Articulating measuring arm with laser scanner

• US 8,176,646 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2011
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hexagon Metrology Incorporated (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: Hexagon Metrology Incorporated (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Ferrari, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, G. Bradley
• Application Number:
  US13/016,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20110192043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 335/03, 33556-561
• US Class Current: 33/503
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/007 feeler heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/022 by means of tv-camera scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/012 Contact-making feeler heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser

Abstract

A coordinate measurement device comprises an articulated arm having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of jointed arm segments therebetween. Each arm segment defines at least one axis of rotation. A laser scanner assembly is coupled to the second end of the arm and is rotatable about a last axis of rotation of the articulated arm. The laser scanner assembly comprises a laser and an image sensor. The laser is positioned on an opposite side of the last axis of rotation from the image sensor.

Claims

1. An optical position acquisition member comprising:

a laser scanner comprising a laser and an optical sensor configured to receive light from said laser;

a wireless communications device connected to said laser scanner and configured to transmit data wirelessly from the laser scanner to a coordinate measurement machine or another device; and

a mounting portion operatively connected to said laser scanner and said wireless communications device and configured to mount said laser scanner and wireless communications device to a coordinate measuring machine.

2. The optical position acquisition member of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications device is configured to transmit data wirelessly to a base of a coordinate measurement machine.

3. The optical position acquisition member of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications device is configured to transmit data wirelessly to a device external from the coordinate measurement machine.

4. The optical position acquisition member of claim 1, comprising two or more optical sensors.

5. The optical position acquisition member of claim 1, wherein the laser scanner further comprises a first housing substantially enclosing the optical sensor.

6. The optical position acquisition member of claim 5, wherein the wireless communications device is also substantially enclosed within the first housing.

7. The optical position acquisition member of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is configured to rotatably mount the laser scanner and wireless communications device to the coordinate measurement machine.

8. The optical position acquisition member of claim 1, wherein the laser and the optical sensor are mounted to a common plate.

9. An articulated arm coordinate measurement machine comprising:

an articulated arm comprising a plurality of articulated arm members, a receiving portion at a distal end, and a base at a proximal end; and

a laser scanner mounted to the receiving portion at the distal end of the articulated arm and comprising a laser and an optical sensor configured to receive light from said laser;

wherein at least one of the laser scanner and articulated arm is configured to transmit data wirelessly to a device external from the articulated arm coordinate measurement machine.

10. The articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 9, wherein the base of the articulated arm is configured to receive data wirelessly transmitted from the laser scanner.

11. The articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 9, wherein the laser scanner is configured to transmit data wirelessly to a device external from the articulated arm coordinate measurement machine.

12. The articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 9, wherein the laser scanner comprises two or more optical sensors.

13. The articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 9, wherein the laser scanner is rotatably mounted to the articulated arm.

14. The articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 9, wherein the laser and the optical sensor are mounted to a common plate.

15. The articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 9, wherein the articulated arm further comprises a measuring probe generally surrounded by the receiving portion.

16. The articulated arm coordinate measurement machine of claim 9, wherein the base of the articulated arm is configured to transmit data wirelessly to a device external from the articulated arm coordinate measurement machine.