LAYOUT METHOD

• US 20100123892A1
• Filed: 11/20/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Lawrence, Miller, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,031,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/4.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105

Abstract

The location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site is established using a robotic total station and a handheld device. Construction data is inputted into the handheld device with the construction data defining a plurality of construction points at the construction site. One of the plurality of construction points is selected with the handheld device. Data regarding the selected construction point is then transmitted wirelessly from the handheld device to a robotic total station. The robotic total station generates a beam of laser light, and directs the beam of laser light from the robotic total station to the construction point. The construction point is defined by x and y coordinates, and by an assumed z coordinate. The actual z coordinate is that of a point on a horizontal surface, such as a ceiling or floor, having the same x and y coordinates. Through an iterative process, the location of the construction point is established.

Claims

1. A method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, comprising the steps of:

inputting construction data into a handheld device, said construction data defining a plurality of construction points at the construction site,

selecting one of said plurality of construction points with the handheld device,

transmitting data regarding the selected construction point wirelessly from the handheld device to a robotic total station,

generating a beam of laser light with the robotic total station, and

directing the beam of laser light from the robotic total station to the location of the construction point to provide a visual indication of the location of the construction point.

2. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site according to claim 1, in which the step of inputting construction data into a handheld device includes the step of downloading construction plans into said handheld device from a computer.

3. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site according to claim 1, in which the step of inputting construction data into a handheld device includes the step of receiving construction data wirelessly at the construction site from a remote location.

4. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site according to claim 3, in which the step of inputting construction data into a handheld device includes the step of receiving construction data via e-mail at the construction site from a remote location.

5. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site according to claim 1, in which the step of inputting construction data into a handheld device includes the steps of:

positioning a retro reflector at a construction point at the construction site,

measuring the location of the construction point with the robotic total station by directing a beam of laser light from the total station to the retro reflector, and

transmitting data wirelessly from the robotic total station to the handheld device.

6. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site according to claim 5, further comprising the step of transmitting data wirelessly from said handheld device to a remote location.

7. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site according to claim 1, in which the step of selecting one of said plurality of construction points with the handheld device includes the steps displaying construction data on a device display, and manually selecting said data.

8. A method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates, comprising the steps of:

inputting construction data into a handheld device, said construction data defining a plurality of construction points at the construction site,

selecting one of said plurality of construction points with the handheld device,

generating a beam of laser light with a robotic total station,

directing the beam of laser light from the robotic total station toward the selected construction point, defined by said x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface,

determining the distance from the robotic total station to a point on the actual building surface which is illuminated by the beam, and

if the distance from the robotic total station to the point on the actual building surface is greater or less than anticipated, repeatedly determining an updated construction point, directing the beam at the updated construction point, and determining the distance to the illuminated point on the actual building surface until the distance from the robotic total station to the point on the actual building structure is substantially equal to that anticipated,

whereby a point on the actual building surface having said x and y coordinates is established.

9. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates according to claim 8 in which the method is discontinued after three points on the actual building surface have been illuminated without the distance from the robotic total station to the actual building surface being substantially equal to that anticipated.

10. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates according to claim 8, in which said generally horizontal building surface comprises a ceiling surface above the robotic total station.

11. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates according to claim 8, in which said generally horizontal building surface comprises a floor surface below the robotic total station.

12. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates according to claim 8 in which said construction data includes CAD files.

13. A method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates, comprising the steps of:

selecting one of said plurality of construction points,

generating a beam of laser light,

directing the beam of laser light toward the selected construction point, defined by said x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface,

determining the distance from the source of the laser light to a point on the actual building surface which is illuminated by the beam, and

if the distance from the source of the laser light to the point on the actual building surface is greater or less than anticipated, determining an updated construction point, directing the beam at the updated construction point, and determining the distance to the illuminated point on the actual building surface until the distance from the source of the laser light to the point on the actual building structure is substantially equal to that anticipated,

whereby a point on the actual building surface having said x and y coordinates is established.

14. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates according to claim 13 in which the method is discontinued after three points on the actual building surface have been illuminated without the distance from the source of the laser light to the actual building surface being substantially equal to that anticipated.

15. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates according to claim 13, in which said generally horizontal building surface comprises a ceiling surface above the robotic total station.

16. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates according to claim 13, in which said generally horizontal building surface comprises a floor surface below the source of the laser light.

17. A method of establishing the location of one of a of construction point at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates, and is spaced from a horizontal building surface, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates, comprising the steps of:

generating a beam of laser light,

directing the beam of laser light toward the selected construction point,

determining the distance from the source of the laser light to a point on the actual building surface which is illuminated by the beam, and

if the distance from the source of the laser light to the point on the actual building surface is greater or less than anticipated, determining an updated construction point, directing the beam at the updated construction point, and determining the distance to the illuminated point on the actual building surface until the distance from the source of the laser light to the point on the actual building structure is substantially equal to that anticipated,

whereby a point on the actual building surface having said x and y coordinates is established.

18. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates according to claim 17 in which the method is discontinued after a predetermined number of points on the actual building surface have been illuminated without the distance from the source of the laser light to the actual building surface being substantially equal to that anticipated.

19. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates according to claim 17, in which said generally horizontal building surface comprises a ceiling surface above the robotic total station.

20. The method of establishing the location of one of a series of construction points at an indoor construction site, where the point is defined by x and y coordinates and an anticipated z coordinate on a generally horizontal building surface, with the construction point being established on an actual building surface by illumination of a point on said actual building surface that has said x and y coordinates according to claim 17, in which said generally horizontal building surface comprises a floor surface below the source of the laser light.