HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150292876 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THREE-DIMENSIONAL COORDINATES OF AN OBJECT - Some embodiments of the invention relate to an optical measuring device for determining 3D coordinates of an object. The optical measuring device may include a projector device for illuminating the object with at least one predefined pattern; at least one PSA camera for capturing a 2D image of the pattern as reflected from the object; computing means for measuring a sequence of brightness values of at least one 2D image point from the 2D images, and calculating a 3D coordinate of an object point which is correlated with the measured sequence of brightness values of the 2D image point. The optical measuring device may also include a TOF camera for capturing at least one range image of the object, the range image including distance information of the object for the dissolution of ambiguity in calculating the 3D coordinate. | 10-15-2015 |
20150254376 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIRTUAL ASSEMBLY OF A STRUCTURE - The present invention relates to a method for virtual assembly of a structure, the structure being supposed to be assembled from a multitude of components on a construction site, the method comprising measuring, at a multitude of locations remote from the construction site, the components of the structure subsequent to their production and prior to their transport to the construction site, wherein the measuring comprises measuring at least the shape and size of connecting elements of each of the components, creating virtual representations of the components, virtually assembling the representations of the components, determining, based on assembly tolerances, whether the structure can be assembled with the measured components, and deciding, by means of an optimization algorithm, whether one or more components are to be reproduced, one or more components are to be reworked, and/or the structure is to be redesigned. | 09-10-2015 |
20150253136 | Sensor arrangement having code element - Embodiments of the invention include a sensor arrangement for inclination determination with respect to at least one axis. The sensor arrangement may include a code element having a code pattern and a line sensor, which is sensitive at least with respect to one wavelength range, having a reception direction orthogonal to its extension direction. In some embodiments the code element and the line sensor are arranged such that the extension direction of the line sensor and an extension direction of the code element are oriented in the same direction. The code element and the line sensor may be rigidly connected at a spacing of at least 1 mm and at most 10 mm such that a location, which is angle-dependent with respect to the reception direction, of a projection of the code pattern onto the line sensor can be determined by means of the line sensor. | 09-10-2015 |
20150222594 | MEASURING MACHINE COMMUNICATION WITH AUTOMATIC ADDRESS ALLOCATION - The invention relates to a method for allocating participant-specific communication addresses for participants in a measuring system such as, for example, a position measuring system of a coordinate measuring device with measuring sensors as participants. In the measuring system, the participants communicate via a bus system using messages with at least one communication address and message content. The messages transmitted by one participant are received by each of the other participants. The participant-dedicated communication addresses are ascertained as part of a calibrating or referencing process in which the participants monitor the messages on the bus system. If a collision by a communication address of a received message is detected, wherein the address matches the participant-dedicated communication address, a participant-dedicated communication address, which has been changed and has not collided with the received message, of the participant is allocated to said participant as a result of the collision. | 08-06-2015 |
20150144774 | OPTICAL POSITION TRANSMITTER WITH ANALOG MEMORY UNIT - The invention relates to a position transmitter with a position code and an optical sensor element for detecting at least one part of the position code. The sensor element has a row of photosensitive detection regions, which convert incident photons into electric charges, and a readout structure for outputting an electric data signal corresponding to the stored electric charges. The sensor element has an analog memory unit structure with a number of N>1 rows of photo-insensitive analog memory cells in order to temporarily store the electric charges and an electric switching structure, by means of which a charge transfer can be carried out between the detection regions and the memory cells, between the memory cells amongst one another, and between the memory cells and the readout row. | 05-28-2015 |
20150138529 | DISTANCE MEASURING METHOD USING DYNAMIC PULSE WIDTH ADAPTATION - A method for measuring a distance to an object with emitting pulsed laser light with defined measurement pulse width is disclosed. In some embodiments, the pulse width of the laser light is dynamically adjustable. The method may include receiving at least a part of the pulsed laser light with defined measurement pulse width reflected from the object, and precisely determining the distance to the object by means of the received laser light. Some embodiments may include pre-adjusting an actual pulse width of the emitted laser light in an automated and continuous manner for providing the defined measurement pulse width by performing a test measurement by emitting an amount of adjusting laser light with the actual pulse width. Some embodiment may include receiving at least a part of the adjusting laser light reflected from the object and determining a test distance to the object using the received adjusting laser light. | 05-21-2015 |
