Handheld optical distance measurement device

• US 20060201006A1
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robotoolz Limited Robotoolz Incorporated and Robotoolz Limited
• Inventors: Chan, Wah Pong, Fincher, Jeffrey L., Butler, Andrew, Hill, Daniel, Tacklind, Chris, Burlingham, Aragon, Bona, Mark Della, Lewis, Bob
• Granted Patent: US 7,568,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/284
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/36 with phase comparison between the received signal and the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements

Abstract

A handheld measurement device of an embodiment of the invention includes a distance measurement engine and an angular position measurement engine. A controller controls the distance measurement engine and associates an elevation, azimuth position, or relative angular position from the angular position measurement engine with distance measurements taken from the elevation engine. In preferred operations, each point measured from a target under the control of a user is automatically associated with an elevation and/or azimuth position obtained from the angular position engine. Preferably, the controller determines a set of relative coordinates in space for a plurality of related target points. The controller may then calculate a variety of useful distances, areas, volumes, etc., regarding the plurality of target points.

Claims

1. A handheld optical distance measurement device, the device comprising:

a distance measurement engine;

an angular position measurement engine; and

a controller that controls the distance measurement engine and associates one of an elevation, azimuth position, or relative angular position from the angular position measurement engine with distance measurements taken from the elevation engine.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said angular position engine comprises an inclinometer.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said distance measurement engine comprises a time-of-flight distance measurement engine.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface that permits a user to control taking of measurement, and wherein said controller associates each target point measured from a target under the control of a user with one of an elevation and azimuth position obtained from said angular position engine.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said controller associates each target point measured from a target under the control of a user with both an elevation and azimuth position obtained from said angular position engine.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said controller determines a set of relative coordinates in space for a plurality of related target points.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface including a display that can display elevation and distance of a measurement taken of a target, and an input keypad that permits a user to select device operations;

a visible pointing indicator that permits a user to point an indicator beam at a target; and

a speaker that provides an audible output to a user that indicates a warning or an indication of a completed measurement.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said angular position measurement engine comprises a dual axis angular position measurement engine that provides periodic updates of elevation and azimuth position to said controller.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the display is controlled by said controller to further display user menus and directions.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said angular position engine comprises an accelerometer mounted on a common rigid substrate with said distance measurement engine.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said distance measurement engine comprises a time-of-flight distance measurement engine, the device further comprising:

a pointer generator to generate a indicator beam as a pointing indicator; and

an emission optical engine to generate a time-of-flight target beam;

means for aligning said time-of-flight target beam and said indicator beam; and

a sensing optical engine and optics to sense time-of-flight of said time-of-flight target beam.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said angular position engine comprises a dual axis inclinometer.

13. A handheld optical distance measurement device, the device comprising:

distance measurement means for measuring distance to a target point;

angular measurement means for determining at least one of elevation and azimuth; and

means for calculating measurements that depend upon distance and one or both of elevation and azimuth of a plurality of target points from distances measured by said distance measurement means and one or both of elevation and azimuth measured by said angular measurement means.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said means for calculating measurements calculates distance between target points at a particular angle of azimuth or elevation.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said means for calculating measurements calculates distance between target points on level.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein said means for calculating measurements calculates at least one of a chord length, area or volume between associated with a plurality of target points.

17. The device of claim 13, further comprising means to assist a user in taking measurement associated with a plurality of target points.