Leica Geosystems Ag

Thomas Lüthi

Burkhard Böckem

Simon Fuchs

Tomasz Kwiatkowski

Yves Salvadé

Manfred Küpfer

Roger Steger

Burkhard Bockem

Henri Porte

Markus Steiner

Veroljub Maksimovic

Hans-Ulrich Minder

Konrad Wildi

Alexandre Mottet

Burkhard BÖCKEM

Yves SalvadÉ

The present invention relates to a coordinate measuring device for detecting a position of a target object which can move in space and which comprises a retroreflector, wherein an automatic identification of a recognized target object and an assignment of specifications associated with the target object takes place.

Coordinate measuring device having automatic target object recognition

A system configured for rough localization of moveable cooperative targets. The system includes at least one laser tracker, having a moveable upper part connected to a base part, an optical target rough location detector automatically detecting a rough location of a cooperative target, a target fine position detector automatically detecting a fine position of a cooperative target within a fine position field of view, motors for changing an orientation of the moveable upper part, a motor controller, and a computer, a first and a second radio frequency telegram (RFT) transceiver (RFTT) anchor-module, wherein each RFTT anchor-module's position is referenced to the laser tracker, a cooperative target associated with a RFTT tag-module and each of the RFTT tag- and anchor-modules an evaluation unit configured for determining a RFT-transmission specific parameter based on the transmission of RFTs between the RFTT anchor- and tag-modules and providing said RFT-transmission specific parameter to the computer.

System for rough localization of moveable cooperative targets during laser tracker based industrial object measurement

A measuring apparatus comprising a tunable laser diode for generating a mono mode measurement radiation, said laser diode being designed as a laser beam source in such a way that an emission wavelength of the measurement radiation is variable within a wavelength range by means of the variation of a tuning parameter, comprising an absorption medium defining absorption lines within the wavelength range, comprising a memory having a line atlas for the absorption medium, comprising a detector for determining an absorptivity and comprising a control and evaluation unit for regulating the emission wavelength by means of the at least one tuning parameter in a manner dependent on the absorptivity determined in such a way that the emission wavelength remains stable.

Measuring apparatus comprising an interferometer and an absorption medium defining a dense line spectrum

A coordinate measuring device for detecting a position of a target object which can move in space and which comprises a retroreflector, wherein an automatic identification of a recognized target object and an assignment of specifications associated with the target object takes place.

A measuring method and a distance measuring device for determining an absolute distance to a target moving at a radial movement velocity with respect to the distance measuring device, wherein a modulated transmission radiation is emitted to the target and a measurement signal is detected, such that information regarding the absolute distance to the target is attached to the measurement signal by means of at least one reference point of a frequency-dependent signal profile of the measurement signal, on the basis of a modulation phase of the reception radiation with respect to a set fundamental modulation, wherein for a set fundamental modulation frequency the deviation of said frequency value with respect to a reference point, in particular a minimum point, of the signal profile of the measurement signal is derived, namely the frequency offset and the offset direction with respect to the reference point.

Absolute distance measurement to dynamic targets

Some embodiments of the invention include a coordinate measuring machine for detecting the position and alignment of a spatially movable measuring aid. The coordinate measuring machine may include a retroreflector; a base; a support, which is fixed on the base rotatably about a first rotation axis; a beam directing unit, which is fixed to the support rotatably about a second rotation axis substantially orthogonal to the first rotation axis; means for detecting a rotation angle of the support relative to the base; and means for detecting a rotation angle of the beam directing unit relative to the support. In some embodiments, the beam directing unit comprises a laser emission and reception optical unit and a first optical distance measuring unit having at least one first distance measuring device for measuring the distance to a retroreflector of the measuring aid by means of a first measurement radiation.

Laser tracker

Some embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for progressive tracking of a reflective target and for determining the distance to the target having a distance measuring unit, which is designed as an interferometer, for determining a distance change to the target by means of interferometry, a laser beam source for generating measuring radiation for the interferometer, a base, which defines a standing axis, a beam guiding unit for emitting the measuring radiation and for receiving at least a part of the measuring radiation reflected on the target, wherein the beam guiding unit is pivotable by a motor about the standing axis and an inclination axis, which is essentially orthogonal in relation to the standing axis, in relation to the base, and an angle measuring functionality for determining an alignment of the beam guiding unit in relation to the base.