20150101205 | SENSOR ELEMENT FOR A MEASURING MACHINE, IN PARTICULAR A COORDINATE MEASURING MACHINE - The invention relates to a sensor element for a measuring machine, having a sensing component with a sensing element for optically measuring a surface; a sensing element receiving portion with a plate-shaped base; and a sensor housing with a sensing component receiving portion comprising at least one bearing which contacts the base, which has at least one defined bearing point, and via which the sensing component is connected in a movable manner relative to the sensing component receiving portion. The sensor housing has a coupling on a housing coupling side for connecting to the measuring machine and at least partly surrounds the sensing component at the base, and a force directed in the direction of the sensing element is applied to the base. The sensing component receiving portion lies in the sensor housing opposite the coupling side and has the at a least one bearing. | 04-16-2015 |
20150049186 | COORDINATE MEASURING MACHINE HAVING A CAMERA - A coordinate measuring machine ( | 02-19-2015 |
20150042977 | MEASUREMENT SYSTEM WITH A MEASURING DEVICE AND A SCANNING MODULE - The present invention relates to a measurement system | 02-12-2015 |
20140350886 | GEODETIC SURVEYING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH MULTIPLE TARGET TRACKING FUNCTIONALITY - A surveying system for surveying and tracking a movable target object that defines a target point includes a surveying device with a sighting unit defining a target axis and a detector for generating a continuously current amount-of-deviation signal dependent on a deviation from an optimal target orientation. A second unit on the target object side enables continuous determination of movements and/or positions of the target object with reference to an external coordinate system. The surveying system includes a target point tracking mode in which respective first measurement data currently generated by the first unit and the respective current amount-of-deviation signal and respective second measurement data currently generated by the second unit are continuously aggregated. On the basis thereof, a control signal is derived for continuous automatic motorized modification of the target axis orientation such that the target axis continuously aims at the target point. | 11-27-2014 |
20140340399 | METHOD FOR RENDERING DATA OF A THREE-DIMENSIONAL SURFACE - Some embodiments of the invention pertain to a method for displaying a representation of a portion of a three-dimensional surface by rendering data representing physical features of the portion of the three-dimensional surface. The data may be apportioned into a multitude of tiles at a plurality of different detail levels. The representation may include a multitude of image pixels and/or a buffer being assigned to each image pixel. The method may also include identifying tiles that need to be rendered, and rendering the identified tiles. At least a portion of a tile may be displayed by a multitude of image pixels, by assigning an unambiguous distance value to each of the identified tiles, and storing a default buffer value in the buffers of the image pixels. The rendering may include comparing the buffer values of image pixels and the distance value of a presently rendered tile. | 11-20-2014 |
20140307252 | SURVEYING DEVICE - Some embodiments of the invention may relate to an optical surveying device having a base for setting up the surveying device and a targeting unit, which is rotatable in relation to the base about two axes, and which defines a target axis or targeting a target object to be surveyed. In some embodiments, the targeting unit has a first beam path for emitting optical radiation in the direction of the target object to be surveyed and a second beam path for receiving a component of the optical radiation, which is reflected from the target object, by way of an optoelectronic receiving element. In some embodiments, at least one of the beam paths, has an optical element, which is implemented having an optically transparent, deformable volume body, and which has at least one interface toward a medium having an optical index of refraction deviating from the volume body. | 10-16-2014 |
20140304994 | ROTATION LASER HAVING LENS WHICH IS DEFORMABLE IN A TARGETED MANNER BY ACTUATORS - Some embodiments of the invention relate to a rotation laser and a method for operating a rotation laser. The rotation laser may be provided with a laser light source for generating a laser beam, a deflection means rotatable about a rotation axis and serving for the directional emission of the laser beam, and an optical system comprising one or more lenses for manipulating the laser beam. In some embodiments, at least one of the lenses is a lens which is deformable in a targeted manner by actuators. In some embodiments, a control unit is included for manipulating the at least one lens. In some embodiments, the at least one lens has at least four actuators which are drivable by the control unit and/or which are arranged in a manner distributed along a circumference of the lens. | 10-16-2014 |
