Abstract: A laser scanner collects gray-scale values and associated 3D coordinates of a scanned object in a spherical coordinate system, and displays reformatted gray-scale values that are reformatted from the spherical coordinate system into a planar view rectangular region. The reformatted gray-scale values have at least one straight line of the object appearing as a curved line on a display.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for controlling a measurement device remotely through gestures performed by a user. The method includes providing a relationship between each of a plurality of commands and each of a plurality of user gestures. A gesture is performed by the user with the user's body that corresponds to one of the plurality of user gestures. The gesture performed by the user is detected. A first command is determined from one of the plurality of commands based at least in part on the detected gesture. Then the first command is executed with the laser tracker.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for displaying three-dimensional measurement points on a two-dimensional plane of a display screen having a plurality of pixels. The method includes projecting the measurement points onto the plane. Each of the measurement points is assigned to one of the pixels. A depth value is assigned to each of the pixels. A first pixel is selected having a first measurement point and a first depth value. A first side is searched for a second pixel having a second measurement point and a second depth value. A second side is searched for a third pixel having a third measurement point and a third depth value. It is determined whether the second and third measurement points are on a same plane. The first depth value of the first pixel is changed when the second and third measurement points are on the same plane.

Abstract: A method is provided of determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object surface with a laser tracker and structured light scanner. The method includes providing the scanner having a body, a pair of cameras, a projector, and a processor. The projector and cameras are positioned in a non-collinear arrangement. The projector is configured to project a first pattern onto the surface. The method also includes providing the tracker which emits a beam of light onto the retroreflector. The tracker receives a reflected beam of light. The first location is measured with the tracker. The first orientation is measured with the tracker. The first surface pattern is projected onto the surface. A pair of images of the surface pattern is acquired with cameras. The processor determines the 3D coordinates of a first plurality of points in the tracker frame of reference based in part on epipolar constraints of the cameras and projector.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for displaying three-dimensional measurement points on a two-dimensional plane of a display screen having a plurality of pixels. The method includes projecting the measurement points onto the plane. Each of the measurement points is assigned to one of the pixels. A depth value is assigned to each of the pixels. A first pixel is selected having a first measurement point and a first depth value. A first side is searched for a second pixel having a second measurement point and a second depth value. A second side is searched for a third pixel having a third measurement point and a third depth value. It is determined whether the second and third measurement points are on a same plane. The first depth value of the first pixel is changed when the second and third measurement points are on the same plane.

Abstract: A device for scanning and obtaining three-dimensional coordinates is provided. The device may be a hand-held scanner that includes a carrying structure having a front and reverse side, the carrying structure having a first arm, a second arm and a third arm arranged in a T-shape or a Y-shape. A housing is coupled to the reverse side, a handle is positioned opposite the carrying structure, the housing and carrying structure defining an interior space. At least one projector is configured to project at least one pattern on an object, the projector being positioned within the interior space and oriented to project the at least one pattern from the front side. At least two cameras are provided spaced apart from each other, the cameras being configured to record images of the object. The cameras and projector are spaced apart from each other by a pre-determined distance.

Abstract: A system measuring an object with a human-centric robot is provided. The robot including a movable end effector having a coupler, the robot including a plurality of transducers arranged to transmit signals to an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit configured in operation to determine the position and orientation of the end effector. At least one tool is provided having a first gripping portion, the gripping portion being sized and shaped to removably couple to the coupler. A three-dimensional (3D) scanner is provided that is configured in operation to determine three-dimensional coordinates of a surface of an object, the 3D scanner having a second gripping portion sized and shaped to removably couple to the coupler. A controller is configured to selectively couple one of the at least one tool or the 3D scanner to the coupler in response to an object signal.

Abstract: A method of combining 2D images into a 3D image includes providing a coordinate measurement device and a triangulation scanner having an integral camera associated therewith, the scanner being separate from the coordinate measurement device. In a first instance, the coordinate measurement device determines the position and orientation of the scanner and the integral camera captures a first 2D image. In a second instance, the scanner is moved, the coordinate measurement device determines the position and orientation of the scanner, and the integral camera captures a second 2D image. A cardinal point common to the first and second images is found and is used, together with the first and second images and the positions and orientations of the scanner in the first and second instances, to create the 3D image.

