Remote control and viewing for a total station

• US 6,034,722 A
• Filed: 11/03/1997
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Viney, Ian T., Kirk, Geoffrey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRITTON, HOWARD W
• Application Number:
  US08/962,861
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 348/116, 348/83, 348/135, 348/142, 348/211, 348/212, 348/213, 702/150
• US Class Current: 348/135
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 1/04 combined with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for performing remote control and viewing with a total station. The total station is operated remotely from a remote control and viewing unit (RCVU) by a single user. The total station has a measurement unit, a video camera aligned with the measurement unit for acquiring real-time images of a target, and a transceiver for transmitting video images to the RCVU and for receiving control data from the RCVU. The RCVU includes a transceiver for transmitting the control data to the total station and for receiving the video images from the total station. The RCVU also includes a display device for displaying real-time video images from the camera and includes controls for allowing the user to remotely align the total station with the target using the displayed video images. A fine-tuning focus control on the RCVU allows the user to remotely focus the camera. The RCVU also includes an alphanumeric input device for allowing the user to enter text, which can be stored locally in the RCVU or in the total station in association with acquired measurements and images data.

Claims

1. A method of remotely operating a surveying device for acquiring survey data of a target, the surveying device including a camera for generating images of the target, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving user inputs for remotely controlling the surveying device, including user inputs for controlling the camera to align the surveying device with the target;

transmitting control data to the surveying device over a wireless link in response to the user inputs, the control inputs for aligning the surveying device with the target;

receiving image data transmitted from the surveying device over the wireless link, the image data representing images acquired by the camera; and

displaying images in response to the image data.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the surveying device comprises a total station.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the image data in a memory device in association with corresponding survey measurements.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the image data represents real-time video images.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user imputs further comprise a trigger input for remotely causing the surveying device to acquire a survey measurement of the target.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user inputs further comprise a focus input for remotely focusing the camera.

7. An apparatus for remotely controlling a surveying device, the surveying device having a camera for acquiring real-time images, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving image data generated by the camera and transmitted to the apparatus by the surveying device;

a display device coupled to receive the image data received from the surveying device and to display images in response to image data;

an input device for receiving user inputs for remotely controlling the surveying device; and

a transmitter coupled to receive the user inputs, the transmitter transmitting control data to the surveying device based on the user inputs, such that the apparatus is operable by a user to acquire real-time images of a target to remotely align the surveying device with the target.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the surveying device comprises a total station.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the images comprise video images.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a memory coupled to receive the image data, the memory storing the image data in association with survey data acquired by the surveying device.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a trigger for receiving a trigger input, the trigger input for remotely causing the surveying device to generate a measurement of the target.

12. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a focus control for receiving a focus input for remotely focusing the camera.

13. A device for remotely controlling a total station, the total station having a camera for sighting a survey target, the device comprising:

means for receiving user inputs for remotely acquiring the target within a field of view of the camera;

means for transmitting control inputs to the total station over a wireless link in response to the user inputs;

means for receiving image data transmitted from the total station over the wireless link; and

means for displaying images based on the image data.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the images comprise real-time video images.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising means for storing the image data in association with survey data acquired by the surveying device.

16. A device according to claim 13, wherein the user inputs for remotely controlling the camera comprise user inputs for remotely aiming the camera, such that the device is operable by a user to remotely align the total station with the target.

17. A device according to claim 13, further comprising means for receiving a trigger input for remotely causing the surveying device to obtain a measurement of the target.

18. A device according to claim 13, the device further comprising a focus input for remotely focusing the camera.

19. A surveying device for acquiring survey measurements of a target, the surveying device comprising:

a control unit;

a camera coupled to the control unit;

a measurement unit coupled to the control unit;

a transmitter coupled to the control unit for transmitting image data to a remote control unit over a wireless link based on output of the camera; and

a receiver coupled to the control unit for receiving control data from the remote control unit over the wireless link, the surveying device varying an orientation of the camera in response to the control data received from the remote control device.

20. A surveying device according to claim 19, wherein the surveying device comprises a total station.

21. A surveying device according to claim 19, wherein the camera has a field of view, and wherein the measurement unit is configured to generate survey measurements of a target within the field of view of the camera.

22. A surveying device according to claim 21, further comprising a memory coupled to receive image data generated by the camera, the memory storing the image data in association with corresponding survey measurements generated by the measurement unit.

23. A surveying device according to claim 22, wherein the control data comprises trigger data, the trigger data corresponding to a trigger input received at the remote control unit for remotely causing the surveying device to obtain a measurement of the target.

