Survey apparatus and survey method

• US 6,078,285 A
• Filed: 06/19/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Ito, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/100,240
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.08, 342/357.17, 701/213
• US Class Current: 342/357.64
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/43 using carrier phase measurements, e.g. kinematic positioning; using long or short baseline interferometry

Abstract

An angle and distance measuring apparatus having a built-in microcomputer is combined with a GPS survey machine so as to form a survey apparatus. The GPS survey machine measures the position of the survey apparatus by real time and obtains the values of coordinates defining the position of the survey apparatus. The angle and distance measuring apparatus creates and stores observation data in performing a survey. The microcomputer then stores the values of the measured coordinates as installation point information for observation data. Whenever the observation data is analyzed, the installation point of the survey apparatus can be confirmed. Thus, the survey result is easily evaluated and judged. As a result, based on the correct observation data, a highly reliable survey result is produced.

Claims

1. A survey method comprising:

installing a survey apparatus at a survey point, the survey apparatus including (i) an angle and distance measuring apparatus having a microcomputer and (ii) a global positioning system (GPS) survey machine;

using the microcomputer to (i) select predetermined coordinates of the survey point in accordance with a work sequence before a survey is started and (ii) store the predetermined coordinates;

using the GPS survey machine to measure coordinates defining a position of the survey point, thus producing measured coordinates, and using the measured coordinates as a name of the survey point;

comparing the stored predetermined coordinates with the measured coordinates;

displaying a warning sign on a display screen or generating a warning sound if the stored predetermined coordinates do not match the measured coordinates;

storing the name in the microcomputer;

obtaining observation data using the angle and distance measuring apparatus based upon the stored name; and

storing the observation data in the microcomputer.

2. A survey method as claimed in claim 1, wherein direction and distance from the coordinate of the position of the selected survey point, which GPS survey machine has measured, to the coordinate of the position of the selected survey point stored in the microcomputer are displayed on the display screen of the angle and distance measuring apparatus, if a discrepancy between the values of the coordinate of the position of the selected survey point, which the GPS survey machine has measured, and the values of the coordinate of the position of the selected survey point stored in the microcomputer has exceeded an admissible range of error, based on the discrepancy between the two coordinates.

3. A survey method as claimed in claim 1, wherein direction and distance from the coordinate of the position of the selected survey point, which GPS survey machine has measured, to the coordinate of the position of the selected survey point stored in the microcomputer are displayed on the display screen of the angle and distance measuring apparatus, if a discrepancy between the values of the coordinate of the position of the selected survey point, which the GPS survey machine has measured, and the values of the coordinate of the position of the selected survey point stored in the microcomputer has exceeded an admissible range of error, based on the discrepancy between the two coordinates.

4. A survey apparatus comprising:

an angle and distance measuring apparatus for measuring angles and distance from a survey point, the angle and distance measuring apparatus having a microcomputer storing predetermined coordinates of a position of the survey apparatus installed at the survey point, storing the predetermined coordinates in accordance with a work sequence; and

a global positioning system survey machine for measuring the position of the survey apparatus in real time, obtaining measured coordinates of the position of the survey apparatus thereby;

wherein the survey apparatus (i) determines whether the measured coordinates match the stored coordinates when the global positioning system survey machine measures the coordinates and (ii) generates a warning if the measured coordinates do not match the stored coordinates.

5. A survey apparatus comprising:

an angle and distance measuring apparatus for measuring angles and distance from a survey point, the angle and distance measuring apparatus having a built-in microcomputer storing predetermined coordinates of a position of the survey apparatus installed at the survey point, storing the predetermined coordinates in accordance with a work sequence;

wherein the microcomputer stores the predetermined coordinates as a name of the survey point when the predetermined coordinates are stored; and

a global positioning system survey machine for measuring the position of the survey apparatus in real time, producing measured coordinates of the position of the survey apparatus thereby;

wherein the survey apparatus (i) determines whether the measured coordinates match the stored coordinates when the global positioning system survey machine measures the coordinates and (ii) generates a warning if the measured coordinates do not match the stored coordinates.

6. A survey apparatus comprising:

an angle and distance measuring apparatus for measuring angles and distance from a survey point, the angle and distance measuring apparatus having a built-in microcomputer storing predetermined coordinates of a position of the survey apparatus installed at the survey point, storing the predetermined coordinates in accordance with a work sequence; and

a global positioning system survey machine for measuring the position of the survey apparatus in real time, obtaining measured coordinates of the position of the survey apparatus thereby;

wherein the survey apparatus (i) determines whether the measured coordinates match the stored predetermined coordinates when the global positioning system survey machine measures the coordinates, (ii) generates a warning if the measured coordinates do not match the stored predetermined coordinates, (iii) calculates a discrepancy between the measured coordinates and the stored predetermined coordinates, and (iv) displays direction and distance from the measured coordinates to the stored predetermined coordinates.

7. A survey apparatus comprising:

an angle and distance measuring apparatus for measuring angles and distance from a survey point, the angle and distance measuring apparatus having a microcomputer storing a file name; and

a global positioning survey machine storing received data as a named file, (i) the microcomputer storing the file name as installation point information for observation data and (ii) the angle and distance measuring apparatus using the observation data when conducting a survey work.

8. A survey apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the observation data is created and stored using the file name of the received data and the microcomputer stores the file name as a survey point name.