Geodetic target and position determination system

• US 8,830,452 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Jena GmbH (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Jena GmbH (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Vogel, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Alsomiri, Isam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abraham, Samantha K
• Application Number:
  US13/913,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20130329218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 356/139.1, 356/3.01, 356/141.1, 356/139.09, 356/152.2, 356/399, 250/366.16, 250/206.1, 332/061, 333/661.6, 398/156
• US Class Current: 356/139.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/2414 for indicating desired positions guiding the positioning of tools or workpieces B25H1/0092 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/0092 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 1/02 Theodolites
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/06 Surveyors' staffs; Movable markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors

Abstract

A geodetic target 1 for use in geodesy comprises an orienting device 10 with a bearing direction P, a first inclinometer 20 with a first axis of inclination 20A, a reflector 30 reflecting incident measurement beams S, an imaging optics 40 that focuses the incident measurement beams S, a matrix sensor 50, whose receiving surface 51 is situated in an image plane of the imaging optics 40, and an interface 60, which is connected to the first inclinometer 20 and the matrix sensor 50. The spatial arrangement and orientation of the optical axis and/or axis of symmetry 30A of the reflector 30 relative to the bearing direction P of the orienting device 10 is predetermined here. The first axis of inclination 20A makes an angle α other than zero with an optical axis 40A of the imaging optics 40. The optical axis 40A of the imaging optics 40 coincides with an optical axis 30A and/or axis of symmetry of the reflector 30 or is parallel to it or make an angle with it. The interface 60 is designed to put out the signals received from the first inclinometer 20 and the matrix sensor 50 for determining a spatial orientation of the reflector 30 reflecting the measurement beams relative to the target point Z.

Moreover, a position determining system comprising this target and a method which uses this target is disclosed.

Claims

1. Geodetic target, comprising:

an orienting device with a bearing direction;

a first inclinometer with a first axis of inclination, the first inclinometer configured to determine an inclination of the geodetic target about the first axis of inclination;

a reflector configured to reflect a first portion of a measurement beam that is generated by a source external to the geodetic target and that is incident on the reflector, the reflector configured to reflect the first portion of the measurement beam in a direction substantially towards the source;

an imaging optics configured to focus a second portion of the measurement beam that is incident on the imaging optics;

a matrix sensor, whose receiving surface is situated in an image plane of the imaging optics, the imaging optics configured to focus the second portion of the measurement beam in an image point on the matrix sensor; and

an interface, which is connected to the first inclinometer and the matrix sensor;

wherein a spatial arrangement and orientation of an axis of symmetry of the reflector relative to the bearing direction of the orienting device is predetermined;

wherein the first axis of inclination makes an angle a different from zero with an optical axis of the imaging optics;

wherein the optical axis of the imaging optics coincides with the axis of symmetry of the reflector or is parallel to it;

wherein a location of the image point on the matrix sensor is dependent on an orientation of the reflector relative to the second portion of the measurement beam; and

wherein the interface is designed to put out signals received from the first inclinometer and the matrix sensor to determine a spatial orientation of the reflector relative to a target point lying in the bearing direction.

2. Geodetic target according to claim 1,

wherein the orienting device is a range finder that includes a laser range finder or a laser projector or a camera or a display or a video projector;

and

wherein the interface is connected to the orienting device and designed to put out the signals received from the first inclinometer, the matrix sensor and the orienting device to determine a spatial position and the spatial orientation of the reflector relative to the target point.

3. Geodetic target according to claim 2,

wherein the geodetic target further comprises a second inclinometer with a second axis of inclination, wherein the first axis of inclination of the first inclinometer and the second axis of inclination of the second inclinometer make an angle β

different from zero;

or

wherein the first inclinometer has a second axis of inclination, wherein the first axis of inclination of the first inclinometer and the second axis of inclination of the first inclinometer make an angle β

different from zero.

4. Geodetic target according to claim 2, further comprising a control system configured to receive the signals put out by the interface, which control system uses the signals to determine the spatial position and the spatial orientation of the reflector relative to the target point.

5. Geodetic target according to claim 2, wherein the geodetic target is integrated in a helmet, a projector, or a machine tool.

6. Geodetic target according to claim 1,

wherein the orienting device is a survey rod or a ranging rod or a rover rod or a tool or a drill or a spacer;

and

wherein the interface is designed to put out the signals received by the first inclinometer and the matrix sensor, as well as an arrangement and dimensioning of the orienting device, to determine a spatial position and the spatial orientation of the reflector relative to the target point.