20140286536 | POSITION AND ORIENTATION DETERMINATION IN 6-DOF - A method for a six degree of freedom position and orientation determination of a known shape in a scenery is disclosed. The method includes taking a range image with a range imaging camera and a visual picture with a digital camera. The range imaging camera includes a sensor array with a first number of pixels. Determining a 3D cluster of points from range information collected from the sensor array to a point of the scenery. The digital camera comprises an image sensor having a second number of pixels, resulting in a 2D picture. A stored 3D digital representation of the known shape may be fitted in a virtual space to match the reproduction of the known object in the 2D picture and the 3D cluster of points and determining the six degree of freedom position and orientation of the known shape according to the virtual match. | 09-25-2014 |
20140249772 | DYNAMICAL MONITORING AND MODELLING OF A COORDINATE MEASURING MACHINE - A method for providing dynamic state information for a coordinate measuring machine that includes a base, a probe head, a machine structure linking the probe head to the base and a drive mechanism that moves the probe head. A dynamic model with first state variables represents an actual state of physical properties of the coordinate measuring machine. The first state variables are provided in a database and the actual state of the coordinate measuring machine is determined using the dynamic model. The state variables are monitored and, based thereon, the change of the state variables is determined. Updated, second state variables are set regarding the determined change of the first state variables. The dynamic model is updated using the second state variables in place of the first state variables, wherein the actual state of the coordinate measuring machine is calculated based on the second state variables. | 09-04-2014 |
20140247439 | MOBILE FIELD CONTROLLER FOR MEASUREMENT AND REMOTE CONTROL - A mobile field controller, together with a geodetic surveying device, forms a one-person measurement system for geodetic position determination. The field controller allows the spatial orientation of the field controller to be determined. The field controller supports a geodetic target object and has a distance-measuring unit that measures the distance between the field controller and a target point, the distance being optically marked by the field controller, as a result of which a 3D point cloud is generated without physical contact to a target point. When surveying a specific terrain region, algorithms analyzing the 3D point cloud are saved in a control and evaluation unit of the field controller. The absolute position of the target point is calculated from the data of the spatial orientation of the field controller, the distance between field controller and target point and the absolute position of the geodetic target object. | 09-04-2014 |
20140242285 | GRAPHICAL APPLICATION SYSTEM - The invention relates to a graphical application system to apply a desired pattern by multiple tiles onto a target surface. The system comprises a graphical application device comprising a base structure with a trackable optical feature, at least one nozzle for expelling paint, a driving unit for positioning the nozzle and a local camera for a local referencing of the nozzle. A controller controls the driving unit and the expelling of the nozzle to achieve an application of the desired pattern on the target surface. The system also comprises an external referencing device located remote from the graphical application device, for a global referencing of the application device according to the trackable optical feature. The desired pattern is applied with a primary alignment of the application range by the global referencing and with a fine-alignment of the actual tile to a previously applied tile according to the local referencing. | 08-28-2014 |
20140240688 | SENSOR SYNCHRONIZATION METHOD AND SENSOR MEASURING SYSTEM APPERTAINING THERETO - A synchronization method for at least two sensors, which enables synchronized collection of a sensor value of a slave sensor in relation to a predetermined intended value of a master sensor. Time-dependent measured values of the master sensor are used to determine open parameters of a prediction model, on the basis of which a time associated with a master sensor intended value to be predetermined is extrapolated. When this time is reached, a synchronization signal triggering the recording of a slave sensor value, in particular the recording of a measured value, is transmitted to the at least one slave sensor. Master sensor intended value and slave sensor value are provided as connected value tuple. As a result of continuous collection of measured values by the master sensor, it is possible to form updated extrapolation rules continuously. Predetermined intended values of the master sensor can have, in particular, an equidistant spacing. | 08-28-2014 |
