Method and apparatus for locking onto a retroreflector with a laser tracker
First Claim
1. A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement system, comprising:
- a communication device that includes a first light source and an operator-controlled unit, the operator-controlled unit configured to control emission from the first light source;
a retroreflector separate from the communication device;
a laser tracker including;
a structure rotatable about a first axis and a second axis;
a first camera;
a second light source;
a second camera proximate the second light source, the second camera having a narrower field-of-view than the first camera; and
a processor responsive to executable instructions which when executed by the processor is operable to;
cause the first camera to capture a first light emitted by the first light source in a first digital image;
determine that a retroreflector lock-in command has been given based at least in part on the first digital image;
respond to the retroreflector lock-in command having been given by;
activating the second light source to produce a second light reflected by the retroreflector as a second reflected light;
capturing the second reflected light with the second camera to produce a second digital image; and
steering the structure based at least in part on the second digital image.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement system includes a communication device, a retroreflector, and a laser tracker. The communication device includes a first light source and an operator-controlled unit that controls emission from the first light source. The laser tracker includes a wide field-of-view (FOV) camera, a second light source, a narrow FOV camera next to the second light source, and a processor. The processor determines that a lock-in command has been given in response to the wide FOV camera capturing light emitted by the first light source. To lock onto the retroreflector, the processor captures with the narrow FOV camera light from the second light source reflected by the retroreflector and uses the image to lock onto the retroreflector with a beam of light from the tracker. It measures a distance and two angles with the tracker to get 3D coordinates of the retroreflector.
495 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement system, comprising:
-
a communication device that includes a first light source and an operator-controlled unit, the operator-controlled unit configured to control emission from the first light source; a retroreflector separate from the communication device; a laser tracker including; a structure rotatable about a first axis and a second axis; a first camera; a second light source; a second camera proximate the second light source, the second camera having a narrower field-of-view than the first camera; and a processor responsive to executable instructions which when executed by the processor is operable to; cause the first camera to capture a first light emitted by the first light source in a first digital image; determine that a retroreflector lock-in command has been given based at least in part on the first digital image; respond to the retroreflector lock-in command having been given by; activating the second light source to produce a second light reflected by the retroreflector as a second reflected light; capturing the second reflected light with the second camera to produce a second digital image; and steering the structure based at least in part on the second digital image. - 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, 27)
-
-
28. A method for locking on a retroreflector with a laser tracker, the method comprising:
-
providing a communication device, the retroreflector, and the laser tracker, the communication device including a first light source and an operator-controlled unit, the operator-controlled unit configured to control emission of a first light from the first light source, the retroreflector separate from the communication device, the laser tracker including a structure, a distance meter, a first angular encoder, a second angular encoder, a first camera, a second camera, a second light source, a position detector, a processor, and third light source, the structure rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, the second camera proximate the second light source, the second camera having a narrower field-of-view than the first camera, the first camera and the second camera affixed to an external portion of the structure, the position detector internal to the tracker; emitting the first light from the communication device; capturing the first light with the first camera to produce a first digital image; determining by the processor, based at least in part on the first digital image, that a lock-in command has been given and in response activating the second light source to produce second light; reflecting from the retroreflector a portion of the second light as second reflected light; capturing the second reflected light with the second camera to produce a second digital image; launching a third light beam from the third light source; steering the structure to direct the third light beam to the retroreflector, the steering based at least in part on one of the second digital image and a reading of the position detector; reflecting a portion of the third light beam as a third reflected light; capturing a first part of the third reflected light with the position detector; capturing a second part of the third reflected light with the distance meter; determining with the processor a first distance to the retroreflector based at least in part on the second part of the third reflected light; measuring with the first angular encoder a first angle of rotation about the first axis; measuring with the second angular encoder a second angle of rotation about the second axis; determining with the processor three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of the retroreflector based at least in part on the first distance, the first angle of rotation, and the second angle of rotation; and storing the 3D coordinates. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
-
Specification