Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to an inclination sensor for determining an inclination of an object with respect to a reference vector of a reference coordinate system. The inclination sensor may include a tilt detector for determining gravity vector data of a local gravity vector, and a calculation unit comprising means for providing, based on the position data, position-related vertical deflection data, the vertical deflection data comprising information about a relation between the local gravity vector and the reference vector, and calculation means for calculating reference vector data based on the vertical deflection data and on the gravity vector data, wherein an inclination of the object with respect to the reference vector is derivable from the reference vector data, to a surveying system comprising such an inclination sensor and to a method for determining the inclination of the object with respect to the reference vector.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include an area position code pattern, comprising an arrangement of code marks in a basic grid. At least one portion of said position code pattern is readable by a matrix sensor for determining positions. According to some embodiments of the invention, the position code pattern is embodied with a first absolute code sequence in a stringing-together of the code marks in a first line direction of the basic grid as first line on the area to be encoded and the code marks are encoded with a second absolute code sequence in the line direction along a second line which follows the first line. The first line and the second line form a line pair and the two absolute code sequences are each arranged offset in the first direction in the basic grid in a subsequent line pair.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coordinate-measuring machine for determining at least one spatial coordinate of a measurement point on a measuring object, comprising a base, a carrier comprising at least one carrier segment, a proximal end of the carrier being mounted pivotably about a base axis in the base, a measuring probe being arranged on a distal end of the carrier, and an angle measuring system for determining pivot angles of the at least one carrier segment, and/or rotation angles of the measuring probe, wherein at least one belt drive comprising a base pulley being arranged in the base, at least one follower pulley being arranged on at least one carrier segment, and at least one belt binding the rotatory behaviour of said pulleys.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to an absolute code scale of an angle or linear position encoder, which is composed of a first absolute code sequence having a first primary code period length, which is periodically continued, and at least one second absolute code sequence having a second primary code period length, which is periodically continued. The first and the at least one second absolute code sequence are codeword-foreign in relation to one another in this case. Along the absolute code scale, in each case one section from the first and one section from the at least one second absolute code sequence are successively arranged alternately and in this case the absolute code sequences are each shifted in relation to one another in the different sections from the same absolute code sequence along this arrangement.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a calibration method for a coordinate measuring machine. In some embodiments, the method may include emitting and directing the laser beam towards a first of the set of retro-reflectors, whereby a measuring path is defined by the orientation of the laser beam, moving the calibration laser head along the measuring path so that the laser beam is kept directed towards the first retro-reflector according to the measuring path and the reflected laser beam is continuously received at the calibration laser head, measuring the change in distance to the first retro-reflector at a plurality of measuring positions along the measuring path and gathering a machine position for each of the plurality of measuring positions, the machine position relating to a position of the tool carrier relative to the base.

Abstract: Measuring machine and method for acquisition of small scale 3D information using a camera and a laser distance measuring unit with a laser source emitting a laser light beam having an oval or line-like cross-section onto a surface of an object to be gauged so that it is reflected to a detecting portion of a laser light sensor, and provide distance information based on the reflected laser light of said oval or line-like laser beam detected by the detecting portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an articulated arm CMM, which is constructed in a modular way, and a modular assembling kit for constructing such an articulated arm CMM, comprising an articulated arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is configured to support a tool. The articulated arm comprises at least two arm sections, connected to one another by pivot joints with integrated angle encoders. The arm sections are configured as modules having a PCB unit, said PCB unit comprises an elongated PCB section element and at least one PCB encoder element. The PCB encoder elements are configured to build an angle encoder and the PCB section elements comprise electronic transmission means for transmitting the encoder signals from the PCB encoder elements toward a circuit deriving the relative position between the arm sections.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for determining at least one spatial coordinate of a measurement point of an object (15) with a coordinate measuring machine (1), the method comprising capturing at least a first image of the object (15), the object being positioned in a measuring volume of the coordinate measuring machine (1), determining edges in the at least first image, defining, based on the determined edges, a measurement path for a probe head (13) of the coordinate measuring machine (1) for approaching the measurement point with the probe head (13), and driving the probe head (13) along the measurement path. The invention furthermore pertains to a coordinate measuring machine (1) for execution of said method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to control a drive mechanism of an automated machine for approaching a point of interest on an object, the object having a surface on which a reference information of the object is provided as a one- or two-dimensional pattern, the method comprising capturing at least one image of the object by means of at least one camera of the automated machine, identifying the reference information in the at least one image, determining a position and orientation of the reference information relative to the at least one camera, determining a position and orientation of the object based on the determined position and orientation of the reference information, and controlling the drive mechanism based on the determined position and orientation of the object.

Abstract: Measuring system having a plurality of probes for measuring lengths, each probe including a probe tip connected in removable fashion relative to a casing, a transducer supplying an electric signal that is representative of the position of said probe tip relative to the casing, a digital processing unit for sampling the signal from said transducer and transforming it into a digital representation of said position, and a bidirectional interface for a wireless communication network connecting said probes with a control unit. A method including a step during which the clocks of the digital processing units of the probes are synchronized through said bidirectional wireless interface and a step during which the control unit transmits commands determining the instant at which said electric signals are sampled.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention relate to a coordinate measuring machine CMM, comprising a carrier as a support and positioning structure for an end-effector as a target, the end-effector being movable in at least three degrees of freedom and positionable by the carrier, a stationary metrology table as a support for a possible target object, and a control unit controlling the moving of the end-effector by the carrier. The CMM further comprises at least one, in particular at least two, imaging detectors for measuring and determining in six degrees of freedom a position of the possible target object, and an analysing unit for processing electronic signals and/or data delivered by the imaging detectors. According to the invention, the imaging detectors are firmly mounted to the metrology table, mechanically de-coupled from the carrier.

