System a method and an apparatus for performing wireless measurements, positioning and surface mapping by means of a portable coordinate system

• US 7,605,756 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EZ 2 CAD Ltd.
• Original Assignee: EZ 2 CAD Ltd.
• Inventors: Ash, Chaim, Volodine, Yuri G., Kovtun, Michael, Novikov, Lenny M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALSOMIRI, ISAM A
• Application Number:
  US10/598,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/457, 342/385, 342/463, 342/465, 701/207, 701/213, 340/572.1, 356/3.01, 356/3.1
• US Class Current: 342/385
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 7/04 involving a vehicle which moves along the profile to be traced
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/00 Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith position fixing by co-ordinating a plurality of determinations of direction or position lines G01S5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/00 Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations G01S5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/00 Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/876 Combination of several spaced transponders or reflectors of known location for determining the position of a receiver G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/00 Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/00 Systems using the reflection or reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/00 Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received position-fixing by co-ordinating a plurality of determinations of direction or position lines G01S5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/00 Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00

Abstract

The present invention is a new multifunctional low-cost solution for performing measurements and positioning in construction sites and automatically extracting a three-dimensional virtual model, plans, elevations and sections drawings based on these measurements. The preferred embodiment of the present invention consists of a field beacon or a set of field beacons, spread around the measured area, communicating by omnidirectional signals with at least one central signal collector, which communicates with a computer. Dedicated computer software performs the spatial calculations and other applicable functions. The disclosed system is used for laying out axes and columns at the beginning stage of construction while ensuring the exact match of each mark to its planned position, and for quality and exactitude control of constructions or assembling. In addition the system may be used for locating and tracking objects in a predefined area and automatic directing of machinery to target points.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system for performing measurements and positioning of objects in a given structure, the wireless communication system comprising:

at least one field beacon positioned at least one target point;

a central signal collector comprising at least three base beacons assembled in a polygon design of known dimensions, wherein each base beacon communicates with each of the at least one field beacon;

an application software arranged to perform calculations based on measurements of communication signal characteristics between the at least one field beacon and the base beacons of the central collector and further arranged to enable the identification of points'"'"' exact position within the given structure, wherein at least one field beacon is positioned on every identified point and the at least three base beacons are set at positions within the given structure; and

a module that creates a three-dimensional visual model of the given structure based on the identification and calculations of points'"'"' exact position within the given structure.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the at least one target point defines a target object and the performed calculations are determined according to the geometrical shape of the target object.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein the geometrical shape is a surface, including at least three field beacons or touched by one field beacon in at least three points.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein the geometrical shape is an opening, including at least three field beacons or touched by one field beacon in at least three points.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein the central collectors base beacons are set at permanent positions within the given structure, and wherein the target objects are inventory items and the performed calculations support warehouse inventory management.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the central signal collector'"'"'s initial position is initialized by a GPS device.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the central signal collector'"'"'s initial position is initialized by at least one field beacon applied to the three reference points with known coordinates.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the central signal collector position is initialized in relation to at least three non-aligned field beacons.

9. The wireless communication system of claim 1, further comprising an additional central signal collector for increasing measurement accuracy and for expanding the range of communication reception.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the field beacons communicate with each other, enabling the creation of ad hoc signal collectors for improving the accuracy of the performed calculations and for extending the range of communication reception.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 10, wherein at least three field beacons function as a relay station enabling communication between distanced beacons which are not in the communication range of the central collector.

12. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the at least one field beacon and the base beacons communicate through RF signals, wherein the distance measurements are based on RF signal properties.

13. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the at least one field beacon and the base beacons communicate through ultrasonic signals, wherein the distance measurements are based on the signals time properties.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the at least one field beacon and the base beacons communicate through laser signals, wherein the at least one field beacon are bar-coded and the central signal device is a laser scanner.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the performed calculations are used for surveying surroundings before construction, wherein the field beacons are positioned at strategic locations, enabling the determination of the topographic relations between the beacons.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the measurement calculations are used for surveying surroundings under construction, wherein the at least one field beacon are positioned at strategic locations, enabling the comparison between on-location positioning and construction designs.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the given structure is a building and wherein at least one of the field beacons is embedded into the building for future maintenance or monitoring use.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the central collectors base beacons are set at permanent positions within the given structure.

19. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the movement of the identified objects is incorporated within the three-dimensional visual model of the building.

20. The wireless communication system of claim 1, further comprising a three field beacon triangle structure which is connected to a laser-based distance measuring device to measure any target point.

21. A wireless communication system for performing measurements and positioning of objects in a given structure, the wireless communication system comprising:

at least one field beacon positioned at a target object;

a central signal collector, comprising at least three base beacons assembled in a polygon design of known dimensions, wherein each base beacon communicates with each of the field beacons; and

an application software arranged to perform calculations based on measurements of communication signal characteristics between the at least one field beacon and the base beacons of the central collector,

wherein the field beacons are positioned at different spaces within the given structure;

and wherein the central signal collector is moved sequentially from one space to another for each measurement session.

22. A wireless communication system for performing measurements and positioning of objects in a given structure, the wireless communication system comprising:

at least one field beacon positioned at a target object;

a three field beacon triangle structure connected to a pointing telescopic rod of a known length;

a central signal collector, comprising at least three base beacons assembled in a polygon design of known dimensions, wherein each base beacon communicates with each of the field beacons; and

an application software arranged to perform calculations based on measurements of communication signal characteristics between the at least one field beacon and the base beacons of the central collector,

wherein three field beacon triangle structure enables to measure any target point.