Patents Assigned to Faro Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11080872
    Abstract: A method and system for scanning and measuring an environment is provided. The method includes acquiring a first group of 3D coordinates of the area with a first 3D measurement device. The first 3D measurement device determines a distance to a surface in the area based at least in part on the speed of light. A second group of coordinates is acquired with a second measurement device while the first 3D measurement device is moved through the environment. The second measurement device being in a fixed relationship to the first 3D measurement device. The second measurement device determining a position of the second measurement device based on one or more points on the surface in the area based at least in part on a projected light. The first group of 3D coordinates is registered based at least in part the second group of coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Denis Wohlfeld
  • Patent number: 11054546
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring three-dimensional (3D) coordinates is provided. The method includes rotating a 3D scanner about a first axis, the 3D scanner having a light source, a light receiver and a color camera. A light beams are emitted from the light source and reflected light beams are received with the light receiver. A processor determines 3D coordinates of points on the object based on the emitted light beams and the reflected light beams. For each of the points an intensity value is measured based on the reflected light beams. A color image of the object is acquired with the color camera. The intensity values are fused with the color image to generate an enhanced image, the enhanced image includes color data. Color data is merged with the 3D coordinates of the points. The 3D coordinates of the points are stored with the color data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Ossig, Daniel Flohr
  • Patent number: 11055426
    Abstract: Securing data acquired by coordinate measurement devices including receiving a request from a requestor to access a data file including data that was acquired by a coordinate measurement device. The data file is retrieved and the content of the data file is authenticated. The authenticating includes retrieving an expected digital security attribute previously calculated by a digital security function based on content of the data file prior to the data file being retrieved. The authenticating also includes applying the digital security function to the data file to calculate an actual digital security attribute, and comparing the expected digital security attribute to the actual digital security attribute. Based on the comparing, a value of valid or not valid is assigned to an output of the authenticating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Oswin Horvath
  • Patent number: 11055532
    Abstract: A system that includes computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including receiving a first 2D map of a location. The first 2D map was generated at a first time based on first scan data from a coordinate measurement scanner and a portable computing device. The coordinate measurement scanner includes a light source, a first image sensor, and a controller. The portable computing device includes a second image sensor. A second 2D map of the location is received. The second 2D map was generated at a second time based on second scan data from the coordinate measurement scanner and the portable computing device. The first 2D map is aligned with the second 2D map, and their contents are compared. Any differences in the contents of the first 2D map and the second 2D map are output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Aleksej Frank, Oliver Zweigle, Ahmad Ramadneh, Joao Santos
  • Patent number: 11047518
    Abstract: A mounting system for devices such as metrology devices, cameras and video cameras is provided. The mounting system includes a device having a base and a fixture. A mounting assembly is disposed between the fixture and the base, the mounting assembly having a base adapter coupled to the fixture and a nut member rotationally coupled to the base. The nut member further having an inner surface with a plurality of threaded segments thereon, the threaded segments defining first gaps therebetween. The adapter base includes a plurality of threaded portions on an outer surface, the threaded portions defining second gaps therebetween, wherein the threaded portions are sized to be received within the first gaps when the laser scanner is positioned on the fixture and the threaded portions engage the threaded segments when the nut member is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Christoph Neundorf
  • Patent number: 11045944
    Abstract: An articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) includes one or more heater elements that cooperate with a processor to maintain one or more components in the AACMM within a predetermined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: James P. Phipps
  • Patent number: 11035955
    Abstract: A method for measuring and registering three-dimensional (3D) coordinates by measuring 3D coordinates with a 3D scanner in a first position, measuring two-dimensional (2D) coordinates with a 2D scanner while moving from the first position to a second position, measuring 3D coordinates with the 3D scanner at the second position, and determining a correspondence among targets in the first and second positions while moving between the second position and a third registration position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Oliver Zweigle, Bernd-Dietmar Becker, Reinhard Becker
  • Patent number: 11035980
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) measuring device and a method of operating is provided. The 3D measuring device includes a housing and a processor system including at least one of a 3D scanner controller. A 3D scanner is disposed within the housing and operably coupled to the processor system, the scanner having a light source, a beam steering unit, a first angle measuring device, a second angle measuring device, and a light receiver. The scanner cooperates with the processor system to determine 3D coordinates of an object point. A laser projector includes a second light source and a movable mirror system, the second light source positioned to emit light onto the movable mirror system. The processor system causes the light source to emit light and the mirror to move to generate a pattern on a surface in the environment based at least in part on the 3D coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jens Trollmann, Stefan Mueller
  • Patent number: 11022692
    Abstract: A projector projects an uncoded pattern of uncoded spots onto an object, which is imaged by a first camera and a second camera, 3D coordinates of the spots on the object being determined by a processor based on triangulation, the processor further determining correspondence among the projected and imaged spots based at least in part on a nearness of intersection of lines drawn from the projector and image spots through their respective perspective centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Rolf Heidemann, Mark Brenner, Simon Raab
  • Patent number: 11024050
    Abstract: A system for linking information of a point of interest to a position within an image of the location may include a portable device structured to determine a position of the point of interest in the image when the portable device is present within the location depicted by the image; an accessory operably coupled to the portable device and comprising a tool structured to provide information related to the point of interest; a processor operably coupled to the portable device and configured to create a data structure linking the information with the position of the point of interest; and a storage structured to store the data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Muhammad Umair Tahir, Oliver Zweigle
