Device for mapping dwellings and other structures in 3D
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorBruce Tognazzini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A micropower impulse radar is used to take measurements, such as those needed to establish room size and the dimensions and location of objects within the walls of a room. A computer controls the scanning of the radar and the collection of datapoints. A global positioning satellite (GPS) unit locates the precise portion of the radar and another unit loads a fixed referenced location to which all measurements from different rooms are baselined. By collecting points and referencing them to a common point or wireframe representation of a building can be developed from which "as built" architectural plans can be produced.
Claims34
Apparatus for accurately measuring distance comprising:
- a. a portable radar for measuring distances and directions from the radar to one or more surfaces within a structure;
- b. a portable first global positioning satellite receiver, located a fixed measured distance from said radar;
- and
- c. a computer connected to receive information from said radar and from said portable global positioning satellite receiver and configured to calculate a distance from said radar to a surface of said one or more surfaces within a structure using said information and said fixed measured distance.
A method of accurately measuring distance comprising the steps of:
- a. placing a portable radar and portable first global positioning satellite receiver, located a fixed measured distance from said radar, in a room, the radar configured to measure distances to a surface of the room;
- b. linking a computer to receive information from said radar and from said global positioning satellite receiver;
- and
- c. using said information and said fixed measured distance to calculate a distance from said radar to a surface point on said surface.
A method of creating architectural drawings reflecting construction of a building, comprising the steps of:
- a. surveying a plurality of points in one or more rooms of a building using a scanning radar referenced to a global positioning satellite receiver;
- b. using the location of said points to create a three dimensional wireframe of said building;
- c. converting said three dimensional wireframe into architectural drawings using computer assisted design software.
A method of determining the location of objects within the wall of a building, comprising the steps of:
- a. placing a portable radar and a portable first global positioning satellite receiver, located a known distance from said radar, in a room, said radar configured for measuring distances to a surface;
- b. linking a computer to receive information from said radar and from said global positioning satellite receiver;
- and
- c. using said information and said known distance to calculate a distance from said radar to a surface point interior to a wall of said room.
A system for accurately measuring distance comprising:
- a. a central computer;
- and
- b. a plurality of scanning units, connected to said central computer and each comprising
- b1. a portable radar for measuring distances from the radar to one or more surfaces of a building;
- b2. a portable first global positioning satellite receiver, located a fixed measured distance from said radar;
- and
- b3. a computer connected to receive information from said radar and from said portable global positioning satellite receivers and configured to calculate a distance from said radar to at least one surface of said surfaces using said information and said fixed measured distance and to send said calculated distance to said central computer.
A computer program product comprising:
- a. a memory medium;
- and
- b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for controlling a scanning radar to scan a plurality of points in or near a room to determine distances to said points.
A computer program product comprising:
- a. a memory medium;
- and
- b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for directing surveying of a plurality of points on one or more surfaces in one or more rooms of a building using a scanning radar referenced to a global positioning satellite receiver, and using the locations of said scanned points to create a three dimensional wireframe of said building.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.