24. A surveying device according to claim 22, wherein the control data comprises focus data, the focus data corresponding to user inputs received at the remote control unit for remotely varying a focus of the camera.

25. A surveying device according to claim 19, further comprising an optical sighting mechanism, wherein the camera is included within the optical sighting mechanism.

26. A surveying device for acquiring survey data of a target, the surveying device comprising:

camera means for acquiring real-time image data, the camera means having a field of view;

measurement means for acquiring survey measurements of a target in the field of view of the camera means;

transmission means for transmitting the image data to a remote control unit over a wireless link;

receiving means for receiving control data transmitted from the remote control unit over the wireless link; and

control means for controlling the surveying device in response to the received control data to acquire the target within the field of view of the camera means.

27. A surveying device according to claim 26, wherein the surveying device comprises a total station.

28. An apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

means for storing the image data;

means for storing the survey measurements; and

means for establishing an association between the stored image data and survey measurements.

29. A surveying device according to claim 26, wherein the control data comprises trigger data, the trigger data corresponding to a trigger input received at the remote control unit for remotely causing the surveying device to obtain a measurement of the target.

30. A surveying device according to claim 26, wherein the control data comprises focus data, the focus data corresponding to user inputs received at the remote control unit for remotely varying a focus of the camera means.

31. A surveying device according to claim 26, further comprising optical sighting means for viewing a target, wherein the camera means is included within the optical sighting means.

32. A surveying system comprising:

a surveying device for acquiring survey data of a target, the surveying device including a camera; and

a remote control unit in communication with the surveying device over a link, the remote control unit including;

an input device for receiving user inputs for remotely controlling the surveying device;

a transmitter for transmitting control data to the surveying device over a wireless link in response to the user inputs;

a receiver for receiving image data transmitted from the surveying device over the wireless link based on output of the camera; and

a display device for displaying images based on the image data.

33. A surveying system according to claim 32, wherein the surveying device comprises a total station.

34. A surveying system according to claim 32, wherein the camera has a field of view, and wherein the surveying device is configured to generate survey measurements of a target within the field of view of the camera.

35. A surveying system according to claim 32, wherein the surveying device is configured to generate an angular measurement based on a current orientation of the camera.

36. A surveying system according to claim 33, wherein the images comprise real-time video images.

37. A method of surveying comprising the steps of:

acquiring images of a target using a camera coupled to a surveying device, the camera having a field of view;

receiving user inputs at a remote control unit, the user inputs for remotely controlling the surveying device, the user inputs including inputs for causing the surveying device to acquire the target within the field of view of the camera;

transmitting control data from the remote control device to the surveying means over a wireless link based on the user inputs;

receiving at the remote control unit data transmitted over the wireless link from the surveying device, the data including image data representing outputs of the camera; and

displaying images at the remote control device based on the image data.

38. A method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of generating survey measurements of an object within the field of view of the camera.

39. A method according to claim 38, further comprising the step of storing the survey measurements in association with data representing corresponding images of the target in a memory device.

40. A method according to claim 37, wherein the imaging means has a focus, the method further comprising the step of receiving at the remote control unit user inputs for remotely controlling the focus.

41. A method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of generating an angle measurement based on an orientation of the camera.

42. A method according to claim 37, wherein the surveying device comprises a total station.

43. A method according to claim 37, wherein the image data comprises real-time video data.

44. A surveying system comprising:

a total station for acquiring survey measurements of a target, the total station including;

a first control unit for controlling the total station;

a video camera coupled to the first control unit for sighting and acquiring images of the target;

a measurement unit coupled to the first control unit for generating the survey measurements;

a transmitter coupled to the first control unit for transmitting data over a wireless link, the data including image data corresponding to the images; and

a receiver coupled to the first control logic for receiving data over the wireless link; and

a remote unit in communication with the total station over the wireless link for allowing a user to remotely control the total station, the remote unit including;

an input unit for receiving user inputs for remotely controlling the video camera;

a transmitter coupled to the second control unit for transmitting data representing the user inputs to the total station over the wireless link;

a receiver coupled to the second control unit for receiving the data transmitted from the total station; and

a display device coupled to the second control unit for displaying real-time video images based on the data received from the total station.

45. A surveying system according to claim 44, wherein the input unit comprises:

an aiming control for receiving user input for remotely aiming the video camera; and

a focus control for receiving user input for remotely focusing the video camera.

46. A surveying system according to claim 44, further comprising a memory storing the image data in association with corresponding survey measurements.