Locating device

• US 8,111,169 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2007
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Krapf, Reiner, Mahler, Michael, Wieland, Christoph, Hoffmann, Ulli
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US12/303,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,772 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/686.6, 340/685, 340/551, 738/03, 324/218, 324/243, 324/239, 324/67, 324/237, 324/244, 337/73, 337/75
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

The invention is based on a locating device for locating objects in an item being investigated, the device having a basic body, a guide unit for guiding along the item being investigated in at least one direction of movement and an output unit. It is proposed that the locating device has a control unit which, in conjunction with the output unit, is provided for the purpose of outputting at least one item of information relating to a distance in the direction of movement with at least one dimensional distance variable.

Claims

1. A handheld locating device for locating objects in an item being investigated, comprising:

a body configured as a housing comprising;

a guide means for guiding the body of the handheld locating device along the item being investigated in at least one direction of movement;

an output unit arranged along a side of the body;

a control unit that, in conjunction with the output unit, is configured to output at least one item of information relating to a distance in the at least one direction of movement with at least one dimensional distance variable; and

a sensor unit for acquiring at least one movement parameter during a movement of the body, wherein the control unit, in conjunction with the output unit, at least synchronously updates the at least one dimensional distance variable for a progression of the at least one movement parameter.

2. The locating device of claim 1, wherein the output unit has a display unit for displaying the at least one item of information relating to a distance to an operator, and wherein the display unit, in conjunction with the control unit, is configured to display the at least one dimensional distance variable in a form of an electrically generated numeral.

3. The locating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one item of information relating to a distance is at least a function of a length of path of a path of the body in the at least one direction of movement.

4. The locating device of claim 1, further comprising:

a locating unit for acquiring an item of information relating to a location of the item being investigated, wherein said item of information relating to a location is different from the least one item of information relating to a distance; and

a logging mode for compiling a data bank, wherein the item of information relating to a location is assigned to the at least one dimensional distance variable.

5. The locating device of claim 4, further comprising a memory unit for storing at least the data bank.

6. The locating device of claim 1, wherein the output unit further comprises an interface for outputting the at least one dimensional distance variable to a data unit positioned external to the body.

7. The locating device of claim 1, further comprising an input device and an input mode, wherein a reference point for ascertaining the at least one dimensional distance variable can be defined by use of the input device.

8. The locating device of claim 1, further comprising an input device and an input mode for inputting the at least one item of information relating to a distance, wherein the at least one item of information relating to a distance defines a path to be covered by the body.

9. The locating device of claim 1, further comprising a locating unit for acquiring an item of information relating to a location of the item being investigated, and wherein the control unit at least partially automatically defines a reference point for ascertaining the at least one dimensional distance variable with the aid of the item of information relating to a location.