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 measurement device coupled to the probe end, the noncontact measurement device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter, the noncontact measurement device configured to determine a distance to an object based at least in part on a 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 measurement device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
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 measurement device coupled to the probe end, the noncontact measurement device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter, the noncontact measurement device configured to determine a distance to an object based at least in part on a 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 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 measurement device having a controller electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the noncontact measurement device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and a sensor; transmitting an electromagnetic radiation from the noncontact 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 a 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 measurement device removably coupled to the interface, the noncontact measuring device having a light source and an optical receiver, the noncontact 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