20140222373 | DYNAMICAL MONITORING OF A COORDINATE MEASURING MACHINE USING RECURSIVE FILTERING - A method for providing dynamic state information for a coordinate measuring machine that includes a base, a probe head, a machine structure with structural components linking the probe head to the base and a drive mechanism that moves the probe head relative to the base. A dynamic model is defined with actual state variables related to physical properties representing an actual state of the coordinate measuring machine. The actual state is derived by a calculation based on the dynamic model. A filtering process using the dynamic model includes deriving prediction variables based on the state variables that describe an expected proximate state of the coordinate measuring machine, measuring at least one of the state variables and determining observables, deriving successive state variables by comparing the prediction variables with the observables and updating the dynamic model using the successive state variables as the actual state variables. | 08-07-2014 |
20140210663 | MEASURING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING NEW POINTS - A geodetic measuring system having at least one reference component which defines a reference point, wherein an absolute position of the reference point is known, and at least one new-point determination component which derives a relative new-point position. It is also possible to derive mutual relative reference information between the reference component and the new-point determination component, in particular for the purpose of referencing with respect to the reference-point position. The measuring system also has an automotive, unmanned, controllable air vehicle, wherein the air vehicle has the reference component which provides the at least one reference point as a mobile reference point. The air vehicle is also designed in such a manner that the reference component can be spatially freely displaced by the air vehicle, in particular can be positioned in a substantially fixed position. | 07-31-2014 |
20140163775 | GEODETIC MARKING SYSTEM FOR MARKING TARGET POINTS - A geodetic marking system for marking a known target point, having an automotive, unmanned, remotely controllable air vehicle and having a geodetic position determination arrangement for determining the external actual position of the air vehicle. The air vehicle also has a marking unit for marking the target point, and the marking system has a control unit such that the air vehicle can be positioned relative to the target point position on the basis of the external actual position, which can be determined continuously. The control unit is also configured in such a manner that it is possible to control the marking unit for marking the target point taking into account the actual position, the desired position and a defined marking direction from the marking unit to the target point, with the result that the target point can be marked with geodetic accuracy in the defined marking direction. | 06-12-2014 |
20140139846 | INTERFEROMETRIC DISTANCE MEASURING METHOD FOR MEASURING SURFACES, AND SUCH A MEASURING ARRANGEMENT - A distance measuring method for measuring surfaces uses a laser source having a frequency that can be modulated to tune a wavelength of a laser beam in a wavelength range. The laser beam is generated with a coherence length to provide a measuring beam and is emitted at the surface, located within a specified distance range, as a measuring beam. The measuring beam is back-scattered by the surface and is received again and used to interferometrically measure the distance from a reference point to the surface. The specified distance range lies at least partly outside of the coherence length. One portion of the laser beam is temporally delayed with respect to another portion, such that the one optical path difference caused by the delay matches the optical path difference that corresponds to a distance in the specified distance range plus or minus the coherence length of the laser. | 05-22-2014 |
20140126677 | HIGH PRECISION SYNCHRONIZED MEASURED VALUE ACQUISITION - The invention relates to a method for wire bound, high precision, temporal synchronization of measured value acquisition in a measurement system designed as a space coordinate measurement apparatus having a plurality of measurement sub-units with signaling of a time for triggering the measured value acquisition by means of a trigger signal and with the respective acquisition and intermediate storage of a measured value in the measurement sub-unit at the time determined by the trigger signal. Each acquisition of the measured value is carried out in the measurement sub-units in a time quantified manner with a local timing signal of the measurement sub-unit. A phase synchronization of the local timing signals of the measurement sub-units is then carried out using a synchronization signal in order to ensure simultaneity of the acquisition of the measured value in the measurement sub-units with a temporal uncertainty which does not exceed a phase jitter of the synchronization, and which is in any case less than 90% of a period duration of the local timing signal. | 05-08-2014 |
20140125990 | OPTICAL MEASURING SYSTEM WITH FILTER UNIT FOR EXTRACTING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION - An optical measuring system determines coordinates of points for distance measurement. The measuring system includes a radiation source for emitting electromagnetic radiation and a receiving unit having a filter unit for extracting electromagnetic radiation in a defined wavelength range and having, a detector, such that the radiation extracted by the filter unit is detectable by the detector. The filter unit includes at least two mirror elements which are at least partly reflective and constructed in a multilayered fashion. The mirror elements are substantially parallel to one another. Two adjacent mirror elements in each case enclose a cavity and are arranged at a specific distance from one another. An optical thickness is defined by a refractive index of the cavity and by the distance between the mirror elements. Optical thickness varying means operate to varying the optical thickness, such that an extractable wavelength range of the filter unit is varied. | 05-08-2014 |