7. Geodetic target according to claim 6, wherein the geodetic target is integrated in a helmet, a projector, or a machine tool.

8. Geodetic target according to claim 1, comprising at least two reflectors with corresponding imaging optics as well as a mirror arrangement, wherein the mirror arrangement is situated along the optical axes of the imaging optics between the imaging optics and the matrix sensor.

9. Geodetic target according to claim 8, further comprising a filter arranged between the receiving surface of the matrix sensor and the imaging optics or between the receiving surface of the matrix sensor and the reflector.

10. Geodetic target according to claim 8,

wherein the geodetic target further comprises a second inclinometer with a second axis of inclination, wherein the first axis of inclination of the first inclinometer and the second axis of inclination of the second inclinometer make an angle β

different from zero;

or

wherein the first inclinometer has a second axis of inclination, wherein the first axis of inclination of the first inclinometer and the second axis of inclination of the first inclinometer make an angle β

different from zero.

11. Geodetic target according to claim 8, further comprising a control system configured to receive the signals put out by the interface, which control system uses the signals to determine the spatial orientation of the reflector relative to the target point.

12. Geodetic target according to claim 8, wherein the geodetic target is integrated in a helmet, a projector, or a machine tool.

13. Geodetic target according to claim 1, further comprising a filter arranged between the receiving surface of the matrix sensor and the imaging optics or between the receiving surface of the matrix sensor and the reflector.

14. Geodetic target according to claim 1,

wherein the geodetic target further comprises a second inclinometer with a second axis of inclination, wherein the first axis of inclination of the first inclinometer and the second axis of inclination of the second inclinometer make an angle β

different from zero;

or

wherein the first inclinometer has a second axis of inclination, wherein the first axis of inclination of the first inclinometer and the second axis of inclination of the first inclinometer make an angle β

different from zero.

15. Geodetic target according to claim 14, further comprising a control system configured to receive the signals put out by the interface, which control system uses the signals to determine the spatial orientation of the reflector relative to the target point.

16. Geodetic target according to claim 14, wherein the geodetic target is integrated in a helmet, a projector, or a machine tool.

17. Geodetic target according to claim 1, further comprising a control system configured to receive the signals put out by the interface, which control system uses the signals to determine the spatial orientation of the reflector relative to the target point based on the inclination of the geodetic target about the first axis of inclination and a position of the image point on the matrix sensor.

18. Geodetic target according to claim 17, wherein the geodetic target is integrated in a helmet, a projector, or a machine tool.

19. Geodetic target according to claim 1, wherein the geodetic target is integrated in a helmet, a projector, or a machine tool.

20. Position determining system for geodesy, comprising:

a geodetic target according to claim 1, and

a geodetic instrument;

wherein the geodetic instrument comprises a measurement device configured to determine a spatial position of the reflector relative to the geodetic instrument; and

wherein the geodetic instrument comprises a control system, which is designed to receive the signals put out by the interface of the geodetic target and to use the signals, as well as the spatial position determined by the measurement device of the reflector relative to the geodetic instrument to determine a relative position of the target point to the geodetic instrument.

21. Position determining system according to claim 20,

wherein the geodetic instrument comprises a location determining device that determines an absolute position of the geodetic instrument;

and

wherein the control system of the geodetic instrument is designed to receive the signals put out by the interface of the geodetic target and to use the signals as well as the spatial position of the reflector as determined by the measurement device and the absolute position of the geodetic instrument as determined by the location determining device, to determine an absolute position of the target point.

22. Position determining system according to claim 20, wherein the control system of the geodetic instrument and the interface of the geodetic target are designed to synchronize the determination of the spatial position of the reflector by the measurement device with the putting out of the signals by the interface to determine the spatial orientation of the reflector relative to the target point lying in the bearing direction.

23. Method for establishing target points by using the position determining system according to claim 20, having the following steps:

orienting the bearing direction of the geodetic target to the target point;

determining the spatial position of the reflector of the geodetic target relative to the geodetic instrument;

determining the spatial position of the target point relative to the reflector; and

determining the spatial position of the target point relative to the geodetic instrument.

24. Method according to claim 23, further comprising marking of the target point by means of a laser beam or a video projection or indication of a display by the geodetic target.

25. Geodetic target according to claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to use the signals to determine the spatial orientation of the reflector relative to the target point based on the inclination of the geodetic target about the first axis of inclination and a position of the image point on the matrix sensor.