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.

Abstract: A length artifact has a first side wall, a second side wall, and a base portion, the first side wall and the second side wall separated by an air gap at least four millimeters wide, the base portion being attached to a bottom of the first side wall and the second side wall, the base portion further having a first platform region that includes a first nest and a second platform region that includes a second nest, the first nest and the second nest configured to accept a spherical surface of a retroreflector target.

Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine includes a noncontact 3D measuring device that has a projector configured to emit a first pattern of light onto an object, a scanner camera arranged to receive the first pattern of light reflected from the surface of the object, an edge-detecting camera arranged to receive light reflected from an edge feature of the object, and 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 device for optically scanning and measuring an environment is provided. The device includes at least one projector for producing at least one uncoded pattern on an object in the environment. A first camera is provided for recording at least one first image of the object provided with the pattern, the first camera having a first image plane. A second camera is provided for recording at least one second image of the object provided with the uncoded pattern, the second camera being spaced apart from the first camera in order to acquire the uncoded pattern on a second image plane. A controller is provided having a processor configured to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of points on the surface of the object based at least in part on the uncoded pattern, the at least one first image and the at least one second image.

Abstract: Measuring a volume of space including providing a laser scanner having a transmitter, a receiver, a beam steering mechanism, and a display unit integral to the laser scanner. A plurality of distances to measuring points are determined based at least in part on propagation times of measuring beams sent from the beam steering mechanism and reflected beams. Gray-scale values representative of the measuring points are determined and assigned to elements of a measuring point array, and the measuring point array is transformed into a display point array that corresponds to a first number of display points. The measuring point array corresponds to a second number of measuring points greater than the first number. The transforming includes assigning display gray-scale values to elements of the display point array. For each display point, a pixel of the display unit is illuminated, with the level of illumination depending on the display gray-scale value.

Abstract: A method for scanning and obtaining three-dimensional (3D) coordinates is provided. The method includes providing a 3D measuring device having a projector, a first camera and a second camera. The method records images of a light pattern emitted by the projector onto an object. The 3D measuring device is moved from a first position and a second position along a second path. A gesture and a corresponding control function are determined based at least in part on the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A laser scanner includes a light emitter that generates a modulated light beam for measuring distance and red, blue, and green lights for capturing colors. The beam is collimated and directed to an object point with a steering mirror. Reflected light from the object point is directed by the steering mirror onto scanner optics. The reflected light is directed to an optical receiver that sends the first light in a first path and the second, third and fourth lights in a second path to a color receiver. The first light is demodulated to determine distance to the target. The second, third, and fourth lights are separated and measured to determine three color values. The color values are combined with the measured distance value to determine a color 3D coordinate for the object point.

Abstract: A laser scanner that determines three-dimensional points in an environment further includes a spectrometer for determining the wavelength spectrum of chemical substances in the environment.

Abstract: A line scanner measures 3D coordinates of an object surface and includes a projector with a light source that projects a line of light at the object surface. The line scanner also has a camera with a 2D array of light sensors and electronics that controls the exposure and readout times of each light sensor, the exposure time being controlled in either rows or columns of the array in a non-sequential manner, the readout time being controlled in either rows or columns that are the same as the rows or columns whose exposure time is being controlled, each of the light sensors converts an amount of captured optical energy into a digital signal value, the captured optical energy being from a reflected line of light from the object surface. Further includes a processor that receives the digital signal values and calculates the 3D coordinates of the object surface.

Abstract: A method for measuring and registering three-dimensional (3D) by measuring 3D coordinates with a 3D scanner in a first registration position, measuring two-dimensional (2D) coordinates with the 3D scanner by projecting a beam of light in plane onto the object while the 3D scanner moves from the first registration position to a second registration position, measuring 3D coordinates with the 3D scanner at the second registration position, and determining a correspondence among targets in the first and second registration positions while the 3D scanner moves between the second and third registration positions.

Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine, comprising: a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, the articulated arm including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; a base section connected to the second end; and a probe assembly including a probe end and a handle; wherein the probe assembly is connected to the first end; wherein the handle contains electronics that include a processor; wherein the handle is configured to be gripped by a hand; and wherein the articulated arm coordinate measurement machine is configured to measure a three-dimensional coordinate of a point in space associated with the probe end.

