Hand-held target locator
First Claim
1. A laser-based target locator for determining absolute coordinates of a target, the laser-based target locator comprising:
- an observation scope configured to provide an image viewable through an eyepiece;
an orientation sensor configured to obtain an angle of the target with respect to the laser-based target locator when the target is viewable through the eyepiece;
a location system configured to obtain the absolute coordinates of the laser-based target locator;
a laser range finder aligned with the observation scope and configured to measure a distance between the observation scope and the target when the target is viewable through the eyepiece; and
a processing unit communicatively coupled to the laser range finder, the orientation sensor, and the location system, the processing unit configured to determine the absolute coordinates of the target based on the distance, the angle of the target with respect to the laser-based target locator, and the absolute coordinates of the laser-based target locator;
wherein the laser-based target locator is configured to optically receive information from an optical tag, the information including absolute coordinates of the optical tag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for laser-based target locating for measuring and displaying absolute coordinates (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates) for a target. Techniques include determining absolute coordinates of a laser-based target locator, and using range and other measurements (e.g., compass heading, tilt, and/or the like) to determine the absolute coordinates of a target. The laser-based target locator can then display the absolute coordinates to a user. Sensors providing the other measurements may be calibrated by first determining the absolute coordinates of an optical tag, which may be optically communicated to the laser-based target locator.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A laser-based target locator for determining absolute coordinates of a target, the laser-based target locator comprising:
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an observation scope configured to provide an image viewable through an eyepiece; an orientation sensor configured to obtain an angle of the target with respect to the laser-based target locator when the target is viewable through the eyepiece; a location system configured to obtain the absolute coordinates of the laser-based target locator; a laser range finder aligned with the observation scope and configured to measure a distance between the observation scope and the target when the target is viewable through the eyepiece; and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the laser range finder, the orientation sensor, and the location system, the processing unit configured to determine the absolute coordinates of the target based on the distance, the angle of the target with respect to the laser-based target locator, and the absolute coordinates of the laser-based target locator; wherein the laser-based target locator is configured to optically receive information from an optical tag, the information including absolute coordinates of the optical tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of determining absolute coordinates of a target with a laser-based target locator, the method comprising:
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providing an image viewable through an eyepiece of an observation scope of the laser-based target locator; optically receiving information, with the laser-based target locator, from an optical tag, the information including absolute coordinates of the optical tag; obtaining, with an orientation sensor, an angle of the target with respect to the laser-based target locator when the target is viewable through the eyepiece; obtaining, with a location system, the absolute coordinates of the laser-based target locator; measuring, with a laser range finder of the laser-based target locator, a distance between the observation scope and the target when the target is viewable through the eyepiece; and determining the absolute coordinates of the target based on the distance, the angle of the target with respect to the laser-based target locator, and the absolute coordinates of the laser-based target locator. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification