Coordinate measurement machine with redundant energy sources

An articulated arm coordinate measurement machine (AACMM) comprising:

• a manually positionable arm portion, a base, a noncontact measurement device, and an electronic circuit, the arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the plurality of connected arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a plurality of position signals, the first end connected to the base;
• a first electronic circuit configured for receiving the plurality of position signals from the at least one position transducer and for providing data corresponding to a position of the noncontact measurement device, the first electronic circuit having a first processor;
• a power supply having an input configured to receive electrical power from an external energy supply, a first energy storage member and a second energy storage member;
• the first energy storage member being removably coupled to the power supply, the first energy storage member having a first processing circuit configured to measure at least one first parameter of the first energy storage member, the first processing circuit configured to transmit a first signal to the first electronic circuit;
• the second energy storage member being removably coupled to the power supply, the second energy storage member having a second processing circuit configured to measure at least one second parameter of the second energy storage member, the second processing circuit configured to transmit a second signal to the first electronic circuit;
• wherein the power supply is configured to selectively transfer electrical power from at least one of the external energy supply, the first energy storage member and the second energy storage member, the power supply further being configured to change the transfer of electrical power from the first energy storage member and the second energy storage member in response to the first signal and the second signal.

A method of operating a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring three-dimensional coordinates of an object in space, comprising:

• providing the AACMM in a AACMM frame of reference having an origin, the AACMM having a manually positionable arm portion, a base, a noncontact measurement device, the arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the plurality of connected arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a plurality of position signals, the first end connected to the base;
• providing a first electronic circuit configured for receiving the plurality of position signals from the at least one position transducer and for providing data corresponding to a position of the noncontact measurement device, the first electronic circuit having a first processor;
• and
• providing a power supply having an input configured to receive electrical power from an external energy supply, a first energy storage member and a second energy storage member, wherein the first energy storage member and the second energy storage member are removably coupled to the AACMM;
• transferring electrical power from one of the external energy supply and the first energy storage member with the power supply;
• uncoupling the second energy storage member from the power supply while transferring electrical power from one of the first energy storage member and the external energy supply.