20140105457 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING TARGET POINT CANDIDATES FOR SELECTING A TARGET POINT - Method for providing target point candidates forming a candidate set for selecting a target point from the candidate set by means of a geodetic measuring device. The measuring device is coarsely oriented toward the target point, and an image is recorded in the sighting direction. A search process for certain target object candidates in the recorded image is performed by means of image processing and wherein at least one respective point representing the target object candidate is associated with each of the target object candidates as a target point candidate. Candidates are associated with a candidate set. respective weight values are derived according to at least one value of a predetermined target point property of the candidates and associated with the target point candidates. The target point candidates from the candidate set are each provided together with respective information representing the weight value associated with the target point candidate. | 04-17-2014 |
20140104419 | STRUCTURE MEASURING UNIT FOR TRACKING, MEASURING AND MARKING EDGES AND CORNERS OF ADJACENT SURFACES - A measuring unit having an edge tracking function which runs at least partially automatically. After an at least coarse alignment of a targeting unit having an alignment display function at a first corner known or defined by a user between adjacent surfaces of the structure and a recording of an image of the said first corner with the environment thereof, edge lines are identified as part of the edge tracking function by means of an edge definition by image processing, a query is made as to which of the identified edges lines should be tracked starting from the first corner or in which direction the identified edge line should be tracked starting from the first edge point a user-defined edge line is tracked automatically by the targeting unit at least as far as to a further corner, wherein spatial points situated along the user-defined edge line are measured if necessary. | 04-17-2014 |
20140076985 | SURFACE SPATTERING DEVICE - The invention concerns a handheld, dynamically movable surface spattering device ( | 03-20-2014 |
20140063204 | OPTICAL MEASUREMENT METHOD AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING 3D COORDINATES ON A MEASUREMENT OBJECT SURFACE - An optical measurement method for determining 3D coordinates of a plurality of measurement points on a measurement object surface. The measurement object surface is illuminated with a pattern sequence of different patterns by a projector, an image sequence of the measurement object surface illuminated with the pattern sequence is recorded with a camera system, and the 3D coordinates of the measurement points are determined by evaluating the image sequence, in particular wherein a succession of brightness values for identical measurement points on the measurement object surface is ascertained in respective images of the recorded image sequence. Translational and/or rotational accelerations of the projector, of the camera system and/or of the measurement object are measured here and, in dependence on the measured accelerations, the illumination of the measurement object surface and/or the recording of the image sequence is/are reactively adapted, in particular temporally substantially directly and live during the measurement process. | 03-06-2014 |
20140046614 | WEAR-MONITORING OF A GEARBOX IN A POWER STATION - The invention relates to a method of monitoring a wear of a gearbox in a power station, such as a windmill, water-wheel or tidal power station, the gearbox comprising at least two shafts, cogwheels and bearings as components of the gearbox. The method comprises sensing an angular position at the shafts by a rotational shaft encoder and monitoring the wear of the transmission-unit according to differences of the sensed angular positions and generating a condition signal representative of the wear of the gearbox according to the monitored differences. The monitoring comprises an additional sensing of at least one additional degree of freedom, in particular an axial and/or eccentric displacement, of at least one of the shafts caused by wear of at least one of the components of the gearbox, and generating the condition signal according to the displacement and differences in the at least two degrees of freedom. | 02-13-2014 |
20140046589 | MEASURING SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING 3D COORDINATES OF AN OBJECT SURFACE - A measuring system for determining 3D coordinates of measurement points on an object surface which has a scanning apparatus for measuring the measurement points on the object surface and for determining inner measurement point coordinates in an inner scanning coordinate system. Furthermore, a referencing arrangement for producing referencing information for referencing the inner measurement point coordinates in the outer object coordinate system and an evaluation unit for determining the 3D coordinates of the measurement points in the outer object coordinate system on the basis of the inner measurement point coordinates and the referencing information are provided such that the inner measurement point coordinates are in the form of 3D coordinates in the outer object coordinate system. The scanning apparatus is in this case carried in an unmanned, controllable, automotive air vehicle. | 02-13-2014 |
