Device for optically scanning and measuring an environment

• US 9,417,316 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Schumann, Philipp, Greiner, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Ratcliffe, Luke
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, VICENTE M
• Application Number:
  US13/510,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20120229788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,105 Days
• Field of Search: 356/4.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements

Abstract

In a device for optically scanning and measuring an environment, which device is designed as a laser scanner, with a light emitter, which, by means of a rotary mirror, emits an emission light beam, with a light receiver which receives a reception light beam which is reflected from an object in the environment of the laser scanner, and with a control and evaluation unit which, for a multitude of measuring points, determines at least the distance to the object, the rotary mirror is part of a rotor, which is configured as a hybrid structure.

Claims

1. A laser scanner for optically scanning and measuring an environment, comprising:

a light emitter, a rotary mirror, a light receiver, a motor having a shaft, and a control and evaluation unit, the light emitter emitting an emission light beam, the emission light beam reflected by the rotary mirror to an object in the environment, the object reflecting a portion of the emission light beam to produce a reception light beam, the reception light beam reflected by the rotary mirror through a receiver lens to the light receiver, the receiver lens having an optical axis, the control and evaluation unit determining, for a multitude of measuring points, a distance to the object;

wherein the rotary mirror is coated to reflect the emission light beam and is glued to a rotor with the coating oriented at 45 degrees to the optical axis, the rotor having a central bore that receives the shaft and is rotated about the optical axis by the motor, the rotor further including a holder, the rotor configured as a hybrid structure that includes a plurality of materials, the rotor having a plurality of recesses with material portions in between the plurality of recesses for balancing the rotor.

2. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises metal.

3. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the rotor further comprises a housing.

4. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein a measuring head is provided, where the measuring head rotates about a vertical axis and bears the light emitter, the light receiver and the rotary mirror, and wherein the rotary mirror rotates about a horizontal axis.

5. The laser scanner of claim 3, wherein the housing comprises plastic.