

Thomas Luethi

Dietrich Meier

Burkhard Boeckem

A coordinate measuring device includes a carrier that can be rotated automatically about two axes and that can be directed toward a measuring aid. The following are arranged on the carrier so as to be able to move together: an optical distance measuring device for measuring the distance to the measuring aid; a light source for emitting light, directly or by means of optical elements, wherein said light is visible as a target point when reflected on the measuring aid; a target detecting unit for determining a position as the position of the imaging of the target point on a position detection sensor. The control apparatus is designed to direct the carrier at the measuring aid by rotating the carrier about the at least two axes of the carrier according to the fine position and the rough position; and the light source is a superluminescent diode (SLED).

Coordinate measuring device having automatic target detection

An electro-optical distance-measuring unit () includes a light source (), the emitted light of which in the distance-measuring unit () is guided onto a measurement path () at least by one polarizing beam splitter (), an electro-optical modulator () and a retarder (). Light that is returned along the measurement path () is guided at least by the retarder (), the electro-optical modulator () and the polarizing beam splitter () onto a detector (). The distance-measuring unit () furthermore includes a control and evaluation unit () for determining a length of the measurement path () in accordance with a modulation frequency of the electro-optical modulator () and a signal of the detector (). The light source () has a broad spectrum of the emitted light and is preferably a super-luminescent diode.

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Aarau, Switzerland

Thomas Luethi