Abstract: A method for measuring 3D coordinates of points on a surface of an object by providing an articulated arm connected to a laser line probe. The laser line probe having a color camera sends color images to a processor, which determines 3D surface coordinates using triangulation. The processor weights each of the colors received from the pixels to enable dark and bright regions of the surface to be measured simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for automatically generating a three-dimensional (3D) video of a scene by measuring and registering 3D coordinates at a first position and a second position of a 3D measuring device, the 3D video generated by combining two-dimensional images extracted at trajectory points along a trajectory path.

Abstract: An articulated arm coordinate measurement machine is provided with a power supply having multiple power sources. The power supply having an input configured to receive electrical power from an external energy supply and first and second energy storage members. The first energy storage member having a first processing circuit configured to measure at least one first parameter and transmit a first signal to the first electronic circuit. The second energy storage member having a second processing circuit configured to measure at least one second parameter and transmit a second signal to the first electronic circuit. Wherein the power supply is configure to selectively transfer electrical power from at least one of the first and second energy storage members, the power supply further being configured to change the transfer of electrical power from the first and second energy storage members in response to the first signal and second signal.

Abstract: A method for optically scanning, measuring and displaying a point cloud is provided. The method includes emitting, by a laser scanner, an emission light beam and receiving a reflection light beam that is reflected from an object. A control device determines for measurement points projected on a plane corresponding to a screen, wherein at least some measurement points are displayed on a display device. One or more pixels are gap filled to generate a visual appearance of a surface on the display device. Wherein the gap filling includes a first horizontal search in a first direction of a first measured point of the measurement points followed by a second horizontal search in a second direction of the first measured point. The gap filling further includes a first vertical search in a third direction of the measured point, followed by a second vertical search in a fourth direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a measurement machine for measuring an object, and more particularly to a measurement machine such as a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine or a laser tracker that measures an object according to a measurement or inspection plan that is identified by a machine readable information symbol located on the object to be measured or on a drawing (e.g., a CAD drawing) of the object.

Abstract: A spherically mounted retroreflector (SMR) includes a replicated optic, a substrate, and an adhesive. The replicated optic, which includes a cube-corner retroreflector, has a base area smaller than the retroreflector area. The substrate has a partially spherical outer surface and a cavity sized to accept the replicated optic. An adhesive attaches the optic to the substrate.

Abstract: A method of comparing measured three-dimensional (3D) measurement data to an object is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a three dimensional measurement device configured to measure 3D coordinates of points on the object and a computing device having a camera and display. During an inspection process, the method measures the object with the 3D measurement device which provides a first collection of 3D coordinates. The first collection of 3D coordinates is stored on the computer network and is associated with an AR marker. During an observation process the method reads the AR marker and transmits from the computer network the first collection of 3D coordinates and a dimensional representation of the object to the computing device. A portion of the first collection of 3D coordinates is registered to the camera image. On the integrated display the registered collection of 3D coordinates and the camera image are shown.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine includes a noncontact 3D measuring device that has a projector that is manually movable by an operator from a first position to a second position. The projector is configured to emit a first pattern of light onto an object. The noncontact 3D measuring device further includes a scanner camera and an edge-detecting camera. The scanner camera is arranged to receive the first pattern of light reflected from the surface of the object. The edge-detecting camera arranged to receive light reflected from an edge feature of the object. The articulated arm coordinate measurement machine includes a processor configured to determine first 3D coordinates of an edge point of the edge feature based on electrical signals received from the scanner camera and the edge-detecting camera.

Abstract: A method for measuring and registering 3D coordinates has a 3D scanner measure a first collection of 3D coordinates of points from a first registration position and a second collection of 3D coordinates of points from a second registration position. In between these positions, the 3D measuring device collects depth-camera images. A processor determines first and second translation values and a first rotation value based on the depth-camera images. The processor identifies a correspondence among registration targets in the first and second collection of 3D coordinates based at least in part on the first and second translation values and the first rotation value. The processor uses this correspondence and the first and second collection of 3D coordinates to determine 3D coordinates of a registered 3D collection of points.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for controlling a laser tracker remotely from the laser tracker through gestures performed by a user. The method includes providing a rule of correspondence between each of a plurality of commands and each of a plurality of user gestures. A gesture is performed by the user with the user's body that corresponds to one of the plurality of user gestures. The gesture performed by the user is detected. The gesture recognition engine determines a first command from one of the plurality of commands that correspond with the detected gesture. Then the first command is executed with the laser tracker.