Tracking method and measuring system comprising a laser tracker
US8125629B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 4, 2007 |
| Grant date | Feb 28, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 19, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/86
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A measuring system includes a laser tracker (10), a target point marked by a reflector (12), a surveying apparatus (13), and an arithmetic and control unit (14). The laser tracker emits a measuring beam (M) which is reflected by the reflector, a process that is used for determining the distance between the laser tracker (10) and the reflector (12). The surveying apparatus has a known position and orientation relative to the measuring beam (M) while preferably being embodied as a survey camera. The inventive measuring system is designed so as to track the reflector (12) via the measuring beam (M). In a normal tracking mode (A), a measured value for controlling the orientation of the measuring beam (M) is derived from the detection of the measuring beam reflected by the reflector (12). If the measuring beam is not directed onto the reflector, the system switches to a special tracking mode in which the measured value for controlling the orientation of the measuring beam (M) is derived from an image (20) of the survey camera (13).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.