# US 2017/0115113 A1 · Scanning Laser Target Sphere with Internal Concentric Mount > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0115113 A1 - Document ID: US20170115113A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/922,335 - Filed: 2015-10-26 - Published: 2017-04-27 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-26 - Assignees: Micro Surface Engineering, Inc. - Inventors: Joseph A. Gleason; Eugene A Gleason, JR. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170115113A1 ## CPC - G01B 11/14: for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00) - G01C 15/06: Surveyors' staffs; Movable markers - G02B 5/12: Reflex reflectors - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A laser target sphere is used in conjunction with a laser scanner. The target sphere has an ideal lambertian reflectance appropriate for laser scanning systems facilitating the laser scanner finding the center of the target sphere. The target sphere includes an internal kinematic mount configured to concentrically mount the target sphere to a Spherical Mounted Retroreflector (SMR) providing a same center location of the two spheres. By adapting the target sphere to mount concentrically on the SMR, the laser scanner and target sphere system can use the same points defined for the SMR. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A laser target sphere comprising: a body; a truncated spherical exterior of the body; a cavity inside the body and having an open bottom and a ceiling; and three positioning members fixed to the ceiling of the cavity; ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The laser target sphere of claim 1, wherein the truncated spherical exterior has a truncation angle (TA) of less than 180 degrees. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The laser target sphere of claim 2, wherein the truncated spherical exterior has a truncation angle (TA) between 116 degrees and 152 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The laser target sphere of claim 1, wherein each of the three positioning members comprise a spherical portion facing down and a post fixed to the body; ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The laser target sphere of claim 4, wherein the spherical portions of the three positioning members reside in a common horizontal plane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The laser target sphere of claim 4, wherein each post of the three positioning members includes: a hollow threaded interior having a narrowing end opposite to the spherical portion; at least one longitudinal cut; a set screw threadably residing in the hollow threaded interior; and a ball residing in the hollow threaded interior between the set screw and the narrowing end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The laser target sphere of claim 4, wherein each spherical portion includes a non-round shaped vertical passage aligned with the post, each vertical passage having a cross-section allowing free rotation of a tool engaged with the set screw. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The laser target sphere of claim 4, wherein the spherical portions are made from tungsten carbide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The laser target sphere of claim 4, wherein the spherical portions are attached to the post by brazing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The laser target sphere of claim 1, further including a magnet fixed to the ceiling and generally centered between the three positioning members. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The laser target sphere of claim 10, wherein the magnet is vertically adjustable to provide clearance for a second sphere residing in the cavity to support the target sphere. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The laser target sphere of claim 11, wherein the magnet threadedly engages the body to provide vertical adjustment of the magnet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The laser target sphere of claim 1, wherein the cavity includes a conical portion reaching down to a base of the body and a cylindrical portion reaching up from the conical portion to the ceiling. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The laser target sphere of claim 1, wherein the three positioning members are configured to concentrically position the laser target sphere on a Spherical Mounted Retroreflector (SMR). ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The laser target sphere of claim 9, wherein the base of the body comprises an annular ring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The laser target sphere of claim 1, wherein a center of the body is at least 0.92 inches above a base of the body ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The laser target sphere of claim 16, wherein a center of the body is between 0.92 and 0.98 inches above a base of the body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The laser target sphere of claim 17, wherein a center of the body is about 0.95 inches above a base of the body. ### Claim 19 A laser target sphere comprising: a body; a truncated spherical exterior of the body having a truncation angle (TA) less than 180 degrees; a cavity inside the body and having an open bottom and a ceiling; and three positioning members, each comprising a spherical portion facing down and a post fixed to the ceiling of the cavity, wherein each post of the three positioning members includes: a hollow threaded interior having a narrowing end opposite to the spherical portion; at least one longitudinal cut; a set screw threadably residing in the hollow threaded interior; and a ball residing in the hollow threaded interior between the set screw and the narrowing end; and each spherical portion includes a non-round shaped vertical passage aligned with the post, each vertical passage having a cross-section allowing free rotation of a tool engaged with the set screw. ### Claim 20 A laser target sphere comprising: a body having a center and an annular base; a truncated spherical exterior of the body, the center of the body between 0.92 and 0.98 inches above the annular base; a cavity inside the body and having an open bottom and a ceiling; and three positioning members configured to concentrically position the laser target sphere on a Spherical Mounted Retroreflector (SMR), each comprising a spherical portion facing down brazed to a post fixed to the ceiling of the cavity, wherein each post of the three positioning members includes: a hollow threaded interior having a narrowing end opposite to the spherical portion; at least one longitudinal cut; a set screw threadably residing in the hollow threaded interior; and a ball residing in the hollow threaded interior between the set screw and the narrowing end; and each spherical portion is made from tungsten carbide and includes a hexagonal vertical passage aligned with the post, each vertical passage having a cross-section configured to allow free rotation of a tool engaged with the set screw.