Device and method for setting out contours, points or works and a guiding device for use therewith

• US 8,457,917 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Holding Prodim Systems B.V.
• Original Assignee: Holding Prodim Systems B.V.
• Inventors: Teune, Dick
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAI, CAROL S W
• Application Number:
  US12/700,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 702/95, 702/94, 702/150, 702/151, 702/152, 175/26, 175/45, 175/61, 175/62, 324/326, 324/690, 324/334, 324/338, 340/853.3, 340/854.4, 340/853.5, 340/853.6, 343/866, 343/867, 337/63, 33/1.N, 337/56, 337/61, 335/515, 335/45, 335/53, 335/55, 335/72, 335/03, 337/02
• US Class Current: 702/95
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/11 Chains for measuring length
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/004 for measuring coordinates of points
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/20 for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00

Abstract

A device, a method and a guiding device for setting out contours, points or works, including a computer-controlled measuring device provided with a movable measuring probe and a portable base unit provided with a rotatably supported elongate arm. The measuring probe is connected to the measuring device by means of a cord or a wire via the elongate arm, and the measuring device is provided with sensors for measuring a length or a change in the length of the cord or the wire and rotation of the arm in at least one degree of freedom for providing position data of the measuring probe.

Claims

1. A device for setting out contours, points or works, comprising a measuring device provided with a movable measuring probe and a portable base unit provided with a rotatably supported elongate arm, wherein the measuring probe is connected to the measuring device by means of a cord or a wire via the elongate arm and the measuring device is provided with sensors for measuring length or a change in length of the cord or the wire and rotation of the arm in at least one degree of freedom, and with a computer-controlled processing device connected to the sensors for processing measuring signals delivered by the sensors into position data of the measuring probe, a guiding device communicatively connected to the measuring device for providing guidance regarding positioning of the measuring probe for the purpose of reducing a difference between a measured position of the measuring probe and a desired position of the measuring probe in accordance with a contour, point or work to be set out, wherein the guiding device is provided with an indicating device for providing guidance for moving the measuring probe based on a difference between a measured position of the measuring probe as measured by the measuring device and a desired position of the measuring probe in accordance with a contour, point or work to be set out.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises a storage device for loading and storing data representative of a contour, point or work to be set out therein, and a calculating device for calculating the difference between the position of the measuring probe as measured by the measuring device and the desired position of the measuring probe in accordance with the loaded data of a contour, point or work to be set out.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding device is incorporated in the measuring device.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding device comprises a storage device for loading and storing data representative of a contour, point or work to be set out therein, and a calculating device for calculating the difference between the position of the measuring probe as measured by the measuring device and the desired position of the measuring probe in accordance with the data loaded in the storage device regarding a contour, point or work to be set out.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the indicating device of the guiding device is designed for providing guidance for moving the measuring probe in the form of direction information.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the indicating device of the guiding device is designed for providing guidance for moving the measuring probe in the form of direction information, using at least one of the group comprising:

audio direction information;

optical direction information;

graphic direction information;

tactile direction information.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the indicating device of the guiding device is provided with a graphic display screen, being designed for displaying an image representing the cord or the wire on the display screen and for displaying the guidance for moving the measuring probe in relation to said image.

8. A device according to claim 1, comprising a position determining device for determining a relative position of the guiding device with respect to at least one of the base unit and the measuring probe of the measuring device, wherein the indicating device of the guiding device is provided with a graphic display screen for displaying the guidance on the display screen in relation to the determined relative position.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the indicating device of the guiding device is provided with a graphic display screen for providing the guidance on the display screen in relation to a representation of a contour, point or work to be set out.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the indicating device of the guiding device is provided with a graphic display screen for providing the guidance on the display screen in relation to reference positions of a contour, point or work to be set out.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the indicating device of the guiding device is designed for providing guidance in a coordinate system that is to be selected.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the indicating device of the guiding device is designed for providing guidance for moving the measuring probe in two independent directions in a two-dimensional partial representation.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding device comprises a signalling device for signalling to the user that said difference is lower than a predetermined threshold value.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding device comprises a device for confirming and selecting a position of the measuring probe in accordance with a contour, point or work to be set out.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding device is communicatively coupled to the measuring device by wireless means.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring probe and the guiding device are combined into one portable unit.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the computer-controlled processing device for processing measuring signals delivered by the sensors into position data of the measuring probe is incorporated in the guiding device, and wherein the guiding device is designed for indicating the position of the measuring probe relative to a fixedly disposed base unit in at least two independent coordinates.

