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Method for determining the orientation of an orientation indicator

  • US 7,728,963 B2
  • Filed: 11/04/2005
  • Issued: 06/01/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for determining the orientation of an orientation indicator using a measuring instrument having distance measuring sensors and image acquiring sensors, the method comprising the following acts:

  • positioning the orientation indicator indirectly or directly at a target point where at least three reflecting segments;

    resolving by the image acquiring sensors the at least three reflecting segments having a shape and arrangement defining a detectable mutual geometric relationship, wherein from the measuring instrument toward the orientation indicator, one reflecting segment simultaneously has a directional emission of a collimated beam measured by the distance measuring sensors and a divergent beam acquired by the image acquiring sensors, wherein the collimated beam differs in wavelength and/or polarization from the divergent beam; and

    simultaneously;

    capturing the collimated beam reflected and/or scattered by the reflecting segments;

    capturing the divergent beam reflected and/or scattered by the reflecting segments;

    determining the distance from the measuring instrument to at least one reflecting segment using the distance measuring sensors; and

    determining the positions in space of the at least three reflecting segments using the image acquiring sensors.

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