Method for using a handheld appliance to select, lock onto, and track a retroreflector with a laser tracker
US8724119B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 2013 |
| Grant date | May 13, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 27, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0304
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for locking onto and tracking a selected retroreflector target with a laser tracker includes steps of: actuating by the operator the handheld appliance and sending a wireless signal; responding to the wireless message by repetitively carrying out steps in the following loop and exiting the loop when an exit condition is met: reflecting part of the cone of light by the at least one retroreflector target and capturing an array image on the photosensitive array; determining which retroreflector target meets the retroreflector target criterion; determining whether the position detector is receiving the reflected beam; establishing that the exit condition is met when the position detector receives the reflected beam and the reflected beam comes from the selected retroreflector target; and steering the first light beam toward the selected retroreflector target.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.