Patent ID: 11860276
Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 11:
12. Method of operating a coordinate measurement device, the coordinate measurement device having a carriage that rotates about a first axis and a payload rotationally coupled to the carriage to rotate about a second axis, the method comprising:
selecting a mode on the coordinate measurement device, the mode including a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, the first mode of operation using a visible laser light for determining a first distance to a retroreflective target based at least in part on the speed of light, the second mode of operation using a near infrared spectrum of light for determining a second distance to a surface that diffusely scatters light emitted from the coordinate measurement device;
rotating the carriage about the first axis and the payload about the second axis;
measuring a first angle of the carriage relative to the first axis and a second angle of the payload relative to the second axis;
emitting a first light from the coordinate measurement device in a first direction, the coordinate measurement device having at least one light source and at least one optical detector, the at least one light source being disposed in the payload;
receiving a second light with the optical detector, wherein the second light is a reflection of the first light off of the retroreflective target or the surface that diffusely scatters light emitted from the coordinate measurement device based at least in part on the mode of the coordinate measurement device;
determining the first distance or the second distance based at least in part on the selected mode, the emitting of the first light, and the receiving of the second light; and
determining three dimensional coordinates of at least one point in the environment based at least in part on the first angle, the second angle, and the determination of the first distance or the second distance.