System for positioning a tool in a work space

• US 8,700,202 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Kahle, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Kavita
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lin, Jason
• Application Number:
  US12/956,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20120136475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 700/182, 701/50, 701/408, 701/484, 701/485, 701/492, 342/450, 342/463, 373/48
• US Class Current: 700/182
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/46 Indirect determination of position data
• 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 17/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/466 by Trilateration, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the distance to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, i.e. the distance between the antennas or sensors, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/18 Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form G05B19/418 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for assisting in the use by an operator of the operating element of a tool at desired locations at a worksite, includes a stationary control and a position sensor secured to the tool. The stationary control is located at the worksite, and has data stored therein specifying one or more desired locations for operation of the operating element of the tool at the worksite. A position sensor is mounted on the tool. The position sensor determines the position of the operating element of the tool. The position sensor includes a communication device for communicating with said stationary control, a sensor for determining its relative position with respect to said stationary control, and a display for providing indications to the user of the tool of the desired location for the operating element of the tool and of the actual location of the operating element of the tool.

Claims

1. A system for assisting an operator of an operating element of a tool at desired locations at a worksite, comprising:

a plurality of auto-reflective elements mounted on the tool,

a stationary control, located at the worksite, having data stored therein specifying one or more desired locations for operation of the operating element of the tool at the worksite, said stationary control including

a robotic total station for dithering among said auto-reflective elements,

a measurement circuit, responsive to said auto-reflective elements, for determining relative position with respect to said stationary control, and

a display for providing indications to the user of the tool of the desired location for the operating element of the tool and of the actual location of the operating element of the tool.

2. The system according to claim 1, in which said auto-reflective elements are mounted on said tool by a support band extending around said tool.

3. The system according to claim 1, in which said measurement circuit determines the position of the operating element of the tool and the movement of the operating element needed to move the operating unit to a desired location.

4. The system according to claim 1, in which said desired locations are specified in three dimensions.

5. The system according to claim 1, in which said desired locations are specified in two dimensions.

6. A system for determining dimensional coordinates of an operating element of a tool in a work space and indicating to a user of the tool that the operating element of the tool is properly positioned for operation, comprising:

a tool having an operating element,

a plurality of auto-reflective elements, mounted on said tool in known spatial relation to said operating element,

a stationary control for measuring the positions of auto-reflective elements in the work space, said stationary control including a measurement device, responsive to said plurality of auto-reflective elements, for determining the position of said operating element of said tool in said work space, said measurement device comprising a robotic total station which dithers among said plurality of auto-reflective elements so as to determine the position of said operating element of said tool, and

a display, mounted on said tool, for indicating that said operating element is properly positioned at a desired location for operation of said tool.

7. The system of claim 6, in which said display for indicating that said operating element is properly positioned for operation of said tool comprises a display, responsive to said measurement circuit, for indicating to a user the location of the operating element of said tool.

8. The system of claim 6, in which said display comprises a light which is turned on when said tool is positioned at a point for operation.

9. The system of claim 6, in which said measurement device is responsive to a user input to permit the user to specify a desired position for the operating element, and further comprising a display, responsive to said measurement device, for indicating the movement of the tool needed to move the operating element of the tool to said desired position.

10. The system of claim 6 in which said plurality of auto-reflective elements comprises a pair of auto-reflective elements mounted on said tool in known spatial relationship to said operating element, and in which said robotic total station dithers between said pair of auto-reflective elements so as to determine the position of said operating element of said tool.

11. The system according to claim 6, in which said plurality of auto-reflective elements are mounted on said tool by a support band extending around said tool.

12. The system according to claim 6, in which said desired location is specified in three dimensions.

13. The system according to claim 6, in which said tool is a power tool.

14. The system according to claim 6, in which said too is a handheld tool.

15. A method of assisting an operator of an operating element of a handheld tool at desired locations at a worksite, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of auto-reflective elements on a handheld tool for determining the location of the operating element of the handheld tool with respect to the worksite,

determining the location of said auto-reflective elements by dithering among them with a robotic total station,

identifying a location at the worksite at which the handheld tool is to be used,

displaying an indication on the handheld tool that the operating element of the handheld tool is located at a desired location at the worksite, such that said handheld tool can be operated at the desired location.

16. The method of claim 15, in which said step of providing a plurality of auto-reflective elements includes the step of providing a pair of auto-reflective elements.