Surveying systems and methods for detecting and measuring changes in elevation
US7506452B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 2008 |
| Grant date | Mar 24, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C15/06
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of grade rods, grade-rod readers, and combinations thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, a grade rod is provided that has a reference surface extending along at least a portion of the rod. The reference surface includes two or more reference indicators spaced at substantially even intervals from one another. A reader unit is mounted to the rod (for example, slidably mounted). The reader unit includes one or more sensors positioned proximate to at least a portion of the reference surface of the rod. The sensors of this embodiment are configured to detect the motion of at least one of the two or more reference indicators relative to the sensors as the reader unit is moved along the reference surface. Other grade rod and grade-rod reader embodiments, as well as methods for using such embodiments, are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.