Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090109420 | Surveying Method and Surveying Instrument - A surveying method using a the video total station comprises placing the video total station on a first platform, recording a first image of scenery, placing the video total solution on a second platform disposed at a distance from the first platform, measuring the distance from the first platform and recording a second image of the scenery. Three-dimensional coordinates of objects contained in the images are determined by a photogrammetric analysis of the images based on the measured distance. Further, orientations of the video total station can be recorded when taking the images and when measuring the distance. | 04-30-2009 |
20090138233 | Surveying Instrument and Method of Providing Survey Data of a Target Region Using a Surveying Instrument - A surveying instrument ( | 05-28-2009 |
20090220144 | STEREO PHOTOGRAMMETRY FROM A SINGLE STATION USING A SURVEYING INSTRUMENT WITH AN ECCENTRIC CAMERA - A method for determining, in relation to a surveying instrument, target coordinates of a point of interest, or target, identified in two images captured by a camera in the surveying instrument. The method comprises determining coordinates of the surveying instrument, capturing a first image using the camera in the first camera position; identifying, in the first image, an object point associated with the target; measuring first image coordinates of the object point in the first image; rotating the surveying instrument around the horizontal axis and the vertical axis in order to position the camera in a second camera position; capturing a second image using the camera in the second camera position; identifying, in the second image, the object point identified in the first image; measuring second image coordinates of the object point in the second image; and determining the coordinates of the target in relation to the surveying instrument. | 09-03-2009 |
20100026982 | OPTICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING DISTANCE AND IMAGE INFORMATION - An optical instrument and a method for obtaining distance and image information of an object is disclosed to improve the speed and accuracy of data acquisition. The instrument comprises a camera, positioning unit, distance measuring unit, lens arrangement and control unit. The camera acquires images of an object and the control unit defines an area to be scanned and measurement pixels of an object in the image, wherein the measurement pixels are converted into an approximation of coordinates of positions to be measured assuming a default distance to the positions, and the optical axis of the lens arrangement is adjusted sequentially onto the positions to be measured. After measuring the distances to the positions, the coordinates are recalculated increasing the accuracy of the coordinates. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030515 | OPTICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING DISTANCE AND IMAGE INFORMATION - An optical instrument and a method for obtaining distance and image information of an object is disclosed to improve the speed and accuracy of data acquisition. The instrument comprises a camera, positioning unit, distance measuring unit, lens arrangement and control unit. The camera acquires images of an object and the control unit defines an area to be scanned as well as an object feature of the object, wherein measurement pixels corresponding to positions on the object may be defined in the area with an increased density of measurement pixels at the object feature. Subsequently, the distances to the object at the selected positions of interest are measured. | 02-04-2010 |
20100088910 | AIMING OF A GEODETIC INSTRUMENT - A method for aiming a surveying instrument towards a selected target is disclosed. The method includes, in at least one embodiment, capturing an image using a camera in the surveying instrument; selecting a target by identifying an object point in the image captured by the surveying instrument; calculating first horizontal and vertical rotation angles based on the object point identified in the image; rotating the surveying instrument over the first horizontal and vertical rotation angles to an intermediate line of sight; measuring a distance to a point along the intermediate line of sight; and calculating second horizontal and vertical rotation angles based on the object point in the image and on the measured distance. In at least one embodiment, the method may be implemented using computer software, hardware, firmware or a combination thereof. There is also disclosed a surveying instrument in which at least one embodiment of the method is implemented. | 04-15-2010 |
20100141775 | Calibration of a surveying instrument - A method for calibrating a surveying instrument is disclosed, the survey instrument comprising a base element and a camera with an image sensor, the camera being rotatable about a vertical axis fixed with respect to said base element and being rotatable about a tilting axis, the tilting axis being rotated about the vertical axis with rotation of the camera about the vertical axis. In the method, data associated with calibration points and images of the calibration points on the image sensor captured in different faces are used, the data for each of said calibration points comprising distance data and the data for each of the images of each said calibration point comprising image position data and orientation data. Further, on the basis of the distance data for each of the calibration points and the image position and orientation data for each of the images of the calibration points the surveying instrument is calibrated simultaneously taking into account at least one optical property of the camera and at least one of the relative orientation of the vertical axis and the tilting axis and the orientation of the camera relative to one of the base element, the vertical axis and the tilting axis. | 06-10-2010 |
