Laser-based coordinate measuring device and laser-based method for measuring coordinates
First Claim
1. A method for measuring a distance with steps comprising:
- providing a structure supported for rotation about a first axis and a second axis, the second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the structure rotated on a base about the first axis by a first motor and rotated about the second axis by a second motor;
mounting an end of an optical fiber and an optical element on the structure;
passing a first light launched from an the end of an the optical fiber through an the optical element that forms the first light into a first beam;
reflecting from a target a portion of the first beam as a reflected beam;
passing a portion of the reflected beam through the optical element and into the end of the optical fiber;
automatically tracking the target in two-dimensions by rotating the structure about the first axis by the first motor and the second axis by the second motor; and
calculating the distance based at least in part on the portion of the reflected beam that passes through the optical element and into the end of the optical fiber.
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Abstract
A laser based coordinate measuring device measures a position of a remote target. The laser based coordinate measuring device includes a stationary portion, a rotatable portion, and at least a first optical fiber. The stationary portion has at least a first laser radiation source and at least a first optical detector, and the rotatable portion is rotatable with respect to the stationary portion. The first optical fiber system, which optically interconnects the first laser radiation source and the first optical detector with an emission end of the first optical fiber system, has the emission end disposed on the rotatable portion. The emission end emits laser radiation to the remote target and receives laser radiation reflected from the remote target with the emission direction of the laser radiation being controlled according to the rotation of the rotatable portion.
70 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for measuring a distance with steps comprising:
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providing a structure supported for rotation about a first axis and a second axis, the second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the structure rotated on a base about the first axis by a first motor and rotated about the second axis by a second motor; mounting an end of an optical fiber and an optical element on the structure;
passing a first light launched from an the end of an the optical fiber through an the optical element that forms the first light into a first beam; reflecting from a target a portion of the first beam as a reflected beam; passing a portion of the reflected beam through the optical element and into the end of the optical fiber; automatically tracking the target in two-dimensions by rotating the structure about the first axis by the first motor and the second axis by the second motor; and calculating the distance based at least in part on the portion of the reflected beam that passes through the optical element and into the end of the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A distance measuring system comprising:
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a structure supported for rotation about a first axis and a second axis, the second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the structure rotated on a base about the first axis by a first motor and rotated about the second axis by a second motor;
a distance meter connected to an optical fiber, the optical fiber having an end through which light from the distance meter is launched, the end mounted on the structure; an optical element that forms a first beam from the light launched from the distance meter; a target that reflects a portion of the first beam as a reflected beam; wherein a portion of the reflected beam travels back through the optical element, re-enters the end of the optical fiber, and is returned to the distance meter; and wherein the distance meter measures a distance based at least in part on the portion of the reflected beam that travels back through the optical element, re-enters the end of the optical fiber, and is returned to the distance meter; and electronics configured to automatically track the target in two dimensions by rotating the structure about the first axis by the first motor and the second axis by the second motor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification