Patent ID: 6870605
Filing Date: 2005-03-22
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. A method of measuring coordinates, comprising: disposing a first articulating optical lever including a hemisphere having an upper surface that is an optical reflecting surface, a connecting rod connected to a lower surface of the hemisphere, a ball provided on a distal end of the connecting rod, a three-ball seat for seating a curved surface portion of the hemisphere thereon under pressure, a V-plate having a V-shaped surface with which the ball is in pressure contact, and a motion table that affixes the V-plate thereto and moves the V-plate along X and Y axes, and disposing three articulating optical levers of a structure identical with that of the first articulating optical lever; disposing a retroreflector at a position, wherein it is desired to measure a length to said position; measuring a distance between each of the four articulating optical levers and a center position of the retroreflector; moving the retroreflector to optional positions; tracking a distance between each of the four articulating optical levers and a center position of the retroreflector moved to each of the optional positions; and repeating the tracking operation a predetermined number of times to determine mutual positional relationship of the four articulating optical levers and a position of the retroreflector.