Method and device for determining spatial positions and orientations

US6667798B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG · CH

Inventors

• Albert Markendorf · Suhr, CH
• Raimund Loser · Bad Säckingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 10, 2002
• Grant date: Dec 23, 2003
• Expiry date: Jun 10, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S5/163
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Using a laser-tracker (1) with an interferometer together with a retroreflector (3) in the form of a triple prism or a triple mirror arranged on an object and designed for parallel reflection of the laser beam (5) directed to the reflector (3), the position of the object is computed by way of measurement data with respect to the direction of the laser beam (5) and its path length. Additionally the spacial orientation of the object (2) is determined by producing additional measurement data with respect to the angle of incidence (&agr;) of the laser beam into the reflector (3) and/or with respect to an adjustable orientation of the reflector (3) relative to the object (2) and by computing the position and spacial orientation of the object (2) by way of measurement data with respect to the direction and the path length of the laser beam (5) and by way of this additional measurement data. Thereby the measurement data of the direction measurement and of the interferometric measurement may be corrected by way of the additional measurement data with respect to the angle of incidence (&agr;) such eliminating their dependency on the angle of incidence. For determining the angle of incidence…