Articulated arm coordinate measurement machine having a rotary switch

A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), comprising:

• a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, the arm including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;
• an electronic processing system electrically coupled to receive the position signals;
• a probe end coupled to the first end, the probe end having a housing coupled to the first end to rotate about an axis of rotation;
• a measurement device is coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the electronic processing system;
• a first actuator coupled to the housing;
• a first switch coupled to the first actuator, the first actuator being configured to selectively close the first switch;
• a first electric circuit;
• a first antenna circuit electrically coupling the first switch to the first electric circuit, wherein the first near field communication circuit and the first antenna circuit cooperate to modulate an operating field when the first switch is closed;
• and
• a reader circuit arranged fixed relative to the axis of rotation, the reader circuit including a transmitter configured to emit the operating field and a receiver configured to detect the modulated operating field.

A method of conveying information with a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), with steps comprising:

• providing a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;
• providing a probe end coupled to the first end, the probe end having a housing arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation, the probe end further having a switch coupled to rotate with the housing, the switching being electrically coupled to a first electric circuit by an antenna circuit, the probe end, the probe end further having a reader circuit fixedly arranged relative to the axis of rotation, wherein the first electric circuit is arranged to move about the reader circuit;
• providing a measurement device coupled to the housing;
• providing an electronic processing system for receiving the position signals from the position transducers and for determining a position of the measurement device;
• emitting an operating field with the reader circuit;
• closing the switch;
• modulating the operating field with the first electric circuit and the antenna circuit in response to the closing of the switch;
• transmitting a measurement signal to the electronic processing system in response to the reader circuit detecting the modulation of the operating field;
• and
• determining three-dimensional coordinates of the measurement device with the electronic processing system in response to receiving the measurement signal.