Mobile Instrument, Viewing Device, and Methods of Processing and Storing Information

• US 20090082991A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ikeGPS Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Surveylab Group Limited
• Inventors: Bond, Craig Richard, Mann, Graham Leslie, Van Toorenburg, Leon Lammers, Prentice, Mark Eric James
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00

Abstract

A method of transferring information stored in a mobile instrument, the information including a first information file (140) containing metadata and a pointer indicative of a first auxiliary file address; and a first auxiliary file (141) containing image information, the first auxiliary file being located at the first auxiliary file address. The method includes the steps of: storing the metadata in a second information file (140′); storing the image information in a second auxiliary file (142′) at a second auxiliary file address; generating a second pointer indicative of the second auxiliary file address; and storing the second pointer in the second information file. The instrument includes a camera (70); one or more spatial sensors; and an external sensor port (56). Power to the sensors can be controlled asynchronously. Various parsing methods are also described. The instrument includes a marker module configured to superimpose a marker on the image.

Claims

1-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A viewing device for providing an image of a field of view, the device including a marker module configured to superimpose a marker on the image, the marker including a plurality of image elements including a first element, and a second element having visual content which contrasts with the first element.

49. A device according to claim 48 further including a distance meter for measuring the distance to a datum position indicated by the marker.

50. A device according to claim 49 wherein the first and second elements are adjacent, substantially straight, parallel lines.

51. A device according to claim 50 wherein the marker includes four or more pairs of adjacent, substantially straight, parallel lines which radiate from a common central region.

52. A device according to claim 48 wherein the marker includes four or more lines which radiate from a common central region.

53. A device according to claim 52 wherein the lines do not intersect at the common central region, whereby the image can be viewed in the central region.

54. A device according to claim 48 wherein the elements are arranged in a line in an alternating pattern.

55. A device according claim 54 wherein the elements are arranged in two or more adjacent lines in a chequerboard pattern.

56. A device according to claim 48 wherein the first and second elements have different tonal content.

57. A device according to claim 48 wherein the first element is lighter than the second element.

58. A device according to claim 48 further including a global position sensor.

59. A device according to claim 48 further including a tilt sensor for indicating the tilt of the device relative to a datum direction indicated by the marker.

60. A device according to claim 48 further including an electronic display screen for displaying the image superimposed with the marker.

79. A mobile device including one or more spatial sensors and a viewing device according to claim 48, wherein the viewing device includes a camera for providing the image and a display screen for displaying the image superimposed with the marker, the spatial sensors being configured to provide position information for the mobile device, distance information relating to the distance from the mobile device to a target and direction information relating to the direction from the mobile device to the target, wherein the target is identified by the position of the marker on the image.

80. A mobile device according to claim 79 configured to determine a position of the target from the position information, distance information and direction information.

81. A mobile device according to claim 79 configured to capture and store an image including the target.

61-78. -78. (canceled)