Spherically mounted light source with angle measuring device, tracking system, and method for determining coordinates
US7248374B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 24, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jul 24, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/66
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device for use in conjunction with a coordinate measuring device, a three-dimensional coordinate measuring system and a method of measuring three-dimensional coordinates are described. The device includes a light source mounted substantially within the center of a spherical member having a spherical surface configured such that the distance from the light source to the outer contact surface of the sphere is substantially equal to the radius of the sphere regardless of sphere orientation. The three-dimensional coordinate measuring system further includes a coordinate-measuring device, the coordinate-measuring device configured to track the movement of the light source and to measure either azithmuth angles and zenith angles, or to spherically encode tracking information related to relevant positions of the light source. The present method includes emitting light at a target with a light source, wherein the light source is mounted substantially within the center of a spherical member having a spherical surface configured such that the distance from the light source to the outer contact surface of the sphere is substantially equal to the radius of the sphere regardless of sphere ori…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.