18. A method for setting out contours, points or works, using a device comprising a measuring device provided with a movable measuring probe and a portable base unit provided with a rotatably supported elongate arm, wherein the measuring probe is connected to the measuring device by means of a cord or a wire via the elongate arm and the measuring device is provided with sensors for measuring length or a change in length of the cord or the wire and rotation of the arm in at least one degree of freedom, with a computer-controlled processing device connected to the sensors for processing measuring signals delivered by the sensors into position data of the measuring probe, and with a guiding device communicatively connected to the measuring device for providing guidance regarding positioning of the measuring probe for the purpose of reducing a difference between a measured position of the measuring probe and a desired position of the measuring probe in accordance with a contour, point or work to be set out, wherein the guiding device is provided with an indicating device for providing guidance for moving the measuring probe on the basis of a difference between a measured position of the measuring probe as measured by the measuring device and a desired position of the measuring probe in accordance with a contour, point or work to be set out, further comprising a storage device for loading and storing data representative of a contour, point or work to be set out therein, and a calculating device for calculating the difference between the position of the measuring probe as measured by the measuring device and the desired position of the measuring probe in accordance with the loaded data of the contour, point or work to be set out, which method comprises the steps of:

a) loading data representative of a contour, point or work to be set out into a global coordinate system, which data comprise at least two known independent reference positions,

b) calibrating a measuring coordinate system,

c) calculating coordinate transformation values for transforming positions between the global coordinate system and the measuring coordinate system,

d) selecting, from the loaded data, a position of a contour, point or work to be set out as a desired position of the measuring probe,

e) measuring a current position of the measuring probe in at least two independent coordinates,

f) calculating a difference between the measured current position and a desired position of the measuring probe in accordance with the calculated coordinate transformation values,

g) indicating the calculated difference by means of the guiding device in the form of guidance for moving the measuring probe,

h) repeating steps e) through g) until said difference is lower than a predetermined threshold value, and

i) repeating steps d) through h) for various points of a contour, points or a work to be set out.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein step b) comprises measuring in at least two independent coordinates of the position of the measuring probe at known reference positions contained in the loaded data.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein a signal is given when the calculated difference is lower than a predetermined threshold value.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein step d) is carried out automatically by the measuring device.

22. A method according to claim 18, wherein step d) is carried out from the guiding device.

23. A method according to claim 18, wherein steps e) through h) are carried out in a quasi-continuous manner.

24. A method according to claim 18, wherein the guiding device indicates the guidance in the form of direction information for moving the measuring probe.

25. A method according to claim 18, wherein the guiding device indicates the guidance in the form of direction information for moving the measuring probe, using at least one of the group comprising:

audio direction information;

optical direction information;

graphic direction information;

tactile direction information.

26. A method according to claim 18, wherein the guiding device indicates the guidance for moving the measuring probe in relation to an image representing the cord or the wire.

27. A method according to claim 18, wherein a relative position of the guiding device with respect to at least one of the base unit and the measuring probe of the measuring device is determined, and wherein the guiding device indicates the guidance for moving the measuring probe in relation to the determined relative position.

28. A method according to claim 18, wherein the guiding device indicates the guidance in relation to a representation of a contour, point or work to be set out.

29. A method according to claim 18, wherein the guiding device indicates the guidance in relation to reference positions of a contour, point or work to be set out.

30. A method according to claim 18, wherein the measured current position of the measuring probe is indicated in relation to a representation of a contour, point or work to be set out.

31. A method according to claim 18, wherein the guiding device indicates the guidance in a two-dimensional partial representation of a contour, point or work to be set out.

32. A method according to claim 18, wherein results measured by means of the measuring device are added to the loaded data.

33. A guiding device provided with an indicating device for providing guidance for moving a measuring probe of a device for setting out contours, points or works, which device comprises a measuring device and a portable base unit provided with a rotatably supported elongate arm, wherein the measuring probe is connected to the measuring device by means of a cord or a wire via the elongate arm and the measuring device is provided with sensors for measuring a length or a change in length of the cord or the wire and rotation of the arm in at least one degree of freedom, and with a computer-controlled processing device connected to the sensors for processing measuring signals delivered by the sensors into position data of the measuring probe, wherein the guiding device is designed for being communicatively connected to the measuring device for providing guidance regarding positioning of the measuring probe for the purpose of reducing a difference between a measured position of the measuring probe and a desired position of the measuring probe in accordance with a contour, point or work to be set out.

34. A guiding device according to claim 33, wherein the indicating device of the guiding device is provided with a graphic display screen, being designed for displaying an image representing the cord or the wire on the display screen in use and for displaying the guidance for moving the measuring probe in relation to said image.

35. A guiding device according to claim 33, wherein the indicating device is provided with a position determining device for determining a relative position of the guiding device with respect to at least one of the base unit and the measuring probe of the measuring device, wherein the indicating device of the guiding device is provided with a graphic display screen for displaying the guidance on the display screen in relation to the determined relative position.