Location and generation of high accuracy survey control marks using satellites

• US 6,304,210 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Sorden, James L., Nichols, Mark, Allison, Michael Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US09/372,741
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.08, 342/357.09, 342/357.03, 342/357.17, 701/300
• US Class Current: 342/357.41
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/04 providing carrier phase data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/44 Carrier phase ambiguity resolution; Floating ambiguity; LAMBDA [Least-squares AMBiguity Decorrelation Adjustment] method

Abstract

A first position determining device at a known position transmits a data signal identifying the known position. A second position determining device is responsive to the data signal and movable to a position near but displaced from a survey point. The position of the second position determining device is determined relative to the known position, and the range and bearing of the survey point is determined relative to the second position determining device.

Claims

1. A system for locating a target point having known coordinates, comprising:

a reference position determining device at a known position, said device having means for wireless transmission of measurement data representative of at least said known position and the known coordinates of said target point; and

a roving position determining device responsive to said measurement data, said known coordinates of said target point, and satellite navigation signals and movable to the target point, said roving position determining device having a processor responsive to said measurement data and said satellite navigation signals to determine the position of said roving position determining device relative to said reference position determining device, said roving position determining device being adapted to determine and to reveal its position relative to the target point in response to its determined position and said known coordinates of said target point.

2. A system for locating a target point having known coordinates, comprising:

a reference position determining device at a known position, said reference device having means for wireless transmission of measurement data derived from satellite navigation signals; and

a roving position determining device movable to the target point and having a processor responsive to the measurement data, the satellite navigation signals, the known position of said reference device, and the known coordinates of the target point, the processor being adapted to determine and to reveal the position of said roving device relative to the target point.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the measurement data are derived from carrier phase measurements of the satellite navigation signals and the processor is responsive to carrier phase measurements of the satellite navigation signals.

4. A system according to claim 2 wherein the processor is adapted to determine and to reveal the position of said roving device relative to the target point with an error of less than 3 centimeters.

5. A system according to claim 2 wherein the target point is not previously staked out, the known coordinates of the target point are recorded in a data base, the measurement data are derived from carrier phase measurements of the satellite navigation signals, and the processor is responsive to carrier phase measurements of the satellite navigation signals and is adapted to determine and to reveal the position of the roving device relative to the target point with an error of less than 3 centimeters.