LASER POINTING MECHANISM
First Claim
1. A pointing device for use with a laser device comprising a laser that emits a laser beam, the laser being positionable by a user, the pointing device comprising:
- a control system; and
a plant operatively coupled to the control system comprising;
a plurality of motors configured to apply a torque to a mechanism that steers the laser;
a plurality of angular encoders configured to send feedback information on the angular position of the mechanism to the control system;
a position sensing device configured to send information regarding the position of the laser beam on a surface of the position detector to the control system;
a master control unit operatively coupled to the control system and the position sensing device, the master control unit comprising;
an encoder averager module configured to provide command position readings to the control system;
a target positioner module configured to provide target position readings to the control system; and
a motion profiler module configured to generate command position readings to the control system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pointing device for use with a laser tracker or laser scanner may include a tracker or scanner control system and a tracker or scanner plant. The tracker plant may include a plurality of motors configured to apply a torque to a mechanism that steers the laser and a plurality of angular encoders configured to send feedback information on the angular position of the mechanism to the tracker control system. The tracker or scanner control system may be configured such that, when the pointing device is operating in a manual adjustment mode, the tracker or scanner control system controls the plurality of motors to provide a torque to the mechanism opposite to a direction of movement caused by the user.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A pointing device for use with a laser device comprising a laser that emits a laser beam, the laser being positionable by a user, the pointing device comprising:
-
a control system; and a plant operatively coupled to the control system comprising; a plurality of motors configured to apply a torque to a mechanism that steers the laser; a plurality of angular encoders configured to send feedback information on the angular position of the mechanism to the control system; a position sensing device configured to send information regarding the position of the laser beam on a surface of the position detector to the control system; a master control unit operatively coupled to the control system and the position sensing device, the master control unit comprising; an encoder averager module configured to provide command position readings to the control system; a target positioner module configured to provide target position readings to the control system; and a motion profiler module configured to generate command position readings to the control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20)
-
-
17. A tracking pointing device for use with a laser tracker comprising a laser that emits a laser beam to be reflected off a retroreflector, the laser being positionable by a user, the tracking pointing device comprising:
-
a tracker control system; and a tracker plant comprising; a plurality of motors comprising a zenith motor and an azimuth motor, the zenith motor and the azimuth motor being configured to apply a torque to a mechanism that steers the laser; a plurality of angular encoders comprising a zenith angular encoder and an azimuth angular encoder, the zenith angular encoder and the azimuth angular encoder being configured to send feedback information on the angular position of the mechanism to the tracker control system; and a position detector configured to send information regarding the position of the laser beam on a surface of the position detector to the tracker control system. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
-
21. A scanning pointing device for use with a laser scanner comprising a laser that emits a laser beam, the laser being positionable by a user, the scanning pointing device comprising:
-
a scanner control system; and a scanner plant comprising; a plurality of motors comprising a zenith motor and an azimuth motor, the zenith motor and the azimuth motor being configured to apply a torque to a mechanism that steers the laser; and a plurality of angular encoders comprising a zenith angular encoder and an azimuth angular encoder, the zenith angular encoder and the azimuth angular encoder being configured to send feedback information on the angular position of the mechanism to the scanner control system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
-
Specification