Low cost transmitter with calibration means for use in position measurement systems

A method of manufacturing and marketing a transmitter for use in a position measurement system that generates x-y-z data within a measurement field, wherein said system including means for calculating the x-y-z data at any point in the measurement field using beams from a plurality of optical transmitters, the method comprising:

• forming said transmitter with at least one radiation source for generating at least one planar beam that is rotated to sweep said measurement field and a strobe for generating a strobe pulse at a predetermined point in the rotation of said at least one planar beam;
• generating calibration data for said transmitter prior to completing manufacture of said transmitter;
• storing said calibration data in a memory unit associated with said transmitter;
• and
• selling said transmitter and memory unit as a unit following manufacture and assembly.

An optical transmitter system for use in a position measurement system that generates x-y-z data within a measurement field, said system including means for calculating the x-y-z data at any point in the measurement field using beams from a plurality of rotatably supported optical transmitters,

• the optical transmitter comprising:
• at least one radiation source that generates at least one rotating substantially fan shaped beam;
• and
• a strobe that generates a strobe pulse at a predetermined point in the rotation of said at least one fan shaped beam;
• and
• a memory unit, in communication with said optical transmitter, containing calibration data unique to said optical transmitter, wherein said memory unit is not physically connected or incorporated in said means for calculating the x-y-z data.

An optical transmitter for use in a position measurement system that generates x-y-z data within a measurement field, said system including means for calculating the x-y-z data at any point in the measurement field using beams from a plurality of rotatably supported optical transmitters, the optical transmitter comprising:

• at least one optical source that generates at least one rotating substantially fan shaped beam;
• a strobe that generates a strobe pulse at a predetermined point in the rotation of said at least one fan shaped beam;
• a memory, disposed in said optical transmitter, containing calibration data unique to said transmitter, said calibration data defining a relative position of the fan beams generated by the optical transmitter;
• and
• an output port for outputting the calibration data to identify the transmitter.
• 21.The optical transmitter of claim 20, wherein said calibration data defines at least one of an angular separation between said laser and a tilt angle for each of said fan beams measured from a vertical axis of said transmitter.

An optical transmitter for a position measuring system that generates x-y-z data within a defined measurement field, said transmitter comprising:

• a radiation source for generating a pair of substantially fan shaped beams;
• a motor for rotating said fan beams to sweep said measurement field at a predetermined rotational velocity;
• a reference signal source for propagating an azimuth reference signal at predetermined intervals of rotation of said fan beams;
• a memory unit, physically associated with said transmitter, containing calibration data defining a relative position of the fan beams generated by the optical transmitter and unique to that transmitter;
• and
• an output port for outputting the calibration data to identify the transmitter to another device within said position measuring system.

An optical transmitter for use in a position measurement system that generates x-y-z data within a measurement field, said system including means for calculating the x-y-z data at any point in the measurement field using beams from a plurality of rotatably supported optical transmitters, the optical transmitter comprising:

• at least one radiation source that generates at least one rotating substantially fan shaped beam;
• a strobe that generates a strobe pulse at a predetermined point in the rotation of said at least one fan shaped beam;
• and
• a memory unit, connected to said optical transmitter, containing calibration data uniquely defining a relative position of the fan beams generated by the optical transmitter.