Coordinate measurement machines with removable accessories
First Claim
1. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring three-dimensional 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 which receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer;
a probe member coupled to the first end;
a noncontact measuring device coupled to the probe member, the noncontact measuring device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter configured to send out at least one measuring beam and a receiver configured to receive at least one reflected beam, the noncontact measuring device having a mirror positioned to reflect both the at least one measuring beam and the at least one reflected beam, the noncontact measuring device further having a controller configured to determine a distance to the object based at least in part on a combined propagation time of the at least one measuring beam and the at least one reflected beams and on a speed of light in air; and
a processor electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the processor configured to determine a set of three-dimensional coordinates of a point on the object in response to receiving the position signals from the position transducers and in response to receiving the measured distance from the controller.
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 a arm portion having an opposed first end and second end. The arm portion includes a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including 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. A probe member is disposed is coupled to the first end. A noncontact three-dimensional measuring device is coupled to the probe member, the device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and is configured to determine a distance to an object based at least in part on the propagation time of the emitted and reflected light beams.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. 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 member coupled to the first end; a noncontact measuring device coupled to the probe member, the noncontact measuring device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter configured to send out at least one measuring beam and a receiver configured to receive at least one reflected beam, the noncontact measuring device having a mirror positioned to reflect both the at least one measuring beam and the at least one reflected beam, the noncontact measuring device further having a controller configured to determine a distance to the object based at least in part on a combined propagation time of the at least one measuring beam and the at least one reflected beams and on a speed of light in air; and a processor electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the processor configured to determine a set of three-dimensional coordinates of a point on the object in response to receiving the position signals from the position transducers and in response to receiving the measured distance from the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. 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 position transducers; providing a noncontact measurement device electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the noncontact measurement device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter, a sensor and a movable first mirror; moving the first mirror; reflecting a measuring beam of electromagnetic radiation with the first mirror onto the object; receiving a reflected beam of electromagnetic radiation with the first mirror and transferring the reflected beam of electromagnetic radiation to the sensor; determining a distance to the object from the reflected beam of electromagnetic radiation received by the sensor and based at least in part on a combined propagation time of the measuring beam and the reflected beam and on a speed of light in air; and determining three-dimensional coordinates of a point on the object based at least in part on the determined distance and the position signals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. 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 noncontact measuring device removably coupled to the arm portion, the noncontact measuring device having a light source and an optical receiver and a mirror is arranged to reflect a first light beam emitted from the light source and reflect a second light beam reflected off the object, the noncontact measuring device is configured to determine a distance to the object based at least in part on a combined propagation time of the first light beam and the second light beam and 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 position transducers and in response to receiving the measured distance. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification