Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system – Orientation or position
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-13
2001-07-24
Shah, Kamini (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system
Orientation or position
C702S094000, C033S290000, C033S293000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266628
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a surveying system and, more particularly, to a surveying system having a sighting device and a position measuring unit, and also to surveying process using such a surveying system.
2. Description of Relevant Art
A surveying system of the given category is known, for example, from European Patent EP 0 481 307 A2. This document discloses a tachymeter with a GPS (Global Positioning System) position measuring unit; that is, a satellite-based position measuring unit, wherein both the sighting device, i.e., the tachymeter proper, and also the reflector rod to be sighted with the tachymeter, are equipped with a satellite-based position measuring device.
However, the satellite-based position measuring unit requires free lines of sight to at least four satellites. Thus the use of the satellite-based position measuring unit is limited or impossible between houses, in surveying from corners of houses, under trees, under bridges, in ravines, and in buildings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention therefore has as its object to provide a surveying system of the given category, which makes reliable surveying results possible even in difficult surveying situations.
This object is attained by a surveying system with a sighting system, in that the surveying system includes a position measuring system constructed as an inertial measuring device.
An inertial measuring device can include acceleration sensors and/or a gyro and preferably respectively three acceleration sensors and three gyros, and can provide both information concerning the orientation in space and also information concerning the difference of coordinates between start point and end point of a displacement of the inertial measuring device.
By means of the invention, the position values determined by the sighting device can be secured and/or supplemented by the inertial measuring device, without the prerequisite of a free visual connection to at least four satellites.
When the surveying system includes a target point carrier which is to be sighted by the sighting device and is movable relative to the sighting direction, and the inertial measuring device is arranged on the target point carrier, the surveying system can also determine the position of the target point carrier even when the visual connection between the sighting device and the target point carrier is interrupted. In a further embodiment, the sighting device includes a target point carrier seeking device which seeks the target point carrier in an automated manner by means of the measurement values which are supplied by the inertial measuring device arranged on the target point carrier. The time for sighting the target point carrier can thereby be considerably shortened.
In a further embodiment, the target point carrier includes a transmitter unit which transmits measurement values which are determined by the inertial measuring device to an evaluation unit of the surveying system.
Thus the measurement values determined by the inertial measuring device can be processed contemporaneously with the angle and distance values determined by the sighting device, so that the known drift problems of inertial measuring devices can be corrected by comparison with the measurement values of the sighting device.
However, the target point carrier can also include a measurement value memory which stores the measurement values determined by the inertial measuring device. In this variant, the measurement values determined by the sighting device and the inertially determined measurement values are compared at the end of a survey section, wherein it is not even necessary that a radio connection between the target point carrier and the sighting device exists.
In a further group of embodiments, the inertial measuring device is arranged on the sighting device. The orientation data determined by graduated circle measurements with a theodolite or tachymeter can thus also be supplied to the sighting device by means of the inertial measuring device. Here it is not necessarily required that the target point be arranged on a target point carrier.
In this variant embodiment, the position of the sighting device within a survey section can be displaced with a view to better visibility of the target point, the differences of coordinates and angles from the previous position being supplied by the inertial measuring device.
When the sighting device and the inertial measuring device are combined in a freehand unit, the support of the surveying system on a massive stand or pillar can be dispensed with. Thus a highly mobile surveying system is made possible by the invention and, for example, can be handled like field-glasses.
When, in a surveying system with a target point carrier, both the sighting device and also the target point carrier have an inertial measuring device, the advantages stated hereinabove can be combined.
The well-established surveying systems can be further improved if the sighting device is the measuring telescope of a theodolite or a tachymeter and, for example, the target point carrier includes a reflector.
The invention also has as further objects surveying processes that are made possible by the surveying system according to the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4171907 (1979-10-01), Hill et al.
patent: 4302885 (1981-12-01), Levine et al.
patent: 4490919 (1985-01-01), Feist et al.
patent: 5313409 (1994-05-01), Wiklund et al.
patent: 5568152 (1996-10-01), Janky et al.
patent: 5671160 (1997-09-01), Julian
patent: 5956660 (1999-09-01), Neumann
patent: 31 39 239 A1 (1982-05-01), None
patent: 0 481 307 A2 (1991-04-01), None
Huep Wolfgang
Michelbacher Ernst
Bui Bryan
Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
Shah Kamini
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