Augmented reality distance measurement
AssigneeTrimble Inc.
InventorsMark Nichols, Darrin Hurd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques for calculating a geospatial position of a point of interest using a portable electronic device. A camera of the portable electronic device may observe the point of interest. An EDM device of the portable electronic device may capture a distance to the point of interest. An angle sensor may detect an orientation of the EDM device. A geospatial position of a GNSS receiver of the portable electronic device may be detected. A geospatial position of the EDM device may be calculated based on the geospatial position of the GNSS receiver. The geospatial position of the point of interest may be calculated based on the geospatial position of the EDM device, the orientation of the EDM device, and the distance to the point of interest.
Claims15
A method for calculating a geospatial position of a point of interest using a portable electronic device having a camera component and a sensor component, the method comprising:
- observing, by a camera positioned within the camera component, the point of interest;
- capturing, by an electronic distance measuring (EDM) device of the sensor component, a distance to the point of interest;
- detecting, by an angle sensor positioned within the camera component, an orientation of the angle sensor;
- calculating an orientation of the EDM device based on (i) the orientation of the angle sensor and (ii) a known relationship between the orientation of the angle sensor and the orientation of the EDM device after attaching the camera component to the sensor component, wherein the camera component is separable from and configured to removably attach to the sensor component;
- detecting a geospatial position of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver positioned within the sensor component;
- calculating an offset vector between the geospatial position of the GNSS receiver and a geospatial position of the EDM device based on (i) the orientation of the angle sensor or the orientation of the EDM device and (ii) a known physical relationship between the geospatial position of the GNSS receiver and the geospatial position of the EDM device, wherein the offset vector includes a vertical component and a horizontal component;
- calculating a geospatial position of the EDM device based on the geospatial position of the GNSS receiver and the offset vector;
- and
- calculating the geospatial position of the point of interest based on the geospatial position of the EDM device, the orientation of the EDM device, and the distance to the point of interest.
A portable electronic device configured to calculate a geospatial position of a point of interest, the portable electronic device comprising:
- a camera component comprising:
- a camera configured to observe the point of interest;
- and
- an angle sensor configured to detect an orientation of the angle sensor;
- a sensor component comprising:
- an electronic distance measuring (EDM) device configured to capture a distance to the point of interest;
- and
- a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver configured to detect a geospatial position of the GNSS receiver;
- and
- one or more processors communicatively coupled to the camera, the EDM device, and the GNSS receiver, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform operations comprising:
- calculating an orientation of the EDM device based on (i) the orientation of the angle sensor and (ii) a known relationship between the orientation of the angle sensor and the orientation of the EDM device after attaching the camera component to the sensor component, wherein the camera component is separable from and configured to removably attach to the sensor component;
- calculating an offset vector between the geospatial position of the GNSS receiver and a geospatial position of the EDM device based on (i) the orientation of the angle sensor or the orientation of the EDM device and (ii) a known physical relationship between the geospatial position of the GNSS receiver and the geospatial position of the EDM device, wherein the offset vector includes a vertical component and a horizontal component;
- calculating a geospatial position of the EDM device based on the geospatial position of the GNSS receiver and the offset vector;
- and
- calculating the geospatial position of the point of interest based on the geospatial position of the EDM device, the orientation of the EDM device, and the distance to the point of interest.
A sensor component configured to removably attach to a camera component and to calculate a geospatial position of a point of interest, the sensor component comprising:
- an electronic distance measuring (EDM) device configured to capture a distance to the point of interest;
- and
- a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver configured to detect a geospatial position of the GNSS receiver;
- wherein the camera component is separable from the sensor component, and wherein, after attaching the sensor component to the camera component, one or more processors of the camera component are configured to perform operations comprising:
- observing, by a camera of the camera component, the point of interest;
- detecting, by an angle sensor positioned within the camera component, an orientation of the angle sensor;
- calculating an orientation of the EDM device based on (i) the orientation of the angle sensor and (ii) a known relationship between the orientation of the angle sensor and the orientation of the EDM device when the camera component is attached to the sensor component;
- calculating an offset vector between the geospatial position of the GNSS receiver and a geospatial position of the EDM device based on (i) the orientation of the angle sensor or the orientation of the EDM device and (ii) a known physical relationship between the geospatial position of the GNSS receiver and the geospatial position of the EDM device, wherein the offset vector includes a vertical component and a horizontal component;
- calculating a geospatial position of the EDM device based on the geospatial position of the GNSS receiver and the offset vector;
- and
- calculating the geospatial position of the point of interest based on the geospatial position of the EDM device, the orientation of the EDM device, and the distance to the point of interest.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.