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 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.

Abstract: A method for determining 3D coordinates of points on a surface of the object by providing 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, selecting a pattern as a single line stripe or a single spot based on the susceptibility to multipath interference, and projecting the pattern onto the surface to determine a second set of 3D coordinates.

Abstract: A method for determining three orientational degrees of freedom of a cube-corner retroreflector by obtaining with a photosensitive array an image of a three straight marks on the retroreflector and, with a programmable control device, taking a two-dimensional transform of the image and determining the three orientational degrees of freedom.

Abstract: An assembly that includes a projector and camera is used with a processor to determine three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of an object surface. The processor fits collected 3D coordinates to a mathematical representation provided for a shape of a surface feature. The processor fits the measured 3D coordinates to the shape and, if the goodness of fit is not acceptable, selects and performs at least one of: changing a pose of the assembly, changing an illumination level of the light source, changing a pattern of the transmitted With the changes in place, another scan is made to obtain 3D coordinates.

Abstract: A 3D measurement device sends a beam of light to a point on an object, receives the reflected light, and determines a distance and two angles to the point, one of the angles measured by an angular encoder, which includes a disk having incremental marks and an index mark. Light from the 3D device is rotated to reflect light from a reference reflector to produce a first synchronization signal. A first difference angle is determined based on counts of the incremental marks and on the first synchronization signal. Light from the 3D device is rotated to reflect light from the reference reflector to produce a second synchronization signal. A second difference angle is determined based on counts of the incremental marks and on the second synchronization signal. The reference correction value of the index mark is determined based on the first and second difference angles.

Abstract: A method of finding a home reference distance of a 3D coordinate measurement device in which a mathematical adjustment is made to move the vertex point to the sphere center of a spherically mounted retroreflector (SMR).

Abstract: A system and method for determining the angular position of a bearing assembly and compensating measurements for bearing runout error in metrology devices, such as an articulated arm coordinate measurement device and a laser tracker, is provided. The system and method includes measuring the bearing runout error and defining a waveform from encoder readings for a first set of rotations. In one embodiment, a transfer function is created based on an analysis of the bearing runout error, such as with a Fourier analysis for example. In another embodiment the bearing runout error is mapped to an absolute angular position. During operation, the angular position of the bearing assembly is determined by comparing a waveform to the waveform from the first set of rotations. With the angular position determined, the bearing runout error may be used to compensate the measurements of the metrology device.

Abstract: A laser scanner device for optically scanning and measuring an environment includes a base, a measuring head which is rotatable relative to the base, and a mirror which is rotatably relative to the measuring head, wherein, in at least one operating mode, the laser scanner is mounted on a cart by a mounting device, the cart moves the base which is fixedly connected with the mounting device, the measuring head rests relative to the base, the mirror rotates, and the measuring head is locked with the mounting device by a locking mechanism.

Abstract: A device is provided that includes a housing and a first motor. The first motor rotates about a first axis. A second motor is coupled to rotate the housing, the second motor rotating about a second axis. A device frame of reference is defined by the first and second axis. A mirror is rotated about the first axis by the first motor. A first and second angle measuring devices measure a first and second angle of rotation. A 3D time-of-flight camera is arranged within the housing coaxially with the first axis. The camera acquires an image of an object reflected from the mirror. A processor determines at least one first 3D coordinate of at least one point on the object, the first 3D coordinate based at least in part on the image acquired by the camera, the first angle of rotation, and the second angle of rotation.

Abstract: In a device for optically scanning and measuring an environment, which device is designed as a laser scanner, with a light emitter, which, by means of a rotary mirror, emits an emission light beam, with a light receiver which receives a reception light beam which is reflected from an object in the environment of the laser scanner, and with a control and evaluation unit which, for a multitude of measuring points, determines at least the distance to the object, the rotary mirror is part of a rotor, which is configured as a hybrid structure.

Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine having an articulated arm that includes a first arm connected to a second arm segment by a connecting segment. An assembly is provided having a first pair of bearings and a first optical encoder and a second pair of bearings and a second optical encoder The first optical encoder includes a first patterned disk and a first read head. The second optical encoder includes a second patterned disk and a second read head. The first and second patterned disks are both fixed with respect to the connecting segment. An electronic circuit is operably coupled to the first read head and the second read head, the electronics being configured to determine three-dimensional coordinates of the probe based at least in part on a first angle and a second angle measured by the first and second optical encoders.

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

Abstract: An automatic method for measuring three-dimensional coordinates by a laser tracker includes determining whether a retroreflector is accessible within an acceptance region of an inspection location and, if not, taking corrective action.

Abstract: A program storage device having instructions that cause a programmable control device to obtain a two-dimensional (2D) image of markings on a retroreflector, determine a 2D mathematical representation of the markings on the retroreflector, extract a first collection of 2D coordinates from the 2D mathematical representation and a corresponding second collection of 2D coordinates from the 2D image of markings, determine a figure of merit, and adjust guess values for three orientation angles of the retroreflector to improve the figure of merit.

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.