Measurement methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. A measurement device, comprising:
- an electronic range finding device operative to determine;
a first distance between said device and a ground reference point;
a second distance between said device and a geophysical point of interest;
a sensor operative to identify at least one angular orientation of said electronic range finding device relative to a predetermined frame of reference; and
a processor operatively interconnected to said electronic range finding device and said sensor, said processor being operative to utilize said first distance, said second distance and said at least one angular orientation to calculate vector information between said ground reference point and said geophysical point of interest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A measurement device is provided that allows for determining distance, range and bearing of a target of interest. The distance, range and bearing to the target of interest are determined relative to the position of the measurement device and are stored in memory. The device is further operative to translate these relative positions of the target to an absolute position at the time of measurement, or, when the position of the measurement device becomes known. The absolute position of the measurement device may be determined utilizing GPS technologies or through the measurement of geophysical reference points. Measurement of the relative location of target(s) of interest is performed utilizing an electronic range finding device and elevation and heading sensors. The resulting information is stored in memory for conversions to vector information that may be utilized to generate, for instance, topographical images.
266 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A measurement device, comprising:
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an electronic range finding device operative to determine;
a first distance between said device and a ground reference point;
a second distance between said device and a geophysical point of interest;
a sensor operative to identify at least one angular orientation of said electronic range finding device relative to a predetermined frame of reference; and
a processor operatively interconnected to said electronic range finding device and said sensor, said processor being operative to utilize said first distance, said second distance and said at least one angular orientation to calculate vector information between said ground reference point and said geophysical point of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A measurement device, comprising:
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a digital camera operative to generate a digital image of a point of interest;
a display operatively interconnected to said digital camera, said display being operative to display said digital image; and
an electronic range finding device operative to determine a distance and a relative angular position between said device and said point of interest. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for associating modeled data with geophysical locations, comprising:
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identifying a reference point within a geophysical area;
based on said reference point, associating modeled data with said geophysical area;
selecting a point of interest from said modeled data; and
projecting a visible mark onto a geophysical point within said geophysical area that corresponds to said point of interest. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method for creating graphical representations of a geophysical area, comprising:
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moving a range finding laser between first and second positions in a geophysical area, wherein said range finding laser is positioned at a reference position; and
acquiring a series of data inputs as said range finding laser moves between said first and second positions, wherein said series of data input includes;
a series of distances between said reference position and a series of projection positions of said laser on said geophysical area; and
a series of angular relationships of said series of projection positions relative to said reference position;
- View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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53. A measurement device, comprising:
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a first electronic range finding device operative to determine at least a vertical distance between said device and a ground reference point;
a second electronic range finding device operative to determine a second distance between said device and a geophysical point of interest;
a sensor operative to identify first and second angular orientations of said first and second electronic range finding devices, respectively, relative to a predetermined frame of reference; and
a processor operatively interconnected to said first and second electronic range finding devices and said sensor, said processor being operative to utilize said first distance, said second distance and said first and second angular orientations to calculate vector information between said ground reference point and said geophysical point of interest.
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Specification