Laser scanner

• US 7,733,544 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Becker, Reinhard, Becker, Bernd-Dietmar
• Primary Examiner(s): Safaipour; Houshang
• Application Number:
  US12/194,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20090147319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 358/511, 358/505, 358/474, 358/475, 356/359, 356/360
• US Class Current: 358/511
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems

Abstract

A laser scanner may include a measuring head structured to be rotatable around a first axis, a first rotary drive structured to rotate the measuring head, a rotary mirror rotatable around a second axis, a second rotary drive structured to rotate the rotary mirror, a transmitter structured to transmit a light beam, a receiver structured to receive a reflection of the light beam from an object located at a distance from the laser scanner, and a processor structured to process signals embedded within the reflection of the light beam. The measuring head may include a plurality of modules, and the first rotary drive, rotary mirror, second rotary drive, transmitter, and receiver may be provided on one of the plurality of modules. At least two of the plurality of modules may be releasably connected to each other.

Claims

1. A laser scanner comprising:

a measuring head structured to be rotatable around a first axis, the measuring head comprising a plurality of modules;

a first rotary drive structured to rotate the measuring head, the first rotary drive being provided on at least one of the plurality of modules;

a rotary mirror rotatable around a second axis, the rotary mirror provided on one of the plurality of modules;

a second rotary drive structured to rotate the rotary mirror, the second rotary drive being provided on one of the plurality of modules;

a transmitter structured to transmit a light beam, the transmitter being provided on one of the plurality of modules;

a receiver structured to receive a reflection of the light beam from an object located at a distance from the laser scanner, the receiver being provided on one of the plurality of modules; and

a processor structured to process signals embedded within the reflection of the light beam, the processor being provided on one of the plurality of modules;

wherein at least two of the plurality of modules are releasably connected to each other.

2. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the first rotary drive comprises a base, a rotor rotatable relative to the base, and a drive motor for rotating the rotor, the base together with the rotor being comprised within a first module of the plurality of modules and the drive motor being comprised within a second module of the plurality of modules.

3. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the rotor has at least one leg with at least one further module being adapted to be attached thereto.

4. The laser scanner of claim 3, wherein the leg is configured integral with the rotor.

5. The laser scanner of claim 3, wherein the rotor has two legs, the legs extending parallel to each other and parallel to the first axis.

6. The laser scanner of claim 5, wherein the legs delimit a gap between them.

7. The laser scanner of claim 6, wherein the gap is dimensioned such as to receive the rotary mirror.

8. The laser scanner of claim 6, wherein an optical reference mark is situated within the rotor between the legs.

9. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the base has standardized pegs, adjustable feet and a bubble level.

10. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the second module, further, comprises an inclination sensor.

11. The laser scanner of claim 5, wherein the rotor has two legs, the legs extending parallel to each other and parallel to the first axis.

12. The laser scanner of claim 11, wherein the rotary mirror extends through a form-fitting opening within the leg.

13. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a range finder.

14. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein at least two modules of the plurality of modules are electrically interconnected by means of a CAN bus.

15. A laser scanner system comprising:

a rotary unit module comprising a rotor that is rotatable around an axis;

a rotary drive module structured to rotate the rotor around the first axis;

a light transmitter module structured to transmit a light beam to an object located at a distance from the laser scanner;

a receiver module structured to receive a reflection of the light beam from the object; and

a processor module structured to process information from the reflection of the light beam;

wherein at least one of the rotary drive module, light transmitter module, receiver module, and processor module are releasably connected to the rotary unit module.

16. A method of modifying operational specifications of a laser measuring system, the method comprising:

providing a laser scanner comprising;

a plurality of modules;

wherein properties of at least a first module of the plurality of modules affect the operational specification of the laser measuring system; and

the first module is releasably connected to at least another of the plurality of modules; and

replacing the first module with a replacement module;

wherein properties of the replacement module are different from the properties of the first module, such that the operational specifications of the laser measuring system are changed by replacing the first module with the replacement module.