TEC module having laser diode as an interferometer laser beam source in a laser tracker

A laser tracker for industrial coordinative position determination of a target, wherein the laser tracker at least comprises a control and evaluation unit, a base and a beam directing unit, means for detecting a rotation angle of the beam directing unit relative to the base, and a first optical distance measuring unit having at least a first beam source and a first detection unit. The distance measuring unit and the control and evaluation unit are designed for implementing a first and a second measurement functionality, where at least one element of the distance measuring unit is designed for dual use in the first and in the second measurement functionality. The first measurement functionality is for coordinative position determination of a retroreflective target, and the second measurement functionality is for position determination of a diffusely scattering target.

Laser tracker having two measurement functionalities

Some embodiments of the invention relate to a coordinate measuring machine for determining the position and/or for continuous tracking of a target embodied as a retroreflector or at least having a retroreflector. In some embodiments, the coordinate measuring machine may be a laser tracker. The coordinate measuring machine may include comprising at least a base defining a vertical axis, a support swivelable relative thereto and, tiltable thereto a beam guiding unit for emitting measurement radiation for receiving at least some of the measurement radiation reflected at the target. In some embodiments, the coordinate measuring machine includes a heat influence reduction component that may be configured to prevent and/or actively reduce heat emission, and/or obstruct or prevent warm air from passing through the near region free beam path.

Laser tracker with a warm air flow shield for the measurement beam

An electro-optic modulator includes a waveguide of a nonlinear optical material and an electrode line for generating an electrical field in a modulating region of the waveguide when a voltage is applied to the electrode line, thereby modulating light passing through the waveguide. Therein, the forward electro-optic response of the modulating region is the same as the backward electro-optic response; and the electro-optic response has a band-pass or a low-pass characteristic. A distance measuring device includes a light source emitting light, and such an electro-optic modulator arranged such that the emitted light passes through the electro-optic modulator in a first direction before being emitted from the distance measuring device, and after being reflected from a target passes through the electro-optic modulator in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.

Electro-optic modulator having identical forward and backward electro-optic response

Embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for continuous tracking of a target, with a beam source for generating measuring radiation, a base defining a vertical axis and a support, wherein the support is pivotable by motor power about the vertical axis relative to the base and thereby a horizontal pivot angle is defined. The tracker further comprises a beam directing unit pivotable by motor power, which defines a vertical pivot angle for orienting the measuring radiation and for receiving measuring radiation, an angle measuring functionality for determining the horizontal pivot angle and the vertical pivot angle, a distance measuring functionality and a photosensitive surface detector for detecting an incidence position of the reflected measuring radiation. The base has a self-calibration unit with a first retroreflective reference target and an optical assembly functioning as a reducing lens.

Laser tracker with calibration unit for self-calibration

Some embodiments described herein include a laser tracker for continuously tracking a reflective target and for determining the distance with respect to the target. The laser tracker may include beam directing unit for emitting a measurement radiation and for receiving at least part of the measurement radiation reflected at the target. The laser tracker additionally comprises an interferometer for determining a change in distance with respect to the target. A control and evaluation unit is designed in such a way that an interferometer wavelength of the measurement radiation is determined by defined sample measurements being carried out with variation of the distance with respect to the target, wherein the sample measurements are effected for at least two different distances with respect to the target, the measurement radiation is constantly oriented towards the target and with the interferometer wavelength being kept stable.

Laser tracker comprising interferometer and absolute distance measuring unit, and calibration method for a laser tracker

Embodiments of the invention relate to a method for determining a change in distance to a moving and reflective target. Embodiments of the invention can be performed by means of interferometry and may include the generation of laser radiation, the emission of the measurement radiation to the target, and the detection of at least part of the measurement radiation reflected at the target. In some embodiments, a superposition of the reflected measurement radiation with the reference radiation is generated and detected, an interferometer output variable is derived on the basis of the detected superposition, and/or a time-resolved output variable curve is produced from the derived interferometer output variable. In some embodiments, the output variable curve is continually checked in that the output variable curve is continually read out in a time-resolved manner.

Method for determining a change in distance to a movable and reflective target by means of interferometer to determine if the movement of the reflective target is really executable

A distance measuring device includes a light source emitting light, and an integrated electro-optic modulator arranged such that the emitted light passes through an optical waveguide of the electro-optic modulator in a first direction before being emitted from the distance measuring device, and after being reflected from a target passes through the electro-optic modulator in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction. The forward electro-optic response of a modulating region of the electro-optic modulator is the same as the backward electro-optic response, and a center of gravity of the modulation is independent of modulation frequency.

Growing community of inventors

Aarau, Switzerland

Thomas Lüthi