Automatic measurement of dimensional data with a laser tracker
First Claim
1. A method for measuring with a system, the method comprising steps of:
- providing the system including a collection of retroreflector targets and a laser tracker, the collection of retroreflector targets including at least two retroreflector targets configured to be placed on an object, the at least two retroreflector targets including a first target, and a second target, the laser tracker in a first frame of reference fixed with respect to a laser tracker surroundings, the laser tracker having a first inclinometer, a structure, a first light source, an absolute distance meter, a first angular transducer, a second angular transducer, a tracking system, a first camera, a second light source, a processor, and a memory, the memory operably coupled to the processor, the first inclinometer configured to measure a first angle of tilt and a second angle of tilt of the first frame of reference with respect to a gravity vector, the structure rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, the first light source producing a first light beam that cooperates with the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer measuring a first angle of rotation about the first axis, the second angular transducer measuring a second angle of rotation about the second axis, the tracking system configured to move the first light beam to a center of any retroreflector target from among the collection of retroreflector targets, the first camera including a first lens system and a first photosensitive array, the second light source providing a second light beam, and the processor configured to operate the laser tracker;
storing, with the processor into the memory, a list of nominal coordinates for the first target, the second target, and at least one additional point, a nominal coordinates being three-dimensional coordinates in a second frame of reference;
measuring with a second inclinometer a third angle of tilt and a fourth angle of tilt of the second frame of reference with respect to the gravity vector;
capturing on the first photosensitive array a portion of the second light beam reflected off the first target and the second target;
determining by the processor a first spot position and a second spot position on the first photosensitive array from the portion of the second light beam reflected off the first target and the second target;
determining by the processor a correspondence between the first spot position and the second spot position, and the stored nominal coordinates of the first target and the second target, respectively;
directing by the processor the first light beam to the first target based at least in part on the stored nominal coordinates of the first target, the first spot position, the first angle of tilt, the second angle of tilt, the third angle of tilt, and the fourth angle of tilt;
measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the first target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;
directing by the processor the first light beam to the second target based at least in part on the stored nominal coordinates of the second target, the second spot position, the first angle of tilt, the second angle of tilt, the third angle of tilt, and the fourth angle of tilt;
measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the second target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer;
directing by the processor the first light beam to a plurality of additional points, the plurality of additional points including the at least one additional point, the plurality of additional points indicative of actions to be taken by an operator;
determining by the processor three-dimensional coordinates of the at least one additional point in the first frame of reference based at least in part on the measured three-dimensional coordinates of the first target, the measured three-dimensional coordinates of the second target, the stored nominal coordinates of the at least one additional point, the first angle of tilt, the second angle of tilt, the third angle of tilt, and the fourth angle of tilt; and
storing, with the processor into the memory, the determined three-dimensional coordinates of the at least one additional point.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Measuring with a system having retroreflector targets and a laser tracker includes storing a list of coordinates for three targets and at least one added point; capturing on a photosensitive array a portion of the light emitted by a light beam and reflected off the targets; obtaining spot positions on a photosensitive array of a tracker camera from the reflected light; determining a correspondence between three spot positions on the photosensitive array and the coordinates of the targets; directing a beam of light from the tracker to the targets based at least in part on the coordinates of the first target and the first spot position; measuring 3-D coordinates of the targets with the tracker; determining 3-D coordinates of the at least one added point based at least in part on the measured 3-D coordinates of the targets and the coordinates of the at least one added point.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for measuring with a system, the method comprising steps of:
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providing the system including a collection of retroreflector targets and a laser tracker, the collection of retroreflector targets including at least two retroreflector targets configured to be placed on an object, the at least two retroreflector targets including a first target, and a second target, the laser tracker in a first frame of reference fixed with respect to a laser tracker surroundings, the laser tracker having a first inclinometer, a structure, a first light source, an absolute distance meter, a first angular transducer, a second angular transducer, a tracking system, a first camera, a second light source, a processor, and a memory, the memory operably coupled to the processor, the first inclinometer configured to measure a first angle of tilt and a second angle of tilt of the first frame of reference with respect to a gravity vector, the structure rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, the first light source producing a first light beam that cooperates with the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer measuring a first angle of rotation about the first axis, the second angular transducer measuring a second angle of rotation about the second axis, the tracking system configured to move the first light beam to a center of any retroreflector target from among the collection of retroreflector targets, the first camera including a first lens system and a first photosensitive array, the second light source providing a second light beam, and the processor configured to operate the laser tracker; storing, with the processor into the memory, a list of nominal coordinates for the first target, the second target, and at least one additional point, a nominal coordinates being three-dimensional coordinates in a second frame of reference; measuring with a second inclinometer a third angle of tilt and a fourth angle of tilt of the second frame of reference with respect to the gravity vector; capturing on the first photosensitive array a portion of the second light beam reflected off the first target and the second target; determining by the processor a first spot position and a second spot position on the first photosensitive array from the portion of the second light beam reflected off the first target and the second target; determining by the processor a correspondence between the first spot position and the second spot position, and the stored nominal coordinates of the first target and the second target, respectively; directing by the processor the first light beam to the first target based at least in part on the stored nominal coordinates of the first target, the first spot position, the first angle of tilt, the second angle of tilt, the third angle of tilt, and the fourth angle of tilt; measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the first target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer; directing by the processor the first light beam to the second target based at least in part on the stored nominal coordinates of the second target, the second spot position, the first angle of tilt, the second angle of tilt, the third angle of tilt, and the fourth angle of tilt; measuring three-dimensional coordinates of the second target using the absolute distance meter, the first angular transducer, and the second angular transducer; directing by the processor the first light beam to a plurality of additional points, the plurality of additional points including the at least one additional point, the plurality of additional points indicative of actions to be taken by an operator; determining by the processor three-dimensional coordinates of the at least one additional point in the first frame of reference based at least in part on the measured three-dimensional coordinates of the first target, the measured three-dimensional coordinates of the second target, the stored nominal coordinates of the at least one additional point, the first angle of tilt, the second angle of tilt, the third angle of tilt, and the fourth angle of tilt; and storing, with the processor into the memory, the determined three-dimensional coordinates of the at least one additional point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification