Apparatus and method fro measuring volumes

• US 20080079955A1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elizabeth A. Whisman
• Original Assignee: Thomas W. Storm
• Inventors: Storm, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,576,871 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/627
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/00 Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered by the other groups of this subclass, unspecified or not relevant
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging

Abstract

An apparatus and method for measuring volumes. The apparatus includes a base having a central processing unit, a receiver and a dock; and a scanner having an inertial navigation system, a transmitter, a sensor, a reset control, and a trigger in communication with a microprocessor. An alternate embodiment scanner may include an exclude control, which instructs the central processing unit to exclude floor, ceiling, and walls from the volume calculation. The method of measuring volumes includes the steps of placing the scanner in the dock, actuating a reset control which establishes a reference point for the inertial navigation system, scanning objects, transmitting the data points scanned to the central processing unit, and calculating the volume of the object(s) scanned.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring volumes comprising:

a base comprising a central processing unit in communication with a receiver, and a dock;

a scanner comprising a microprocessor in communication with a trigger, a sensor, a transmitter, and an inertial navigation system;

said transmitter communicating with said receiver;

said scanner being sized to fit into said dock;

whereby actuation of said trigger instructs said scanner to commence scanning an object at which said scanner is aimed and releasing trigger instructs said scanner to cease said scanning.

2. The apparatus for measuring volumes of claim 1 wherein said scanner further comprises a reset control, whereby actuation of said reset control establishes a reference point for said inertial navigation system.

3. The apparatus for measuring volumes of claim 2 wherein said scanner further comprises an exclude control, whereby actuation of said exclude control instructs said central processing unit to not include surfaces scanned when said exclude control is actuated, and de-actuation of said exclude control resumes normal scanning.

4. The apparatus for measuring volumes of claim 3 wherein said base further comprises an antenna in communication with said receiver, and wherein said scanner further comprises an antenna in communication with said transmitter.

5. A method for measuring volumes comprising the steps of:

A. Providing a base station comprising a central processing unit in communication with a receiver, and a dock;

B. Providing a scanner comprising a microprocessor in communication with a trigger, a sensor, a transmitter, and an inertial navigation system;

a reset control in communication with said inertial navigation system;

said transmitter communicating with said receiver;

said scanner being sized to fit into said dock;

whereby actuation of said trigger instructs said scanner to commence scanning an object at which said scanner is aimed, and releasing trigger instructs said scanner to cease said scanning; and

whereby actuation of said reset control establishes a reference point for said inertial navigation system;

C. Placing said scanner in said dock on said base and actuating said inertial navigation system reset control;

D. Pointing said scanner at said object whose volume is to be scanned;

E. Actuating said trigger;

F. Scanning said object with said scanner;

G. Creating a model of said object using data points which have been scanned with said scanner; and

H. Calculating a volume of said object.

6. The method of measuring volumes of claim 5 comprising the further step of placing said base station on a floor of a room containing said object, actuating said reset control while said base station is on said floor, and instructing said central processing unit to disregard anything scanned below said floor upon which said base station sits, thus avoiding inclusion of a volume of said floor of a room whose contents are to be scanned, in a volume scanned.

7. The method of measuring volumes of claim 5 comprising the steps of scanning said object by sweeping said scanner vertically up and down said object, and/or scanning said object by sweeping said scanner horizontally back and forth across said object.

8. The method of measuring volumes of claim 5 comprising the steps of providing an exclusion control, actuating said exclusion control to instruct said central processing unit to not include surfaces scanned with said exclusion control actuated, and then de-actuating said exclusion control to resume normal scanning.

9. An apparatus for measuring volumes comprising:

a base comprising a central processing unit in communication with a receiver, and a dock;

a scanner comprising a microprocessor in communication with a trigger, a sensor, a transmitter, a reset control, and an inertial navigation system;

said transmitter communicating with said receiver; and

said scanner being sized to fit into said dock;

said trigger commanding said scanner to commence and cease scanning.

10. The apparatus for measuring volumes of claim 9 wherein said scanner further comprises an exclude control, whereby actuation of said exclude control instructs said central processing unit to not include surfaces scanned when said exclude control is actuated, and de-actuation of said exclude control resumes normal scanning.

11. The apparatus for measuring volumes of claim 10 wherein said base further comprises an antenna in communication with said receiver, and wherein said scanner further comprises an antenna in communication with said transmitter.

12. In combination, the apparatus for measuring volumes of claim 9 and a floor, said base resting on said floor, and means for instructing said central processing unit to not include said floor in a volume being scanned.