Method and apparatus for using gestures to control a laser tracker
First Claim
1. A method for optically communicating, from a user to a laser tracker, a command to control operation of the laser tracker, with steps comprising:
- providing the laser tracker having a structure rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, a first motor that rotates the structure about the first axis, a second motor that rotates the structure about the second axis, a first angular encoder that measures a first angle of rotation about the first axis, a second angular encoder that measures a second angle of rotation about the second axis, a first light source that launches a first light beam that is directed by the structure, a retroreflector target that reflects a portion of the first light beam as a second light, a distance meter that receives a portion of the second light and measures a distance from the laser tracker to the retroreflector based at least in part on a speed of the second light, a position detector that measures a position of the first beam on the retroreflector, a camera system rotatable about the first axis by the first motor, and a processor in communication with the first encoder, the second encoder, the first motor, the second motor, the distance meter, the position detector, and the camera;
providing a communications device that includes a second light source and an operator-controlled device that controls emission of a third light by the second light source;
providing a rule of correspondence between each of a plurality of commands and each of a plurality of spatial patterns;
selecting by the user a first command from among the plurality of commands;
activating the operator-controlled device by the user, causing the second light source to emit the third light for at least a fraction of time between a first time and a second time;
moving by the user, between the first time and the second time, the communications device in a first spatial pattern from among the plurality of spatial patterns, wherein the first spatial pattern corresponds to the first command;
acquiring by the camera between the first time and the second time a plurality of images of the communications device;
determining the first spatial pattern by the processor, based at least in part on the plurality of images;
determining the first command by the processor, based at least in part on the rule of correspondence and the determined first spatial pattern; and
executing the first command by the processor, based at least in part on the determined first command.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A laser measurement system includes a laser tracker having a structure rotatable about first and second axes, a first light source that launches a light beam from the structure, a distance meter, first and second angular encoders that measure first and second angles of rotation about the first and second axes, respectively, a processor, and a camera system. Also, a communication device that includes a second light source and an operator-controlled device that controls emission of a light from the second light source; a retroreflector target not disposed on the communication device. Also, the camera system is operable to receive the second light and to convert it into a digital image, and the processor is operable to determine a command to control operation of the tracker based on a pattern of movement of the second light source between first and second times and the digital image.
164 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for optically communicating, from a user to a laser tracker, a command to control operation of the laser tracker, with steps comprising:
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providing the laser tracker having a structure rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, a first motor that rotates the structure about the first axis, a second motor that rotates the structure about the second axis, a first angular encoder that measures a first angle of rotation about the first axis, a second angular encoder that measures a second angle of rotation about the second axis, a first light source that launches a first light beam that is directed by the structure, a retroreflector target that reflects a portion of the first light beam as a second light, a distance meter that receives a portion of the second light and measures a distance from the laser tracker to the retroreflector based at least in part on a speed of the second light, a position detector that measures a position of the first beam on the retroreflector, a camera system rotatable about the first axis by the first motor, and a processor in communication with the first encoder, the second encoder, the first motor, the second motor, the distance meter, the position detector, and the camera; providing a communications device that includes a second light source and an operator-controlled device that controls emission of a third light by the second light source; providing a rule of correspondence between each of a plurality of commands and each of a plurality of spatial patterns; selecting by the user a first command from among the plurality of commands; activating the operator-controlled device by the user, causing the second light source to emit the third light for at least a fraction of time between a first time and a second time; moving by the user, between the first time and the second time, the communications device in a first spatial pattern from among the plurality of spatial patterns, wherein the first spatial pattern corresponds to the first command; acquiring by the camera between the first time and the second time a plurality of images of the communications device; determining the first spatial pattern by the processor, based at least in part on the plurality of images; determining the first command by the processor, based at least in part on the rule of correspondence and the determined first spatial pattern; and executing the first command by the processor, based at least in part on the determined first command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification