# US 2021/0082102 A1 · Curb inspection tool

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2021/0082102 A1
- Document ID: US20210082102A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/835,795
- Filed: 2020-03-31
- Published: 2021-03-18
- Earliest claimed: 2019-09-12
- Assignees: Rieker Incorporated
- Applicants: Rieker Incorporated
- Inventors: Edward P. DENIGAN, III; Manoj Kumar VAJJARA RAVICHANDRAN; Peter John HANCHETTE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210082102A1

## CPC

- G06T 7/0002: {Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection}
- G06T 17/00: Three-dimensional [3D] modelling for computer graphics
- G01C 9/00: Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
- G01C 9/02: Details
- G06T 7/60: Analysis of geometric attributes
- G06T 7/75: {involving models}
- G06T 15/04: Texture mapping
- G06T 15/205: {Image-based rendering}
- G06T 2200/08: involving all processing steps from image acquisition to 3D model generation
- G06T 2207/10028: Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
- G06T 2207/30204: Marker
- G06T 2210/04: Architectural design, interior design
- G06T 2210/56: Particle system, point based geometry or rendering
- G06T 2215/16: Using real world measurements to influence rendering
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)

## Abstract

Techniques for measuring a monument, including obtaining a set of two or more images of a monument environment, detecting a set of markers in the set of images, wherein the set of markers are positioned on a plane level with respect to gravity by a leveling device, and wherein the leveling device is configured to automatically level the markers, generating a virtual representation of the monument environment with respect to gravity, mapping the monument to a virtual representation, determining one or more slopes and dimensions of the monument based on the mapped monument and the gravity plane, and outputting the one or more slopes and dimensions of the monument.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for measuring a monument, comprising:
obtaining a set of two or more images of a monument environment;
determining a plane level with respect to gravity based on a leveling device;
determining one or more slopes and dimensions of the monument based on the determined plane level; and
outputting the determined one or more slopes and dimensions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising mapping the monument based on the obtained two or more images to generate a virtual representation of the monument.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
detecting the leveling device in the set of two or more images
detecting a set of calibrated markers on the leveling device, and
determining a scale of the monument based on the detected set of calibrated markers.

### Claim 4

A method for measuring a monument, comprising:
obtaining a set of two or more images of a monument environment;
detecting a set of markers in the set of images, wherein the set of markers are positioned on a plane level with respect to gravity by a leveling device, and wherein the leveling device is configured to automatically level the set of markers;
generating a virtual representation of the monument environment with respect to gravity;
mapping the monument to a virtual representation;
determining one or more slopes and dimensions of the monument based on the mapped monument and the gravity plane; and
outputting the one or more slopes of the monument.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein each marker of the set of markers, is positioned at a predetermined distance from another marker of the set of markers and further comprising:
determining, based on the set of markers, a scale for the monument;
detecting, in the set of images, one or more features of the monument;
generating a set of measurements based on the detected one or more features; and
outputting the set of measurements.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the detection of one or more features is based on another set of markers positioned on the monument.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising outputting a report based on the one or more slopes and the set of measurements, wherein the set of measurements include at least a distance and an elevation change.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising outputting a pass/fail score for the monument based on the set of measurements.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the virtual representation comprises a point cloud or a three-dimensional model of the monument environment.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising outputting a three-dimensional drawing based on the three-dimensional model.

### Claim 11

A leveling device comprising:
a surface having two or more markers affixed to the surface, the surface configured to position the two or more markers on a plane;
an inclinometer configured to measure an angle of the plane with respect to gravity;
one or more actuators configured to adjust the angle of the plane; and
a controller configured to instruct the one or more actuators to automatically adjust the angle of the plane based on the measured angle to level the plane.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The leveling device of claim 11, wherein the surface comprises:
a top plate; and
two or more arms detachably coupled to the top plate, wherein the two or more markers are affixed to the two or more arms.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The leveling device of claim 12, wherein the two or more arms are configured to fit in slots in the top plate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The leveling device of claim 13 wherein the two or more markers are fixed at a predetermined location on the two or more arms and wherein the slots are configured to position the two or more arms at a predetermined angle and distance from each other.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The leveling device of claim 11 further comprising a battery mount configured to accept a tool battery.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The leveling device of claim 11 wherein the one or more actuators comprise at least one stepper motor or a linear actuator.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The leveling device of claim 11, wherein the inclinometer comprises a dual axis inclinometer.

### Claim 18

A system for inspecting a monument, comprising:
an imaging device configured to obtain a set of two or more images of a monument environment;
a leveling device configured to position a set of markers on a plane level with respect to gravity, wherein the leveling device is configured to automatically level the markers; and
one or more non-transitory program storage devices comprising instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processors to:
detect the set of markers in the set of images;
generate a virtual representation of the monument environment with respect to gravity;
map the monument to a virtual representation;
determine, one or more slopes and dimensions of the monument based on the mapped monument and the gravity plane; and
output the one or more slopes of the monument.

### Claim 18 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein each marker of the set of markers, is positioned at a predetermined distance from another marker of the set of markers, and wherein the one or more non-transitory program storage devices comprise instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processors to:
determine, based on the set of markers, a scale for the monument environment;
detect, in the set of images, one or more features of the monument;
generate a set of measurements based on the detected one or more features; and
output the set of measurements.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the detecting of one or more features is based on another set of markers positioned on the monument.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more non-transitory program storage devices comprise instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processors to output a report based on the one or more slopes and the set of measurements.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more non-transitory program storage devices comprise instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processors to output a pass/fail score for the monument based on the set of measurements.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the virtual representation comprises a point cloud or a three-dimensional model of the monument environment.