Coordinate measuring machine having an illuminated probe end and method of operation

• US 8,537,374 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Briggs, Clark H., Danielson, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Tri T
• Application Number:
  US13/632,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20130025144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 356614-615, 356619-623, 356/12, 356/3, 356/9, 356/11, 356138-139, 35613903-13908, 356/139.1, 3561411-1415, 702/95, 702/152, 702/85, 702/94, 702/150, 702/127, 335/01, 335/03, 335/02, 335/04, 335/05, 331/27, 382/100, 382/154, 382/151, 382/152, 382/153, 382/107, 382/106, 345/419, 345/418, 700/161, 700/245, 700/90, 700/96, 700/117, 700/159, 700/160
• US Class Current: 356/614
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/007 feeler heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/047 Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/008 using coordinate measuring machines

Abstract

A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) is provided. The AACMM includes a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends. The arm includes a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal. A measurement device is attached to a first end of the AACMM. An electronic circuit is provided for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device. A light source is coupled to the arm and disposed to emit light adjacent the measurement device.

Claims

1. A method of conveying information with a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), with steps comprising:

providing a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

providing a measurement device coupled to the first end;

providing an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for determining a position of the measurement device;

providing a first light source coupled to the first end, the first light source configured to emit first light, the first light being visible light;

moving by an operator the measurement device to a first position adjacent to a first object;

measuring the first position;

determining a first color based at least in part on the first position and a distance between the measurement device and the first object; and

illuminating the first light source to emit the first light, the first light having the first color.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the step of providing a measurement device, the measurement device is a laser line probe.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein, in the step of determining the first color, the first color is further determined according to whether the laser line probe is at a predetermined distance from the first object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the first color is further based on a digital model of a first feature of the first object.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein, in the step of determining the first color, the first feature is based at least in part on a computer aided design model.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein, in the step of determining the first color, the first feature is based at least in part on measurements made by the portable articulated arm CMM.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein, in the step of determining the first color, the first feature has a cylindrical shape.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein, in the step of providing the measurement device, the measurement device is a contacting probe.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein:

in the step of providing a first light source, the first light source provides a plurality of wavelengths; and

in the step of determining the first color, the first color is based at least in part on the plurality of wavelengths.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein, in the step of providing a first light source, the first light source is a multi-color LED light source.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the step of providing a first light source, the first light source is configured to illuminate a portion of a ring.

22. The method of claim 2 further comprising modulating the illumination of the light source, wherein the first light is emited when the laser line probe is not collecting data.

23. The method of claim 2 wherein the first light has an associated wavelength and the laser line probe includes an optical element that filters the wavelength.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising changing the first color to a second color in response to a changing of the distance between the measurement device and the first object.

12. A method of conveying information with a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), with steps comprising:

providing a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

providing a measurement device coupled to the first end;

providing an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for determining a position of the measurement device;

providing a first light source coupled to the first end and configured to project onto a first object a first light, the first light being visible light;

moving the measurement device to a first position by an operator, the first object being adjacent the first position;

measuring the first position;

measuring a distance between the measurement device and to the first object;

determining a first color based at least in part on the first position and on the distance; and

projecting the first light onto the first object, the first light having the first color.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein, in the step of providing a measurement device, the measurement device is a laser line probe.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein, in the step of determining the first color, the first color is further determined according to whether the laser line probe is at a predetermined distance from the first object.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining the first color is further based on a digital model of a first feature of the first object.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein, in the step of determining the first color, the first feature is based at least in part on a computer aided design model.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein, in the step of determining the first color, the first feature is based at least in part on measurements made by the portable articulated arm CMM.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein, in the step of determining the first color, the first feature has a cylindrical shape.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein, in the step of providing the measurement device, the measurement device is a contacting probe.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein:

in the step of providing a first light source, the first light source provides a plurality of wavelengths; and

in the step of determining the first color, the first color is based at least in part on the plurality of wavelengths.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein, in the step of providing a first light source, the first light source is a multi-color LED light source.