Patent · US Active

Aiming of a geodetic instrument

US7930835B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
3References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 25, 2007
Grant dateApr 26, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 25, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01C1/04
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for aiming a surveying instrument towards a selected target is disclosed. The method includes, in at least one embodiment, capturing an image using a camera in the surveying instrument; selecting a target by identifying an object point in the image captured by the surveying instrument; calculating first horizontal and vertical rotation angles based on the object point identified in the image; rotating the surveying instrument over the first horizontal and vertical rotation angles to an intermediate line of sight; measuring a distance to a point along the intermediate line of sight; and calculating second horizontal and vertical rotation angles based on the object point in the image and on the measured distance. In at least one embodiment, the method may be implemented using computer software, hardware, firmware or a combination thereof. There is also disclosed a surveying instrument in which at least one embodiment of the method is implemented.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.