Patent ID: 9631922
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: G01B,G01C,G01S

Claim:
1. A laser based coordinate measuring device, comprising: a distance meter that measures distance based at least in part on the speed of light; a structure that is rotatable by a first angle and a second angle about two substantially orthogonal axes, the structure launching a beam from the distance meter; a first encoder for measuring the first angle; a second encoder for measuring the second angle; a retroreflector target disposed remote from the rotatable structure; a locator camera, which comprises an optical system having a lens, a photosensitive array, and a plurality of light sources, disposed on the rotatable structure for determining an approximate location of the target, wherein: the plurality of light sources emits a cone of light for illuminating the retroreflector target; wherein a first ray of light emitted by one of the plurality of light sources travels to the retroreflector target in a straight line, a second ray of light reflected by the retroreflector target travels to the lens in a straight line and forms a pattern of light on the photosensitive array; an electronics system that analyzes the pattern of light on the photosensitive array to determine the approximate angular direction to the retroreflector target; and an actuator system to orient the rotatable structure in accordance with the location determined by the locator camera.