Dual coaxial NSS receiver system

• US 9,689,990 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2012
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Inventors: Fortune, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chuong P
• Application Number:
  US13/566,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20130033395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 34035725, 34035734, 34035736, 34035752, 701470, 34235725, 34235734, 34235736, 34235752
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/06 Surveyors' staffs; Movable markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/53 Determining attitude

Abstract

A dual coaxial NSS receiver system is disclosed. One embodiment receives first location information about a first navigation satellite system (NSS) antenna mounted on an object at a first location. In addition, second location information is received from a second NSS antenna mounted on the object in a second location different from the first location. A spatial relationship is determined between the first NSS antenna, the second NSS antenna and a portion of the object. The first location information, the second location information and the spatial relationship are then utilized to determine the spatial location of the portion of the object.

Claims

1. A method for determining a position, the method comprising:

determining a first location of a first navigation satellite system (NSS) antenna mounted on an object at a first location;

determining a second location of a second NSS antenna mounted on the object in a second location different from the first location;

determining a spatial relationship among the first NSS antenna, the second NSS antenna, and a portion of the object;

determining a tilt of the object based on the first location of the first NSS antenna and the second location of the second NSS antenna;

upon determining that the tilt is greater than a predefined tilt limit, refraining from automatically determining a spatial location of the portion of the object; and

upon determining that the tilt is not greater than the pre-defined tilt limit, determining the spatial location of the portion of the object based on the first location, the second location, and the spatial relationship.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the object is a pole.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the portion of the object is a distal end of the object.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

utilizing a pressure-activated switch disposed at the distal end of the object to trigger the determination of the spatial location of the portion of the object.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

fixedly coupling the first NSS antenna and the second NSS antenna to the object during manufacture, such that the spatial relationship is non-adjustable.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

removably coupling the first NSS antenna and the second NSS antenna to the object, such that the spatial relationship is adjustable.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing a single NSS receiver coupled with both the first NSS antenna and the second NSS antenna to determine the first location of the first NSS antenna and the second location of the second NSS antenna.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing a first NSS receiver coupled with the first NSS antenna to determine the first location of the first NSS antenna; and

utilizing a second NSS receiver coupled with the second NSS antenna to determine the second location of the second NSS antenna.

9. A position determination system, comprising:

an object having a point of interest located thereon;

a first navigation satellite system (NSS) antenna mounted in a first position on said object;

a second NSS antenna mounted in a second position on said object, wherein the point of interest, the first antenna, and the second antenna have a known coaxial spatial relationship;

an NSS receiver coupled to said first antenna and to said second antenna, and configured to generate location information for each of the first NSS antenna and the second NSS antenna; and

a spatial location determiner configured to;

determine a first location of the first NSS antenna and a second location of the second NSS antenna;

determine a tilt of said object based on the first location of the first NSS antenna and the second location of the second NSS antenna;

upon determining that the tilt is greater than a pre-defined tilt limit, refrain from automatically determining a spatial location of the point of interest on the object; and

upon determining that the tilt is not greater than the pre-defined tilt limit, determine the spatial location of the point of interest on the object based on the first location of the first NSS antenna, the second location of the second NSS antenna, and the known coaxial spatial relationship among the first NSS antenna, the second NSS antenna, and the point of interest.

10. The position determination system of claim 9 further comprising:

a database configured to store the first location of said first NSS antenna and the second location of said second NSS antenna.

11. The position determination system of claim 10 further comprising:

a data collector configured to store said database, the data collector coupled to the NSS receiver via a wireless communications link.

12. The position determination system of claim 10 further comprising:

a storage system for said database in the NSS receiver.

13. The position determination system of claim 9 further comprising:

an NSS time recorder configured to record a time the first location of the first NSS antenna and the second location of the second NSS antenna were generated.

14. The position determination system of claim 9 wherein the spatial location determiner stores said spatial location of the point of interest in a database, with an NSS time stamp.

15. The position determination system of claim 9 further comprising:

a switch to automatically active the spatial location determiner, the switch activated by a contact between the point of interest on the object and a different object.

16. A method for determining a location of a selected point on an object, comprising:

providing a first NSS receiver having a first antenna at a first position on said object for determining a spatial location of said first antenna;

providing a second NSS receiver having a second antenna at a second position on said object for determining a spatial location of said second antenna;

providing a support structure for said first and second antennas, wherein the first and second antennas are coaxially aligned with the selected point on said object;

determining a spatial relationship among the selected point on the object, the first position of the first antenna, and the second position of the second antenna;

determining a series of locations of the selected point on the object at a series of time intervals using the spatial locations of said first and second antennas as determined by the first and second NSS receivers at the series of time intervals and the determined spatial relationship;

selecting two consecutive locations among the series of locations of the selected point on the object where a difference between the two consecutive locations is less than a specified distance; and

determining a fixed location of the selected point on the object based on the selected two consecutive locations.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

providing a database for storing the spatial locations for said first antenna and said second antenna.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

providing a data collector for storing said database, wherein the data collector is coupled to each of the NSS receivers via a wireless communications link.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

providing a storage system for said database in the first NSS receiver and in the second NSS receiver.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

storing an NSS time for which the spatial locations for the first antenna and the second antenna were determined.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

storing said series of locations of the selected point on the object in a database, with an NSS time stamp for each of the series of locations.