Reflective prism device

• US 6,295,174 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
• Inventors: Takaya, Hiromitsu, Ishinabe, Ikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Treas, Jared
• Application Number:
  US09/501,198
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 359/831, 359/834, 359/529, 359/195, 359/173, 359/170, 359/159, 359/155, 356/5-1-, 356/4.08, 356/141.1, 332/93, 332/94, 332/95
• US Class Current: 359/834
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/04 Prisms

Abstract

The present invention provides a reflective prism device, which comprises a prism unit and a data communication unit, and communication light being irradiated from a survey instrument toward said prism unit, whereby there is provided a light guide for guiding a part of said communication light entering said prism unit toward said data communication unit.

Claims

1. A reflective prism device, comprising a prism unit and a data communication unit which are arranged in parallel, and communication light being irradiated from a survey instrument toward said prism unit, wherein there are provided a light guide for guiding a part of said communication light entering said prism unit toward said data communication unit and a switching mechanism for changing the photoreceiving position of said light guide and for guiding said communication light from different position of said prism unit toward said data communication unit.

2. A reflective prism device according to claim 1, wherein said data communication unit comprises at least a photodetection unit for receiving communication light and an operation unit which have a signal detection circuit for detecting communication data from said communication light based on a photodetection signal of said photodetection unit and a display unit for displaying said communication data detected by said signal detection circuit.

3. A reflective prism device according to claim 1, wherein said switching mechanism switches over photodetecting position of said light guide to at least the upper or lower position of said prism unit.