Method and apparatus for following an operator and locking onto a retroreflector with a laser tracker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10480929-B2
Application number	US-201916239967-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2019
Priority date	Apr 21, 2010
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A method for optically communicating, from a user to a laser tracker, a command to direct a beam of light from the laser tracker to a retroreflector with steps including: projecting a first light from a light source disposed on the laser tracker to the retroreflector; reflecting a second light from the retroreflector, the second light being a portion of the first light; obtaining first sensed data by sensing a third light, the third light being a portion of the second light, wherein the first sensed data is obtained by imaging the third light onto a photosensitive array disposed on the laser tracker and converting the third light on the photosensitive array into digital form; generating by the user, between a first time and a second time, a predefined temporal pattern, the predefined temporal pattern including at least a decrease in optical power of the third light followed by an increase in the optical power of the third light, the predefined temporal pattern corresponding to the command; determining by the laser tracker that the first sensed data corresponds to the predefined temporal pattern; and, pointing the beam of light from the laser tracker to the retroreflector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for optically communicating, from a user to a laser tracker, a command to direct a beam of light from the laser tracker to a retroreflector with steps comprising:
projecting a first light from a light source disposed on the laser tracker to the retroreflector;
reflecting a second light from the retroreflector, the second light being a portion of the first light;
obtaining first sensed data by sensing a third light, the third light being a portion of the second light, wherein the first sensed data is obtained by imaging the third light onto a photosensitive array disposed on the laser tracker and converting the third light on the photosensitive array into digital form;
generating by the user, between a first time and a second time, a predefined temporal pattern, the predefined temporal pattern including at least a decrease in optical power of the third light followed by an increase in the optical power of the third light, the predefined temporal pattern corresponding to the command;
determining by the laser tracker that the first sensed data corresponds to the predefined temporal pattern; and
pointing the beam of light from the laser tracker to the retroreflector.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
subsequent to pointing the beam of light from the laser tracker to the retroreflector, locking onto the retroreflector with the beam of light from the laser tracker.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the generating by the user a predetermined temporal pattern comprises, a decrease followed by an increase in optical power of the first light.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the decrease followed by the increase in optical power of the first light comprises a plurality of a decrease followed by an increase in optical power of the first light in rapid succession.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein:
the rapid succession comprises four times in rapid succession that is representative of a four finger salute.

6. A laser tracker system, comprising:
a retroreflector;
a laser tracker comprising:
a light source;
a photosensitive array; and
a processor responsive to executable instructions which when executed by the processor is operable to facilitate the method of claim 1 .

7. The laser tracker system of claim 6 , wherein:
the processor is further responsive to the executable instructions to facilitate the method of claim 2 .

Assignees

• Faro Tech Inc

Inventors

• Nagalla Kalyan
• Mehler Robert C
• Bridges Robert E

Classifications

• G01S17/86

  Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders · CPC title

• G01S3/786

  the desired condition being maintained automatically · CPC title

• G06F3/0421

  by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen · CPC title

• G06F3/0425

  using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected (tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386) · CPC title

• G01B21/047

  Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes · CPC title