3-D measuring device with battery pack

• US 10,175,037 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Ditte, Andreas, Woloschyn, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Tarifur
• Assistant Examiner(s): NIXON, OMAR H
• Application Number:
  US15/386,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20170184394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 356625
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A 3D measurement device for optically scanning and measuring an environment is provided. The device includes a measuring head having a light emitter which emits an emission light beam, a light receiver and a control and evaluation device. The light receiver receives a reception light beam that is reflected or otherwise scattered by an object in the environment of the 3D measurement device. The control and evaluation device determines at least the distance from the object for each of a plurality of measuring points. A battery pack is removably coupled to the measuring head. The battery pack includes a battery housing and a plurality of individual batteries that are circular in cross-section. The plurality of individual batteries are arranged in a plurality of rows that define a row direction. The plurality of rows include a first row offset from a second row by one-half a diameter of the individual batteries.

Claims

1. A 3D measurement device for optically scanning and measuring an environment, the device comprising:

a measuring head having a light emitter which emits an emission light beam, a light receiver which receives a reception light beam that is reflected or otherwise scattered by an object in the environment of the 3D measurement device, and a control and evaluation device, which determines at least the distance from the object for each of a plurality of measuring points;

a battery pack removably coupled to the measuring head, the battery pack having a battery housing, a plurality of individual batteries which are circular in cross-section and which are arranged in a plurality of rows that define a row direction, wherein adjacent rows extend the in row direction, wherein the plurality of rows includes a first row offset from a second row by one-half a diameter of the individual batteries;

at least one lock coupled to the measurement head, the at least one lock being operable to secure the battery pack in the measurement head when the battery pack is inserted into the measurement head, the at least one lock includes a trough shaped grip element arranged to allow an operator to slide the lock and hold the battery pack during insertion and removal;

a battery housing within the measurement head, the battery housing sized to receive the battery pack;

at least one battery contact electrically coupled between the battery pack and the battery housing when the battery pack is inserted into the battery housing;

wherein the plurality of rows includes a third row directly adjacent the second row opposite the first row, the second row having one less individual battery than the first row and third row; and

wherein the at least one lock includes a first slidable lock and a second slidable lock, each of the first slidable lock and second slidable lock including a plurality of guide pins that are separated from each other by a fixed element and are forced apart by a locking spring.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for inserting the battery pack in a non-rotating manner into a shaft of the measuring head.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the means includes at least one of indentation in the battery housing, protrusions in the battery housing, or a position of the battery contact.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the battery pack cooperates with a charging cradle, the charging cradle that includes at least one receiving contact that electrically couples to a battery contact of the battery pack.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the charging cradle includes at least one of a protrusion that cooperates with the at least one indentation in the battery housing or at least one charging cradle hook that cooperates with at least one protrusion in the battery housing.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the measuring head is rotatable relative to the base about a first axis and a mirror is provided, the mirror is rotatable relative to the measuring head about a second axis, wherein the mirror deflects the emission light beam and the reception light beam, and in that the measuring head has a support structure and at least one shell to be secured to the support structure, in which a shaft for receiving the battery pack is formed.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the fixed element is centrally located within the battery pack and disposed to limit the movement of the first slideable lock and the second slidable lock to one-half of the battery pack and kinematically separate the lock.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of guide pins includes two guide pins arranged in parallel and side by side.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a lock spring disposed between the first slidable lock and the second slidable lock, the lock spring biasing the first slidable lock and the second slidable lock apart.