Survey system

• US 7,321,420 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Topcon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sokkia Co. Ltd. (Topcon Corporation)
• Inventors: Chiba, Minoru, Yasutomi, Satoshi, Nishita, Nobuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ratcliffe; Luke D.
• Application Number:
  US11/365,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20060197944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 356/141.3
• US Class Current: 356/141.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00

Abstract

[Problem] In a surveying instrument that automatically tracks or collimates a target, the target that is moved to a measurement point and is placed there can be found in the shortest possible time.

[Solution Means] In a survey system made up of a target (60) and a surveying instrument (50) that automatically tracks or collimates the target, the target is provided with a direction angle sensor (86) that measures a surveying-instrument direction angle (θta, θtb) obtained when the target is directed toward the surveying instrument, whereas the surveying instrument is provided with a horizontal angle measuring portion that measures a target direction angle (θsa, θsb, θsc) indicating the direction of the target. An estimated target direction angle (θsb) is calculated from an angular difference (θ_o) between the surveying-instrument direction angle (θta) and the target direction angle (θsa) obtained at the last measurement and from the surveying-instrument direction angle (θtb) obtained at the present measurement. The instrument body (52) is directed in the direction of the estimated target direction angle.

Claims

1. A survey system comprising a target and a surveying instrument that automatically tracks or collimates the target,

the target comprising:

a direction angle sensor that measures a surveying-instrument direction angle obtained when the target is directed toward the surveying instrument; and

a measurement command means for transmitting the surveying-instrument direction angle and a measurement command to the surveying instrument,

the surveying instrument comprising;

an angle measuring means for measuring a target direction angle that indicates a direction of the target;

a measurement means for automatically collimating the target and performing measurement when the measurement command is received;

an angular-difference calculating means for calculating an angular difference between the surveying-instrument direction angle and the target direction angle;

a target-direction-angle estimating means for calculating an estimated target direction angle from the angular difference calculated at last measurement and from the surveying-instrument direction angle transmitted from the target at present measurement; and

a rotation means for directing a body of the surveying instrument in a direction of the estimated target direction angle.

3. The survey system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotation means determines a rotational direction having a smaller angular difference selected from between a clockwise angular difference and a counterclockwise angular difference, concerning a present direction angle at which the body of the surveying instrument is directed and the estimated target direction angle.

4. The survey system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the angular-difference calculating means calculates a representative value of angular differences that have hitherto been obtained whenever the angular differences are calculated, and the target-direction-angle estimating means uses the representative value as the angular difference.

5. The survey system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the target includes a guide light transmitter that emits guide light indicating a direction of the target, and the surveying instrument includes a direction detector that detects the direction of the target by receiving the guide light.

6. The survey system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the direction angle sensor is a magnetic sensor.

2. A survey system comprising a target and a surveying instrument that automatically tracks or collimates the target,

the target comprising:

a direction angle sensor that measures a surveying-instrument direction angle obtained when the target is directed toward the surveying instrument;

an angular-difference calculating means for calculating an angular difference between the surveying-instrument direction angle and a target direction angle that indicates a direction of the target-transmitted from the surveying instrument;

a target-direction-angle estimating means for calculating an estimated target direction angle from the angular difference calculated at last measurement and from the surveying-instrument direction angle obtained when the target is directed toward the surveying instrument at present measurement; and

a measurement command means for transmitting a measurement command including the estimated target direction angle to the surveying instrument,

the surveying instrument comprising;

an angle measuring means for measuring a target direction angle;

a measurement means for automatically collimating the target and performing measurement when the measurement command is received;

a measured-value transmitting means for transmitting the target direction angle to the target; and

a rotation means for directing a body of the surveying instrument in a direction of the estimated target direction angle.