20140032021 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN UNMANNED AIR VEHICLE - A geodetic measuring system having a geodetic measuring unit having a beam source for emitting a substantially collimated optical beam. The measuring system also has an automotive, unmanned, controllable air vehicle having an optical module. An evaluation unit is also provided, wherein the evaluation unit is configured in such a manner that an actual state of the air vehicle, as determined by a position, an orientation and/or a change in position, can be determined in a coordinate system from interaction between the optical beam and the optical module. The measuring system has a control unit for controlling the air vehicle, wherein the control unit is configured in such a manner that control data can be produced using an algorithm on the basis of the actual state, which can be continuously determined in particular, and a defined desired state, and the air vehicle can be automatically changed to the desired state. | 01-30-2014 |
20140007442 | WORKING TOOL POSITIONING SYSTEM - A method and system for determining the position of a hand-held power tool on a wall including measuring distances within a plane perpendicular to a tooling axis in at least two directions, comprising at least the direction to one side wall and the direction to the floor or the ceiling. At least one non-contact measurement sensor module measures distances in a multitude of angles in an angular range of at least 1° around the at least two directions. From the distance sequence measured by the at least one measurement sensor module a calculation and storing unit automatically calculates a function, wherein extrema represent shortest distances to walls, floor and/or ceiling adjacent to the wall. From said function the calculation and storing unit deduces the shortest distances, and output means provide information about the shortest distances so as to allow positioning relative to the shortest distances. | 01-09-2014 |
20140007441 | COORDINATE MEASURING MACHINE - A coordinate measurement machine with a first frame element, a second frame element, a linear drive unit with a motor for moving the second frame element relative to the first frame element and a position measurement instrument, for determining a drive position of the second frame element relative to the first frame element. The drive unit has limited stiffness and dynamic deflections on movement. The machine comprises a mechanical coupler from the drive unit to the second frame element, which coupler comprises a first part fixed to the drive unit and a second part fixed to the second frame element, which parts are movable relative to each other by an active compensation actuator. The active compensation actuator is built in such a way to shift the second frame element against the drive unit to introduce a counter-displacement in such a way that the dynamic deflections are at least partially compensated. | 01-09-2014 |
20130331986 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A WIRELESS FEATURE PACK - Systems and methods for transmitting measurement data wirelessly are described herein. A coordinate measurement device comprises an articulated arm comprising a plurality of articulated arm members, a coordinate acquisition member at a distal end, and a base at a proximal end. The device further comprises an add-on device assembly coupled to the coordinate acquisition member. The device further comprises a feature pack coupled to the base of the articulated arm. The feature pack may receive the coordinate data and the add-on device data packet, inserts bits of the coordinate data into a packet that can be transmitted over a network, and wirelessly transmits the packetized coordinate data and the add-on device data packet to a base station. | 12-12-2013 |
20130322697 | Speed Calculation of a Moving Object based on Image Data - A method and system for estimating the average speed of a moving object based on an attribute of the moving object present within the captured image data is disclosed. A plurality of images of the moving object are recorded using an image sensor that senses the ambient light or other electromagnetic radiation reflected or emitted by the moving object. Each image is captured at a different capture time. The image sensor is preferably located at a fixed or substantially fixed location when imaging the moving object. An area of interest of the moving object is located within the image data of the first image. An attribute of the moving object is then calculated for the first image. For at least a second image, the same attribute is calculated for the same area of interest of the moving object. The attribute calculations for the first and at least second images are then used to determine the average speed of the moving object. The attribute may be the cross-sectional area of the area of interest of the moving object. | 12-05-2013 |
20130201374 | CAMERA FOR RECORDING AERIAL IMAGES FROM AIRCRAFT - A camera, more particularly for recording aerial images from aircraft, comprising a lens and at least one digital, areal image sensor fixed on a carrier element and having a predetermined pixel size, which image sensor has a curvature, more particularly caused by the fixing on the carrier element within a specific tolerance range. The lens at least partly brings about optical compensation of the curvature of the digital areal image sensor. | 08-08-2013 |
