COORDINATE MEASUREMENT MACHINES WITH REMOVABLE ACCESSORIES
First Claim
1. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the coordinates of an object in space, comprising:
- a base;
a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion being rotationally coupled to the base, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;
an electronic circuit configured to receive the position signal from the at least one position transducer;
a probe end coupled to the first end;
a noncontact three-dimensional measurement device coupled to the probe end, the noncontact three-dimensional measurement device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter, the noncontact three-dimensional measurement device configured to determine a distance to an object based at least in part on the speed of light in air; and
a processor electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the processor configured to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of a point on the object in response to receiving the position signals from the electronic circuit and in response to receiving the distance to the object from the noncontact three-dimensional measurement device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine for measuring the coordinates of an object in space is provided. The AACMM includes a base and an arm portion having an opposed first and second ends. The arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments that each includes at least one position transducer for producing a position signal. An electronic circuit is provided that receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device. A noncontact three-dimensional measuring device is coupled to the first end, the device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and is configured to determine a distance to an object based at least in part on the speed of light in air. A processor is configured to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of a point on the object in response to receiving the position signals and the distance to the object.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the coordinates of an object in space, comprising:
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a base; a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion being rotationally coupled to the base, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; an electronic circuit configured to receive the position signal from the at least one position transducer; a probe end coupled to the first end; a noncontact three-dimensional measurement device coupled to the probe end, the noncontact three-dimensional measurement device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter, the noncontact three-dimensional measurement device configured to determine a distance to an object based at least in part on the speed of light in air; and a processor electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the processor configured to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of a point on the object in response to receiving the position signals from the electronic circuit and in response to receiving the distance to the object from the noncontact three-dimensional measurement device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine for measuring three-dimensional coordinates of an object in space, comprising:
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providing a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; receiving at an electronic circuit the position signals from the transducers; providing a noncontact three-dimensional measurement device having a controller electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the three-dimensional measurement device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and a sensor; transmitting an electromagnetic radiation from the three-dimensional measurement device onto the object; receiving a reflected electromagnetic radiation with the sensor; determining a distance to the object from the reflected electromagnetic radiation received by the sensor, wherein the distance is based at least in part on the speed of light in air and on a time for the electromagnetic radiation to travel from the electromagnetic radiation transmitter to the object and return to the sensor; and determining the three-dimensional coordinates of a point on the object based at least in part on the position signals received from the transducers and on the determined distance. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring three-dimensional coordinates of an object in space, comprising:
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a base; a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion being rotationally coupled to the base, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; an electronic circuit which receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer; a probe end disposed between the measurement device and the first end, the probe end having an interface on one side; and a noncontact three-dimensional measurement device removably coupled to the interface, the noncontact three-dimensional measuring device having a light source and an optical receiver, the noncontact three-dimensional measuring device configured to determine a distance to a point on the object based at least in part on a speed of light in air and on a time for light from the light source to travel from the light source to the object and return to the optical receiver; and a processor electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the processor configured to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of the point on the object based at least in part on the position signals received from the transducers and on the determined distance. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification