Laser scanner or laser tracker having a projector

• US 8,638,446 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Briggs, Clark H.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, HOA Q
• Application Number:
  US13/227,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20120057174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 356601-623, 356/4.01, 356/3.11, 335/03, 348/46, 345/419, 345/473
• US Class Current: 356/603
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/51 Display arrangements

Abstract

A laser scanner or a laser tracker includes a light source that emits a light beam within an environment, and a data capture component that captures the light beam reflected back to the laser scanner or tracker from the environment. The laser scanner or tracker also includes a projector integrated within a body of the laser scanner or tracker or mounted to the body of the laser scanner or tracker at a predetermined location, the projector being operable to project visible information onto an object located within the environment, the projected visible information being indicative of images, data or information, the projected visible information being at least one of design intent information, information acquired by the laser scanner or tracker, or guidance to an operator.

Claims

1. A coordinate measuring device having a three-dimensional coordinate system, comprising:

a light source configured to send a light beam to a first point;

an optical detector configured to convert a portion of the light beam reflected back from the first point into a first electrical signal;

a first processor configured to calculate a first distance from the coordinate measuring device to the first point, the calculation based at least in part on the first electrical signal and a speed of light in air;

a projector integrated within a body of the coordinate measuring device or mounted to the body of the coordinate measuring device at a predetermined location, the projector being configured to project a two-dimensional pattern of visible light onto an object, the projected visible light being indicative of images, data, or information, the projector including an array of programmable pixels configured to produce the two-dimensional pattern in response to instructions received from a second processor;

a beam steering mechanism configured to rotate the light beam and the two-dimensional pattern of light about a first axis by a first angle, the beam steering mechanism being further configured to rotate the light beam about a second axis by a second angle;

a first angular transducer configured to measure the first angle; and

a second angular transducer configured to measure the second angle.

2. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein the first point is on a target, a portion of the target being in contact with the object.

3. The coordinate measuring device of claim 2, wherein the target includes a retroreflector.

4. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein the first point is on the object.

5. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first optical system configured to project the light beam, the first optical system having a first optical axis; and

a second optical system configured to project the two-dimensional pattern of light, the second optical system having a second optical axis.

6. The coordinate measuring device of claim 5, wherein the first optical axis and the second optical axis are distinct.

7. The coordinate measuring device of claim 5, wherein the first optical system and the second optical system share a common optical element.

8. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein the beam steering mechanism is configured to rotate at least one of the first angle and the second angle by 180 degrees or more.

9. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein the instructions from the second processor are based at least in part on the first distance.

10. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein the instructions from the second processor are based at least in part on an orientation of the object with respect to the coordinate measuring device.

11. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, further comprising a beam splitter, wherein one of the light beam and the two-dimensional pattern of light is reflected off the beam splitter and the other of the light beam and the two-dimensional pattern of light is transmitted through the beam splitter.

12. The coordinate measuring device of claim 11, wherein the beam splitter is a dichroic beam splitter.

13. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein three-dimensional coordinates of the point are obtained, the three-dimensional coordinates based at least in part on the first distance, the first angle, and the second angle.

14. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein the second processor is further configured to project hidden features onto a surface of the object, the hidden features representing elements behind the surface of the object.

15. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein the second processor is further configured to project patterns to guide in machining of the object or attaching of a component to the object.

16. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein the projector is configured to project colored light.

17. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein the second processor is further configured to project a contour map, the contour map indicating regions of relative deviation from a model.

18. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein the coordinate measuring device is one of a laser tracker, a laser scanner, and a total station.

19. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein all pixels of the projector emit light synchronously.

20. The coordinate measuring device of claim 1, wherein the projector is one of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS), a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) device.