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 method for measuring a spherically mounted retroreflector (SMR) with a 3D coordinate measurement device placed on a kinematic nest, the method accounting for the radius of the SMR.

Abstract: A coordinate measurement device sends a first beam of light having first and second wavelengths to a target point. The device includes a fiber-optic coupler that combines the first and second wavelengths and launches them through an achromatic optical element to produce collimated and aligned light. The device also includes first and second motors, first and second angle measuring devices, a distance meter, and a processor that determines 3D coordinates of the target point based on the measured distance and two angles.

Abstract: An articulated arm coordinate measurement machine (AACMM) that includes a noncontact 3D measurement device, position transducers, a camera, and a processor operable to project a spot of light to an object point, to measure first 3D coordinates of the object point based on readings of the noncontact 3D measurement device and the position transducers, to capture the spot of light with the camera in a camera image, and to attribute the first 3D coordinates to the spot of light in the camera image.

Abstract: A measurement system includes a signal generator producing an RF modulation frequency and sampling frequency and sending the sampling frequency to an ADC, and sending the RF frequency to modulate a first light source to produce a first light; an optical system sending a portion of the first light to a reference optical detector a portion of the first light out a measurement device to a target that returns a second light to the optical system which sends the second light to a measure optical detector, the reference and measure optical detectors converting the optical signals into corresponding electrical signals; a first ADC channel receiving the electrical measure signal and producing digital measure values; a second ADC channel receiving the electrical reference signal and producing digital reference values; and a processor receiving the digital measure and reference values and calculating the device to target distance.

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 spherically mounted retroreflector (SMR) having a reference point placed on a body of the SMR in a fixed and predetermined relationship to a runout error vector as given in a manufacturer's data sheet. A method for aligning the reference point to minimize measurement error.

Abstract: Measuring three surface sets on an object surface with a measurement device and scanner, each surface set being 3D coordinates of a point on the object surface. The method includes: the device sending a first light beam to the first retroreflector and receiving a second light beam from the first retroreflector, the second light beam being a portion of the first light beam, a scanner processor and a device processor jointly configured to determine the surface sets; selecting the source light pattern and projecting it onto the object to produce the object light pattern; imaging the object light pattern onto a photosensitive array to obtain the image light pattern; obtaining the pixel digital values for the image light pattern; measuring the translational and orientational sets with the device; determining the surface sets corresponding to three non-collinear pattern elements; and saving the surface sets.

Abstract: Measuring with a system having retroreflector targets and a laser tracker includes storing a list of coordinates for three targets and at least one added point; capturing on a photosensitive array a portion of the light emitted by a light beam and reflected off the targets; obtaining spot positions on a photosensitive array of a tracker camera from the reflected light; determining a correspondence between three spot positions on the photosensitive array and the coordinates of the targets; directing a beam of light from the tracker to the targets based at least in part on the coordinates of the first target and the first spot position; measuring 3-D coordinates of the targets with the tracker; determining 3-D coordinates of the at least one added point based at least in part on the measured 3-D coordinates of the targets and the coordinates of the at least one added point.

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 method of correcting centering errors of a spherically mounted retroreflector (SMR) when the distance meter of a 3D coordinate measurement device is reset to a home reference distance.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement device combines tracker and scanner functionality. The tracker function is configured to send light to a retroreflector and determine distance to the retroreflector based on the reflected light. The tracker is also configured to track the retroreflector as it moves, and to determine 3D coordinates of the retroreflector. The scanner is configured to send a beam of light to a point on an object surface and to determine 3D coordinate of the point. In addition, the scanner is configured to adjustably focus the beam of light.

Abstract: A laser scanner has a light emitter, a rotary mirror, a light receiver, a first beam splitter to send electromagnetic energy from an electromagnetic energy generator into the environment, a second beam splitter to send reflected electromagnetic energy to a spectroscopic energy detector, and a control and evaluation unit, the spectroscopic energy detector configured to determine wavelengths in the reflected electromagnetic energy.

Abstract: A device for optically scanning and measuring an environment is provided. The device includes a first measurement device that emits a light beam in a direction to measure a distance to a remote target based at least in part on light reflected by the remote target. A three-dimensional camera coupled to a periphery of the first measurement device is configured to record an image of an object. A processor is operably coupled to the first measurement device and three-dimensional camera and is responsive to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of the measurement point based at least in part on the angles of rotation of the device and the distance. The processor further being responsive to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of a plurality of points on the object based at least in part on the angles of rotation of the device and the image.

Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine includes a noncontact 3D measuring device that has a projector that is manually movable by an operator from a first position to a second position. The projector is configured to emit a first pattern of light onto an object. The noncontact 3D measuring device further includes a scanner camera and an edge-detecting camera. The scanner camera is arranged to receive the first pattern of light reflected from the surface of the object. The edge-detecting camera arranged to receive light reflected from an edge feature of the object. The articulated arm coordinate measurement machine includes 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 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 for measuring a distance includes modulating the light beam at a first frequency, receiving a second beam by the optical detector to produce a first electrical signal having the first frequency and a first phase; modulating the light beam at a second frequency different than the first frequency; receiving the second beam by the optical detector to produce a second electrical signal having the second frequency and a second. After these steps, the retroreflector is moved while modulating the light beam continuously at the second frequency; and a first distance to the retroreflector is determined based at least in part on a the first and second frequencies and phases.

Abstract: A method for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object point on a surface of an object, the method including steps of: sending a beam of light to a diffraction grating; sending a first diffracted beam and a second diffracted beam to an objective lens to form at least two spots of light, which are passed through transparent regions of a plate to produce a first fringe pattern on the surface of the object; imaging the object point illuminated by the first fringe pattern onto a photosensitive array to obtain a first electrical data value; moving the plate to a second position; sending spots through plate to produce a second fringe pattern on the surface of the object; imaging the point onto the array point to obtain a second electrical data value; and calculating the three-dimensional coordinates of the first object point.

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 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.