Scanning device and method for analyzing a road surface
First Claim
1. A road surface scanning device, comprising:
- a frame having a plurality of structural members including a longitudinal support that extends in a longitudinal direction of the scanning device, and a lateral support that extends in a lateral direction of the scanning device and is securely connected to the longitudinal support;
a carriage being movably attached to the frame so that it can move in the longitudinal direction of the scanning device;
a scanner for acquiring road surface data and having a laser head that emits an incident laser line towards the road surface, and a camera that receives a reflected laser line from the road surface;
a first actuator for moving the scanner along the carriage in the lateral direction of the scanning device; and
a second actuator for moving the carriage along the frame in the longitudinal direction of the scanning device, wherein the first actuator moves the scanner along the carriage during a lateral scan, and the second actuator moves the carriage along the frame in between lateral scans.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A road surface scanning device and method for scanning a section of road in order to acquire road surface data, which in turn can be used to create a mathematical model of the road. In one embodiment, the road surface scanning device includes a frame, a carriage movably mounted to the frame, a scanner movably mounted to the carriage, and a pair of electric actuators that can move the scanner across the road surface. Information from adjacent scanner passes are electronically stitched together and, in a similar manner, information from adjacent surface segments are electronically joined to form a mathematical model of the road. Various techniques can then be used to process the road surface data and prepare it for use by other software applications.
23 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A road surface scanning device, comprising:
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a frame having a plurality of structural members including a longitudinal support that extends in a longitudinal direction of the scanning device, and a lateral support that extends in a lateral direction of the scanning device and is securely connected to the longitudinal support; a carriage being movably attached to the frame so that it can move in the longitudinal direction of the scanning device; a scanner for acquiring road surface data and having a laser head that emits an incident laser line towards the road surface, and a camera that receives a reflected laser line from the road surface; a first actuator for moving the scanner along the carriage in the lateral direction of the scanning device; and a second actuator for moving the carriage along the frame in the longitudinal direction of the scanning device, wherein the first actuator moves the scanner along the carriage during a lateral scan, and the second actuator moves the carriage along the frame in between lateral scans. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for scanning a road surface, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a road surface scanning device having at least a scanner, a first actuator, and a second actuator; (b) moving the scanner to a home position; (c) performing a first scanning pass across a first surface strip, wherein the first scanning pass involves moving the scanner with the first actuator while recording road surface data with the scanner; (d) advancing the scanner with the second actuator so that it is positioned over a second surface strip; and (e) performing a second scanning pass across the second surface strip, wherein the second scanning pass involves moving the scanner with the first actuator while recording road surface data with the scanner. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification