Mobile instrument, viewing device, and methods of processing and storing information

• US 8,024,151 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ikeGPS Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Surveylab Group Limited
• Inventors: Mann, Graham Leslie, Van Toorenburg, Leon Lammers, Prentice, Mark Eric James, Bond, Craig Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau; Tung S
• Application Number:
  US12/238,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 702 60- 63, 702150-154, 702/158, 382/199, 382/286, 356/124, 356/124.5
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00

Abstract

A method of transferring information stored in a mobile instrument, the information including a first information file (140) containing metadata and a pointer indicative of a first auxiliary file address; and a first auxiliary file (141) containing image information, the first auxiliary file being located at the first auxiliary file address. The method includes the steps of: storing the metadata in a second information file (140′); storing the image information in a second auxiliary file (142′) at a second auxiliary file address; generating a second pointer indicative of the second auxiliary file address; and storing the second pointer in the second information file. The instrument includes a camera (70); one or more spatial sensors; and an external sensor port (56). Power to the sensors can be controlled asynchronously. Various parsing methods are also described. The instrument includes a marker module configured to superimpose a marker on the image.

Claims

1. A mobile handheld device configured to capture an image of a target and spatial data for determination of a position of the target, the device including:

i) one or more spatial sensors including;

a) one or more orientation sensors configured to determine an orientation of the mobile device;

b) a laser distance meter configured to determine a distance from the mobile device to a target; and

c) a positioning system configured to determine a position of the mobile instrument; and

ii) a viewing device including a camera for providing an image, a marker module configured to superimpose a marker indicative of a datum position on the image, and a display screen for displaying the image superimposed with the marker;

the marker including a plurality of image elements including a first element, and a second element having a visual content which contrasts with a visual content of the first element;

visual content including one or more of colour, brightness and tonal content; and

the laser distance meter being aligned with the datum position; and

iii) a processor configured to cause data to be captured substantially simultaneously from the spatial sensors and camera in response to a single user instruction to take a reading.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second elements are adjacent, substantially straight, parallel lines.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the marker includes four or more lines which radiate from a common central region.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the elements are arranged in a line in an alternating pattern.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second elements have different tonal content.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the first element is lighter than the second element.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein the positioning system is a global positioning system (GPS) system.

8. A device according to claim 1 further including a tilt sensor for indicating a tilt of the device relative to a datum direction indicated by the marker.

9. A mobile device according to claim 1 configured to determine a position of the target from the position information, distance information and direction information.

10. A mobile device according to claim 1 configured to capture and store an image including the target.

11. A mobile device according to claim 1, the processor being configured to dynamically change the visual content of one or more of the first and second elements in accordance with the displayed image.

12. A device according to claim 2 wherein the marker includes four or more pairs of adjacent, substantially straight, parallel lines which radiate from a common central region.

13. A device according to claim 3 wherein the lines do not intersect at the common central region, whereby the image can be viewed in the central region.

14. A device according to claim 4 wherein the elements are arranged in two or more adjacent lines in a chequerboard pattern.