Patents by Inventor Manfred Küpfer

Manfred Küpfer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10036811
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Burkhard Böckem, Simon Fuchs, Thomas Lüthi, Manfred Küpfer
  • Patent number: 9766326
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Thomas Lüthi, Manfred Küpfer
  • Publication number: 20160103222
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Burkhard BÖCKEM, Simon FUCHS, Thomas LÜTHI, Manfred KÜPFER
  • Publication number: 20150226841
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Lüthi, Manfred Küpfer