Coordinate measurement machines with removable accessories

• US 8,677,643 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2012
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Bridges, Robert E., Briggs, Clark H., Hoffer, John M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUADALUPE, YARITZA
• Application Number:
  US13/524,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20130097882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 335/03, 335/04, 335/02, 335/56, 335/58, 335/59, 33/1.M, 33/1.PT, 332/27, 332/93
• US Class Current: 33/503
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/005 coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/047 Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/008 using coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/012 Contact-making feeler heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/401 characterised by control arrangements for measuring, e.g. calibration and initialisation, measuring workpiece for machining purposes G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37193 Multicoordinate measuring system, machine, cmm
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40233 Portable robot
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45061 Measuring robot

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 an arm portion having an opposed first and second ends. The arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments that each includes 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 and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device. A noncontact three-dimensional measuring device is coupled to the first end, the device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and is configured to determine a distance to an object based at least in part on the speed of light in air. A processor is configured to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of a point on the object in response to receiving the position signals and the distance to the object.

Claims

1. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the 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 configured to receive the position signal from the at least one position transducer;

a probe end coupled to the first end;

a noncontact measurement device coupled to the probe end, the noncontact measurement device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter, the noncontact measurement device configured to determine a distance to an object based at least in part 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 electronic circuit and in response to receiving the distance to the object from the noncontact measurement device.

2. The AACMM of claim 1 wherein the noncontact measurement device is an absolute interferometer device.

3. The AACMM of claim 2 wherein the absolute interferometer includes a camera adjacent the transmitter.

4. The AACMM of claim 1 wherein the noncontact measurement device is a phase-based ADM device.

5. The AACMM of claim 1 wherein the noncontact measurement device is a pulsed time of flight ADM device.

6. The AACMM of claim 1 wherein the noncontact measurement device is removably coupled to the probe end.

7. The AACMM of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation transmitter is a laser.

8. The AACMM of claim 1 further comprising a contact measurement device coupled to the probe end.

9. The AACMM of claim 1 wherein the noncontact measurement device is removably coupled to the probe end.

10. A method of operating a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine for measuring three-dimensional coordinates of an object in space, comprising:

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 transducers;

providing a noncontact measurement device having a controller electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the noncontact measurement device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and a sensor;

transmitting an electromagnetic radiation from the noncontact measurement device onto the object;

receiving a reflected electromagnetic radiation with the sensor;

determining a distance to the object from the reflected electromagnetic radiation received by the sensor, wherein the distance is based at least in part on a speed of light in air and on a time for the electromagnetic radiation to travel from the electromagnetic radiation transmitter to the object and return to the sensor; and

determining the three-dimensional coordinates of a point on the object based at least in part on the position signals received from the transducers and on the determined distance.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein, in the step of providing a noncontact measurement device, the noncontact measurement device is an absolute interferometer device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, in the step of providing a noncontact measurement device, the absolute interferometer includes a camera adjacent the transmitter.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein, in the step of providing a noncontact measurement device, the noncontact measurement device is a phase-based ADM device.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein, in the step of providing a noncontact measurement device, the noncontact measurement device is a pulsed time of flight ADM device.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein, in the step of providing a noncontact measurement device, the noncontact measurement device is removably coupled to the first end.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing a probe end coupled to the first end; and

removably coupling the noncontact measurement device to the probe end.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein:

in the step of providing a probe end, the probe end further includes a fastener and a first electrical connector electrically coupled to the electronic circuit; and

,

in the step of providing a noncontact measurement device, the noncontact measurement device further has a coupler and a second electrical connector electrically coupled to the controller.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

mechanically coupling the noncontact measurement device to the probe end with the coupler and the fastener; and

electrically coupling the first electrical connector to the second electrical connector.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein, in the step of providing a noncontact measurement device, the electromagnetic radiation transmitter is a laser.

20. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a contact measurement device coupled to the first end.

21. 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 end disposed between the measurement device and the first end, the probe end having an interface on one side; and

a noncontact measurement device removably coupled to the interface, the noncontact measuring device having a light source and an optical receiver, the noncontact measuring device configured to determine a distance to a point on the object based at least in part on a speed of light in air and on a time for light from the light source to travel from the light source to the object and return to the optical receiver; and

a processor electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the processor configured to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of the point on the object based at least in part on the position signals received from the transducers and on the determined distance.

22. The AACMM of claim 21 wherein the noncontact measurement device is an absolute interferometer device.

23. The AACMM of claim 22 wherein the absolute interferometer includes a camera adjacent the transmitter.

24. The AACMM of claim 21 wherein the noncontact measurement device is a phase-based ADM device.

25. The AACMM of claim 21 wherein the noncontact measurement device is a pulsed time of flight ADM device.

26. The AACMM of claim 21 further including a contact probe coupled to probe end.