  • Patent number: 11016196
    Abstract: A system and method of generating a two-dimensional image of an environment is provided. The system includes a 2D scanner that comprises a light source, an image sensor and a controller. The controller determines a distance value to at least one of the object points. An inertial measurement unit is coupled to the scanner and has a first sensor. The first sensor has a first characteristic. A mobile computing device is removably coupled to the 2D scanner, the mobile computing device having a second sensor, the second sensor having a second characteristic. Processors are provided that are responsive to compare the first characteristic and the second characteristic and select one of the first or second sensor based on the comparison. The processors are further generate an image of the environment based on a signal from the selected first or second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Oliver Zweigle, Ahmad Ramadneh, Aleksej Frank, João Santos
  • Patent number: 10989532
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring three-dimensional (3D) coordinate values of an environment is provided. The system includes a movable base unit and a 2D scanner. A 3D scanner is coupled to the base unit, the 3D scanner measuring 3D coordinates and grey values of surfaces in the environment, the 3D scanner operating in either a compound or helical mode. Processors perform a method comprising: causing the 3D scanner to measure a first 3D coordinate values while operating in one of the compound or helical mode as the base unit is moved from the first to the second position; causing the 3D scanner to measure a second 3D coordinate values while operating in compound mode when the base unit is stationary between the first and second position; and registering the first 3D coordinate values and second 3D coordinate values into a single frame of reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Johannes Buback, Igor Sapina, Julian Becker, Martin Ossig, Aleksej Frank, Ahmad Ramadneh, Oliver Zweigle, João Santos
  • Patent number: 10989795
    Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a surface of an object is provided. The system includes a 3D measurement device operable to acquire a plurality of points on the surface of the object and determine 3D coordinates for each of the points. The system further includes processors operably coupled to the 3D measurement device. The processors are responsive to computer instructions when executed on the processors for performing a method comprising: generating a point cloud from the 3D coordinates of the plurality of points; extracting a first set of points from the plurality of points; defining a first reference geometry through the first set of points; measuring at least one first metric from each of the points in the first set of points to the first reference geometry; and identifying a nonconforming feature based at least in part on the at least one first metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Oliver Zweigle, Aleksej Frank, Johannes Buback
  • Patent number: 10984240
    Abstract: A system for updating a point cloud of an environment having markers for measuring an environment and a method are provided. The system includes a mobile device having a camera. The system further includes one or more processors responsive to executable computer instructions to perform a method comprising capturing one or more images of at least a portion of the environment that include the one or more markers in the one or more images, identifying the one or more markers within the one or more images, comparing the identified one or more markers to a reference system with known coordinates and integrating the one or more images into a point cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Denis Wohlfeld, Evelyn Schmitz
  • Patent number: 10969760
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Kenneth Steffey, Keith G. Macfarlane, Paul C. Atwell, Dragos M. Stanescu
  • Patent number: 10955236
    Abstract: A system includes a polarization target having two or more surfaces, a polarization camera that captures an image of the polarization target and records polarization of light that formed the image, and a processor that determines an orientation of the polarization target based at least in part on the captured image and the determined polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Matthias Wolke
  • Patent number: 10948285
    Abstract: A method and system for inspecting an object is provided. The system includes a measurement device that measures 3D coordinates of points on a surface of the object. A display is coupled to the device and is sized to be carried by an operator. One or more processors cooperate with the measurement device, to perform a method comprising: determining 3D coordinates of the points while the object is being measured; aligning an electronic model of the object to the points while the object is being measured; determining a variance between the electronic model and the points while the object is being measured; and displaying on the display an indicator when the variance exceeds a threshold while the object is being measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Reinhard Becker, Gerrit Hillebrand, Martin Ossig
  • Patent number: 10935371
    Abstract: A triangulation scanner system and method of operation is provided. The system includes a projector that alternately projects a pattern of light and no light during first and second time intervals. A camera includes a lens and a circuit with a photosensitive array. The camera captures an image of an object. The photosensitive array has a plurality of pixels including a first pixel. The first pixel including an optical detector and a first and second accumulator. The optical detector produces signals in response to a light levels reflected from a point on the object. The first accumulator sums the signals during the first time intervals to obtain a first summed signal. The second accumulator sums the signals during the second time intervals obtain a second summed signal. A processor determines 3D coordinates of the point based on the projected pattern of light and on the first and second summed signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Matthias Wolke, Rolf Heidemann, Gerrit Hillebrand, Daniel Döring
  • Patent number: 10935365
    Abstract: A 3D sensor system with a mounting arrangement is provided. The system includes a 3D sensor that measures 3D coordinates of a surface, the 3D sensor having a body with a slot disposed in a side, the slot further having a recess centrally disposed thereon. One or more slot nuts are disposed in the slot. A mounting bracket is provided having a pair of keystone members and a dowel pin disposed therebetween, the keystone members being disposed in the slot and the dowel pin being disposed in the recess, the mounting bracket having a plurality of holes aligned with the slot. One or more fasteners are provided that extend through the plurality holes and engage the one or more slot nuts to couple the mounting bracket to the 3D sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Rolf Heidemann, Axel Ruhland, Christoph Neundorf, Steffen Kappes, Markus Grau
  • Patent number: 10935374
    Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) measurement systems and methods are provided. The systems and methods include a 3D imager and a marker. The marker includes an adapter and a marker element, wherein the adapter is arranged to be at least one of installed, placed, and attached to a fixed object of a scanned environment and the marker element includes a coded identifier that is detectable by the 3D imager, wherein the coded identifier identifies the specific location of the fixed object within the scanned environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Gerrit Hillebrand