# US 2017/0285127 A1 · Method and apparatus for following an operator and locking onto a retroreflector with a laser tracker > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0285127 A1 - Document ID: US20170285127A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/625,347 - Filed: 2017-06-16 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-21 - Assignees: Faro Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: FARO Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Kalyan Nagalla; Robert C. Mehler; Robert E. Bridges - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285127A1 ## CPC - G01B 11/002: {for measuring two or more coordinates} - G01B 5/004: for measuring coordinates of points - G01B 21/047: {Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes} - G01C 15/002: {Active optical surveying means (optical plumbing G01C15/105)} - G01S 3/786: the desired condition being maintained automatically - G01S 17/06: Systems determining position data of a target - G01S 17/66: Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves - G01S 17/86: Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - G06F 3/0304: {Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means (constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042)} - G06F 3/0346: with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors - G06F 3/0421: {by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen} - G06F 3/0425: {using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected (tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386)} - 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) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method for measuring three-dimensional (3D) coordinates includes providing a retroreflector and a laser tracker. An operator gives a follow-operator gesture, and the laser tracker responds by following movement of the operator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement system, comprising: a retroreflector; a laser tracker including: a first light source configured to emit a first beam of light from the laser tracker; a structure rotatable about a first axis and a second axis; a second light source; a first camera proximate the second light source; and a processor responsive to executable instructions which when executed by the processor is operable to determine that a follow-operator gesture has been given by an operator and in response rotate the structure to follow movement of the operator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the follow-operator gesture is selected from the group consisting of: a movement of the retroreflector in space and a temporal change in returned light from the retroreflector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the laser tracker is further configured to illuminate the retroreflector with the second light source during the follow-operator gesture and to capture an image of the illuminated retroreflector in response. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the follow-operator gesture is performed with the retroreflector held in a hand of the operator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the follow-operator gesture is based on a position of an arm of the operator relative to a torso of the operator. ### Claim 6 A method for measuring three-dimensional (3D) coordinates comprising: providing a retroreflector and a laser tracker, the laser tracker including a first light source configured to emit a first beam of light, a structure rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, a second light source, a first camera proximate the second light source, and a processor; giving by an operator a follow-operator gesture; and responding with the processor, executing executable instructions, to the follow-operator gesture by rotating the structure to follow movement of the operator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein, in giving the follow-operator gesture, the follow-up gesture is selected from the group consisting of: a movement of the retroreflector in space and a temporal change in returned light from the retroreflector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein, during the follow-operator gesture, the laser tracker illuminates the retroreflector with the second light source and captures an image of the illuminated retroreflector in response. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the follow-operator gesture is performed with the retroreflector held in a hand of the operator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the follow-operator gesture is based on a position of an arm of the operator relative to a torso of the operator.