20100174507 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING ANGLES BASED ON 360 DEGREE IMAGES - A system for measuring angles includes a housing and an imaging device disposed in the housing. The system also includes a first optical element disposed in the housing and configured to receive light propagating from a first target along a first optical path and direct the light toward the imaging device and receive light propagating from a second target along a second optical path and direct the light toward the imaging device. The system further includes a processor in electrical communication with the imaging device and configured to receive data from the imaging device, compute a 360° angular map based on the received data, and determine an angular separation between the first target and the second target. | 07-08-2010 |
20110007154 | Determining coordinates of a target in relation to a survey instrument having a camera - A method is disclosed for determining coordinates of a target in relation to a surveying instrument wherein a first image is captured using a camera in a first camera position and orientation, a target is selected by identifying an object point in the first image, and first image coordinates of the object point in the first image are measured. The surveying instrument is then rotated around the rotation center so that the camera is moved from the first camera position and orientation to a second camera position and orientation, while retaining the rotation center of the surveying instrument in a fixed position. A second image is captured using the camera in the second camera position and orientation, the object point identified in the first image is identified in the second image, and second image coordinates of the object point in the second image are measured. Target coordinates in relation to the rotation center of the surveying instrument are then determined based on the first camera position and orientation, the first image coordinates, the second camera position and orientation, the second image coordinates, and camera calibration data. Furthermore, a surveying instrument for performing the method is disclosed. | 01-13-2011 |
20110043620 | DETERMINING COORDINATES OF A TARGET IN RELATION TO A SURVEY INSTRUMENT HAVING AT LEAST TWO CAMERAS - A method is disclosed for determining coordinates of a target in relation to a surveying instrument wherein a first image is captured using a first camera in a first camera position and orientation, a target is selected by identifying at least one object point in the first image, and first image coordinates of the object point in the first image are measured. In at least one embodiment, a second image is captured using a second camera in a second camera position and orientation, the object point identified in the first image is identified in the second image, and second image coordinates of the object point in the second image are measured. Target coordinates of the target in relation to the rotation center of the surveying instrument are then determined based on the first camera position and orientation, the first image coordinates, the second camera position and orientation, the second image coordinates, and first and second camera calibration data. Furthermore, a surveying instrument for performing the method is disclosed. | 02-24-2011 |
20110188121 | MEASURING DEVICE WITH A REDUCED SHARE OF STRAY LIGHT - A device for measurement by means of a light ray is equipped with a covering device for reducing stray light. The device comprises an array of lenses along an optical axis; a prism attached to one of the lenses with a slanted surface for coupling of the light ray incident from a light source placed lateral to the optical axis, onto the optical axis, so that the light ray can pass through the array of lenses along the optical axis; a receiver for receipt of a share of the light ray reflected by an object; and a covering device for at least one area of the prism that scatters a share of the light ray as stray light to the receiver. | 08-04-2011 |
20120062868 | OPTICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING DISTANCE AND IMAGE INFORMATION - An optical instrument and a method for obtaining distance and image information of an object is disclosed to improve the speed and accuracy of data acquisition. The instrument comprises a camera, positioning unit, distance measuring unit, lens arrangement and control unit. The camera acquires images of an object and the control unit defines an area to be scanned and measurement pixels of an object in the image, wherein the measurement pixels are converted into an approximation of coordinates of positions to be measured assuming a default distance to the positions, and the optical axis of the lens arrangement is adjusted sequentially onto the positions to be measured. After measuring the distances to the positions, the coordinates are recalculated increasing the accuracy of the coordinates. | 03-15-2012 |
