Robotic surveying instrument and method for an automated collimation telescope and surveying instrument with and objective goal

US9007573B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG · CH

Inventors

• Werner Lienhart · Graz, AT
• Daniel Nindl · Innsbruck, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 2, 2011
• Grant date: Apr 14, 2015
• Expiry date: Jan 3, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01C15/002
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Automated autocollimation provides alignment of a telescope of a surveying instrument. The telescope defines an optical axis perpendicular to a reflective surface of an autocollimation target, such as a coated plane mirror. Alignment is performed by a method that includes aligning the telescope with the autocollimation target and illuminating a reticle in the telescope. The telescope is focused on infinite. The autocollimation target and the illuminated reticle reflected by the reflective surface, or the illuminated reticle, are acquired using an image acquisition device in the telescope or a second telescope. The reticle center in the image is determined. The horizontal and vertical distances of the reticle center are determined from the optical axis of the telescope in the image. The horizontal and vertical distances of the reticle center are converted into horizontal and vertical aberration angles of the current alignment of the telescope from the autocollimation alignment of the telescope.