20130185948 | Method and Apparatus for Controlling a Surface Scanning Coordinate Measuring Machine - A method improves surface scanning measure machine speed while minimizing tip touchdown impact on the surface of the object being measured. Specifically, the method controls a surface scanning measuring machine having a probe head with a distal probe tip that contacts the surface of an object to be measured. To that end, the method selects a nominal initial contact point (on the surface) having a normal vector, and then moves the distal probe tip toward the nominal initial contact point along an approach path. The approach path has a generally linear portion that generally linearly extends from the nominal initial contact point to some non-contacting point spaced from the surface. The generally linear portion forms an angle of between about 20 degrees and about 60 degrees with the normal vector. | 07-25-2013 |
20130170053 | OPTICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING A STABILIZATION ELEMENT FOR MOUNTING AND ADJUSTING AN OPTICAL ASSEMBLY IN A HOLDER, AND MOUNTING METHOD FOR THE STABILIZATION ELEMENT - An optical instrument for measuring has an a stabilization component for stably connecting an optical assembly and holder to at least one stabilization element that can be compressed in the gap. The stabilization element has, in an unmounted state, a thickness which is greater than the width of the gap, and the optical assembly, the holder and the stabilization component are configured and cooperate such that the stabilization element, which is positioned between optical assembly and holder, in a roughly positioned state, is compressed, by way of inserting the optical assembly into the holder, into the gap and is plastically deformed in the gap such that elastic forces act radially with respect to the optical axis between assembly and holder and the assembly and the holder are disposed in the radial direction in a stabilized state with respect to one another. | 07-04-2013 |
20130104407 | DETERMINING THREAD LEAD OR PITCH ACCURATELY | 05-02-2013 |
20120219699 | GRAPHICAL APPLICATION SYSTEM - A graphical application system, with a surface spattering device, with at least one nozzle for expelling a spattering material onto a target surface, a nozzle control mechanism controls expelling of the nozzle. A spatial referencing unit references the spattering device in space and a computation means automatically controls the nozzle according to information from the spatial referencing unit and according to predefined desired spattering data as a digital image or a CAD-model of a desired pattern to be spattered onto the target surface. A communication means for establishing a communication link from the spatial referencing unit to the computation means to supply the position and orientation to the computation means. The spatial referencing unit is located remote from the spattering device and comprises at least two optical 2D cameras arranged with a stereobasis, for determining the position and orientation of images taken by the cameras. | 08-30-2012 |
20120213436 | Fast Image Enhancement and Three-Dimensional Depth Calculation - Embodiments of the present invention relate to processing of digital image data that has been generated by imaging a physical object through a medium. For example, the medium may be, the atmosphere and the atmosphere may have some inherent property, such as haze, fog, or smoke. Additionally, the medium may be media other than the atmosphere, such as, water or blood. There may be one or more media that obstructs the physical object and the medium resides at least in front of the physical object between the physical object and an imaging sensor. The physical object may be one or more physical objects that are part of a scene in a field of view (e.g. view of a mountain range, forest, cars in a parking lot etc.). An estimated transmission vector of the medium is determined based upon digital input image data. Once the transmission vector is determined, effects due to scattering can be removed from the digital input image producing a digital output image that enhances the digital input image so that further detail may be perceived. Additionally, the estimated transmission vector may be used to determine depth data for each addressable location within the image. The depth information may be used to create a three-dimensional image from a two dimensional image. | 08-23-2012 |
20110188762 | Real-Time Composite Image Comparator - An apparatus and method for preparing a composite image from a video data stream and for identifying changed features in two composite images. Frames from the video data stream are transformed to a projected 2D image, aligned with adjacent frames and overlapping areas are averaged to provide a higher apparent resolution. The composite image can be stored in real-time. As a second composite image is prepared of the same location at a later time, portions of the second image can be compared to corresponding portions of the stored image after the intensities of the images are equalized. Image areas whose absolute difference exceeds a threshold are again intensity equalized. Areas that are again above threshold can be flagged for further scrutiny, either by a human or by a machine that performs object recognition. In this way, composite video images of a scene can be prepared and compared in real-time. | 08-04-2011 |