US Patent 9618620 Using depth-camera images to speed registration of three-dimensional scans

A method for measuring and registering 3D coordinates has a 3D scanner measure a first collection of 3D coordinates of points from a first registration position and a second collection of 3D coordinates of points from a second registration position. In between these positions, the 3D measuring device collects depth-camera images. A processor determines first and second translation values and a first rotation value based on the depth-camera images. The processor identifies a correspondence among registration targets in the first and second collection of 3D coordinates based at least in part on the first and second translation values and the first rotation value. The processor uses this correspondence and the first and second collection of 3D coordinates to determine 3D coordinates of a registered 3D collection of points.