Handheld surveying device and method

• US 5,977,908 A
• Filed: 03/03/1999
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Nichols, Mark Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/261,943
• Time in Patent Office: 244 Days
• Field of Search: 342/352, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 342/419, 701/213
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/11 wherein the cooperating elements are pseudolites or satellite radio beacon positioning system signal repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]

Abstract

A handheld survey device includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving position information, a pointer to point to the location to be measured, a measuring device to measure the distance between the handheld device and the location to be measured and a level and heading device to determine the level and heading of the handheld device. A processor located within the handheld device computes the position of the location using the position information, the distance measured between the handheld device and the location, and the level and heading information. The position computed meets the stringent accuracy requirements dictated by survey applications without the use of a range pole.

Claims

1. A handheld survey device comprising:

an antenna/receiver configured to receive positioning information indicative of the location of the handheld device and correction information used to correct the received positioning information;

a pointing element configured to point to the location to be measured;

a measuring element configured to measure the distance between the location to be measured and the handheld device;

a level and heading element configured to determine a tilt and orientation of the handheld device; and

a processor coupled to receive position data, the distance between the location to measured and the handheld device, and tilt and orientation of the handheld device, said processor configured to compute the position of the location to be measured.

2. The handheld device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the position data comprises the positioning information and correction information, said processor further configured to compute the position of the handheld device from the positioning information and the correction information.

3. The handheld device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the position data comprises the computed position of the handheld device, the device further comprising a position processor configured to receive the positioning information and the correction information and compute the position data.

4. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the antenna/receiver receives positioning signals comprising Global Positioning System (GPS) signals.

5. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pointing element comprises a laser pointer.

6. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pointing element comprises an optical plummet.

7. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the measuring element comprises a sonic-based measuring device.

8. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the measuring element comprises a laser-based measuring device.

9. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive the correction signals and compute a corrected position signal.

10. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising data storage.

11. A handheld survey device comprising:

an antenna/receiver configured to receive positioning information indicative of the location of the handheld device;

a pointer configured to point to the location to be measured;

a distance meter configured to measure the distance between the location to be measured and the handheld device;

a heading meter configured to determine an orientation of the handheld device;

a tilt meter configured to measure a tilt of the handheld device; and

a processor coupled to receive the position signals, the distance between the location to measured and the handheld device, and tilt and orientation of the handheld device, said processor configured to compute the position of the location to be measured.

12. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a display.

13. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the position data comprises the positioning information, said processor further configured to compute the position of the handheld device from the positioning information.

14. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the position data comprises the computed position of the handheld device, the device further comprising a position processor configured to receive the positioning information and compute the position data.

15. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the antenna/receiver receives positioning signals comprising Global Positioning System (GPS) signals.

16. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the antenna/receiver is further configured to receive correction information, and said device further comprising a position processor configured to receive the positioning information and compute the position data.

17. The handheld survey device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the antenna/receiver is further configured to receive correction information, the position data comprising the position information and the correction information, and said processor is further configured to compute the position of the handheld device from the positioning information.

18. A method for surveying a location using a handheld device comprising:

positioning the handheld device to point to the location;

determining tilt and heading of the handheld device;

measuring the distance from the handheld device to the location;

determining the location of the handheld device from positioning signals received through an antenna of the handheld device;

computing the difference in location between phase center of the antenna and the location using data comprising tilt and heading and measured distance from the handheld device to the location; and

adjusting the determined location of the handheld device by the difference to determine the surveyed location.