Spherically mounted light source with angle measuring...

Optics: measuring and testing – Position or displacement

Reexamination Certificate

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C356S139080, C356S141100

Reexamination Certificate

active

10372452

ABSTRACT:
A device for use in conjunction with a coordinate measuring device, a three-dimensional coordinate measuring system and a method of measuring three-dimensional coordinates are described. The device includes a light source mounted substantially within the center of a spherical member having a spherical surface configured such that the distance from the light source to the outer contact surface of the sphere is substantially equal to the radius of the sphere regardless of sphere orientation. The three-dimensional coordinate measuring system further includes a coordinate-measuring device, the coordinate-measuring device configured to track the movement of the light source and to measure either azithmuth angles and zenith angles, or to spherically encode tracking information related to relevant positions of the light source. The present method includes emitting light at a target with a light source, wherein the light source is mounted substantially within the center of a spherical member having a spherical surface configured such that the distance from the light source to the outer contact surface of the sphere is substantially equal to the radius of the sphere regardless of sphere orientation, moving the surface of the spherical member across a device to be measured, tracking said light source with a tracking device, and measuring information related to the relative position of the light source using either angular or spherical encoders.

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