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 three-dimensional coordinates of an object surface with a line scanner, the line scanner including a projector and a camera, the projector projecting onto the object surface a first line of light at a first time and a second line of light at a second time, the integrated energy of the second line of light different than the first line of light, the camera capturing the reflections of the first line of light and the second line of light, a processor determining portions of the image that are saturated or have electrical noise, and determining three-dimensional coordinates of the object surface based at least in part on the processed data.

Abstract: A method for determining 3D coordinates of points on a surface of the object by providing a 3D coordinate measurement device attached to a moveable apparatus that is coupled to a position sensing mechanism, all coupled to a processor, projecting a pattern of light onto the surface to determine a first set of 3D coordinates of points on the surface, determining susceptibility of the object to multipath interference by projecting and reflecting rays from the measured 3D coordinates of the points, moving the moveable apparatus under processor control to change the relative position of the device and the object, and projecting the a pattern of light onto the surface to determine a second set of 3D coordinates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting errors in a bearing cartridge used in a portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine (AACMM) is provided. The method includes providing a cartridge having a first bearing and a second bearing arranged in a fixed relationship to define an axis, the cartridge further including an angle measurement device configured to measure a rotation of a portion of the cartridge about the axis. A plurality of angles is measured with the angle measurement device. A first plurality of displacements is determined at a first position along the axis, each of the first plurality of displacements being associated with one of the plurality of angles. Compensation values are determined based at least in part on the plurality of angles and the first plurality of displacements.

Abstract: A method of measuring with a coordinate measurement device and a target sensor a sense characteristic and a surface set associated with the sense characteristic, the method including the steps of: providing the target sensor having a body, a first retroreflector, a sensor, and a sensor processor, providing the coordinate measurement device, sending the first beam of light from the coordinate measurement device to the first retroreflector; receiving the second beam of light from the first retroreflector; measuring the orientational set and the translational set, the translational set based at least in part on the second beam of light; determining the surface set; sensing the sense characteristic; and saving the surface set and the sense characteristic.

Abstract: A device measures three-dimensional coordinates of a target by sending a beam of light to the target and measuring the distance and angles from the device to the target. It further bases the three-dimensional coordinates on bearing compensation values that depend on a number of bearing rotations and a bearing angle.

Abstract: A noncontact optical three-dimensional measuring device that includes a first projector, a first camera, a second projector, and a second camera; a processor electrically coupled to the first projector, the first camera, the second projector, and the second camera; and computer readable media which, when executed by the processor, causes the first digital signal to be collected at a first time and the second digital signal to be collected at a second time different than the first time and determines three-dimensional coordinates of a first point on the surface based at least in part on the first digital signal and the first distance and determines three-dimensional coordinates of a second point on the surface based at least in part on the second digital signal and the second distance.

Abstract: A method for determining 3D coordinates of points on a surface of the object by providing a remote probe having a probe tip and a non-contact 3D measuring device having a projector and camera coupled to a processor, projecting a pattern onto the surface to determine a first set of 3D coordinates of points on the surface, determining susceptibility of the object to multipath interference by projecting and reflecting rays from the measured 3D coordinates of the points, projecting a first light to direct positioning of the remote probe by the user, the first light determined at least in part by the susceptibility to multipath interference, touching the probe tip to the surface at the indicated region, illuminating at least three spots of light on the remote probe, capturing an image of the at least three spots with the camera, and determining 3D coordinates of the probe tip.

Abstract: A target is provided having a retroreflector. A body is provided having a spherical exterior portion, the body containing a cavity. The cavity is sized to hold the retroreflector, the cavity open to the exterior of the body and having at least one surface opposite the opening, the retroreflector at least partially disposed in the cavity, wherein the retroreflector and at least one surface define a space therebetween. A transmitter is configured to emit an electromagnetic signal. A first actuator is configured to initiate emission of the electromagnetic signal, wherein the transmitter and the first actuator are affixed to the body.