Abstract: A method for compensating a measurement error related to a measurement of a desired measuring point at an object to be measured with a coordinate measuring machine is disclosed. Some embodiments include a touch probe. Some embodiments include a method that includes providing a three dimensional reference body of known shape and dimension at a known position in the measuring volume of the coordinate measuring machine, defining multiple reference points to be measured at the reference body, touching the reference body with the touch probe in defined touching directions according to the multiple reference points and thereby determining positions for the multiple reference points, and deriving a lobing error information for the touch probe based on the known shape and dimensions of the reference body and the determined positions of the reference points, the lobing error information providing error values related to respective touching directions for the touch probe.

Abstract: A method for providing information about a sensor chain of a coordinate measuring machine is disclosed. The coordinate measuring machine may include a drive mechanism for moving a tool carrier relative to a base for approaching a measurement point. The CMM also may also include a sensor chain carried by the tool carrier and an arrangement of sensor chain components providing a particular sensor configuration for measuring the measurement point, and a camera for providing an image of at least a part of the sensor chain. The method may include capturing an image of at least a part of the sensor chain, deriving at least one sensor chain property from the image by image processing, comparing the sensor chain property with reference data which relates to a set of known sensor chain components and providing an output relating to the comparison of the sensor chain property with the reference data.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine CMM and a method for gauging a target object by means of said CMM. The CMM comprises a Delta Robot as a support structure having an end effector movable within a motion zone, a tool-holder fixed to the end effector configured to accommodate various measurement probes and especially a camera, wherein the camera comprising an optics having a field of view encompassing maximum 20% of a motion zone of the end effector. Further it comprises a control unit controlling the motion of the end effector within the motion zone and the motion of the measurement probe over a target object in an “on the fly”-mode. Further it comprises an analysing unit for processing electronic signals and/or data delivered by the measurement probe. The analysing unit comprises especially storage means for storing said images and comprising a circuit unit for processing said images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a handheld measurement instrument and a configurator forming a measurement kit. The measuring instrument and the configurator are provided each with an interface, enabling communication between the measuring instrument and the configurator. The handheld measurement instrument further comprises a measuring unit for measuring distances or angles of an object by contacting physically distinct points of said object; and a circuit unit applying a function of a functionality on electronic signals/electronic measurement results delivered from the measuring unit in order to deliver the measuring results in a desired form to the user by output means. The form the results should be presented can be selected by the user using input means of the measuring instrument. The circuit unit is configurable by the user using the configurator in order to determine, with which functionality the circuit unit and the input means, respectively should be equipped.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for determining at least one spatial coordinate of a measurement point of a local structure of an object, providing a mobile coordinate measuring machine, the method comprising at least placing the mobile coordinate measuring machine on a surface of the object to be measured, approaching the measurement point with a sensing head, and determining at least one spatial coordinate of the at least one measurement point, characterized by establishing a defined spatial relation between the coordinate measuring machine and the local structure wherein the defined spatial relation is established by means of a mechanical fixation of the coordinate measuring machine to the object, and/or a continuous determination of position and orientation of the coordinate measuring machine relative to the object. The invention furthermore pertains to a mobile coordinate measuring machine and a computer program product for execution of said method.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to an inclination sensor for determining an inclination of an object with respect to a reference vector of a reference coordinate system. The inclination sensor may include a tilt detector for determining gravity vector data of a local gravity vector, and a calculation unit comprising means for providing, based on the position data, position-related vertical deflection data, the vertical deflection data comprising information about a relation between the local gravity vector and the reference vector, and calculation means for calculating reference vector data based on the vertical deflection data and on the gravity vector data, wherein an inclination of the object with respect to the reference vector is derivable from the reference vector data, to a surveying system comprising such an inclination sensor and to a method for determining the inclination of the object with respect to the reference vector.

Abstract: Method for building up an object (25) by means of a coordinate measuring machine (10), wherein the coordinate measuring machine (10) has at least one control unit and one drive unit for the controlled movement of an instrument carrier (19) in relation to a base (12) and the instrument carrier (19) is implemented for carrying at least one measuring sensor and production tool (21a-b), which are each modularly attachable in particular, both alone in each case or in combination.

Abstract: The invention relates to an articulated arm CMM, which is constructed in a modular way, and a modular assembling kit for constructing such an articulated arm CMM, comprising an articulated arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is configured to support a tool. The articulated arm comprises at least two arm sections, connected to one another by pivot joints with integrated angle encoders. The arm sections are configured as modules having a PCB unit, said PCB unit comprises an elongated PCB section element and at least one PCB encoder element. The PCB encoder elements are configured to build an angle encoder and the PCB section elements comprise electronic transmission means for transmitting the encoder signals from the PCB encoder elements toward a circuit deriving the relative position between the arm sections.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine (1) for determining at least one spatial coordinate of a measurement point of an object (15) to be measured, comprising a base (5) and a drive mechanism, adapted to drive a probe head (13) in a manner such that the probe head (13) is capable to move relative to the base (5) for approaching a measurement point, characterised by a first range camera (3, 33) having a range image sensor with a sensor array, wherein the range camera (3, 33) is adapted to be directed to the object (15) for providing a range image (23) of the object (15), and wherein range pixels of the range image are used for creating a point cloud with 3D-positions of target points of the object (15), and a controller, adapted to control the drive mechanism on the basis of 3D-positions of the target points.