20130002807 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING ANGLES BASED ON 360 DEGREE IMAGES - A method of measuring an angle includes orienting a measurement device at a reference position characterized by a reference angle. A first panoramic image defined by a predetermined range of elevation angles is acquired where the first panoramic image includes an object. A first bearing of the object in relation to the reference angle is determined and the measurement device is rotated to a measurement position characterized by a measurement angle. A second panoramic image defined by the predetermined range of elevation angles is acquired where the second panoramic image includes the object. A second bearing of the object in relation to the reference angle is determined. The measurement angle is computed as a function of the first bearing and the second bearing. | 01-03-2013 |
20130329218 | GEODETIC TARGET AND POSITION DETERMINATION SYSTEM - A geodetic target | 12-12-2013 |
20140088915 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSIGNING MEASURING POINTS TO A SET OF FIXED POINTS - Assigning measuring points to fixed points includes calculating fixed point distances between fixed points in a fixed point coordinate system; determining coordinates of measuring points in a measuring point coordinate system; calculating measuring point distances between the measuring points; comparing at least two measuring point distances with the fixed point distances and identifying at least two pairs each consisting of a measuring point distance and a fixed point distance; determining a reference point in the measuring point coordinate system or in the fixed point coordinate system; determining first and second reference point parameters of the measuring points or fixed points corresponding to the pairs; determining second reference point parameters of the fixed points corresponding to the pairs in the fixed point coordinate system; identifying correspondences between the first reference point parameters and the second reference point parameters and assigning the corresponding measuring points to the corresponding fixed points. | 03-27-2014 |
20140104602 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING ANGLES BASED ON 360 DEGREE IMAGES - A method of measuring an angle includes orienting a measurement device at a reference position characterized by a reference angle. A first panoramic image defined by a predetermined range of elevation angles is acquired where the first panoramic image includes an object. A first bearing of the object in relation to the reference angle is determined and the measurement device is rotated to a measurement position characterized by a measurement angle. A second panoramic image defined by the predetermined range of elevation angles is acquired where the second panoramic image includes the object. A second bearing of the object in relation to the reference angle is determined. The measurement angle is computed as a function of the first bearing and the second bearing. | 04-17-2014 |
20140202012 | GEODETIC DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR DETERMINING A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE DEVICE - A geodetic device comprises three device components, two axes of rotation, and two angle sensors such that the device components are rotatable with respect to each other and their rotational positions are determinable, and an inclination sensor system. A method for determining a characteristic of the device comprises an alignment of the second device component with respect to the first device component into a plurality of different rotational positions, whereby in each rotational position of the plurality of rotational positions a measurement value is determined from the first angle sensor, a measurement value is determined from the second angle sensor, and a measurement value is determined for the orientation of the inclination sensor system. | 07-24-2014 |
20140375795 | DETERMINATION OF A MEASUREMENT ERROR - For swift and secure determination of a measurement error a first digital image is obtained using an image sensor unit, wherein a line of sight of an optical arrangement is oriented in a first face direction. A characteristic image area in the first digital image and the position thereof on an image sensor unit is determined. A second digital image is then taken with a line of sight of the image sensor unit oriented in a second face and is the characteristic image area are defined in the first image is searched in the second digital image, wherein preceding late be first or the second digital image is rotated in the image plane by 180°. Then in the second digital image the position of the characteristic image area is determined on the image sensor unit. And offset between the characteristic image area in the first digital image and the characteristic image area in the second digital image is a quantity of the measurement error. | 12-25-2014 |
20150062309 | STEREO PHOTOGRAMMETRY FROM A SINGLE STATION USING A SURVEYING INSTRUMENT WITH AN ECCENTRIC CAMERA - A method for determining, in relation to a surveying instrument, target coordinates of a point of interest, or target, identified in two images captured by a camera in the surveying instrument. The method comprises determining coordinates of the surveying instrument, capturing a first image using the camera in the first camera position; identifying, in the first image, an object point associated with the target; measuring first image coordinates of the object point in the first image; rotating the surveying instrument around the horizontal axis and the vertical axis in order to position the camera in a second camera position; capturing a second image using the camera in the second camera position; identifying, in the second image, the object point identified in the first image; measuring second image coordinates of the object point in the second image; and determining the coordinates of the target in relation to the surveying instrument. | 03-05-2015 |