Patent ID: 8049867

Claim:
A method for using a laser tracker to measure a location and an orientation of a patterned target that includes a pattern and a retroreflector, with steps comprising: providing a structure that includes a first optical system and at least a portion of a distance meter that launches a beam to the patterned target; automatically tracking movement of the patterned target and directing the beam toward the patterned target; reflecting from the patterned target a portion of the beam as a reflected beam; measuring the location of the patterned target, where the location includes a first angle, a second angle, and a distance, wherein: the first angle is measured at least in part by a first encoder; the second angle is measured at least in part by a second encoder; and the distance is measured by the distance meter at least in part based on a portion of the reflected beam and the speed of light; providing a second optical system, which includes a first lens, that forms a first image of at least a portion of the patterned target on a photosensitive array; converting the first image into a digital data set; and calculating the orientation, which comprises a first orientation angle, of the patterned target, based at least in part on the digital data set.