Versatile transmitter and receiver for position measurement

A spatial positioning system capable of operating in a horizontal or a vertical mode, comprising:

• a transmitter adapted to produce an angled fan of light and rotate said angled fan of light, said transmitter including:
• a transmitter processor;
• a strobe emitter that emits a light pulse in predetermined or programmed relation to the position of the angled fan of light;
• and
• a sensor adapted to sense and communicate to said transmitter processor when said angled fan of light is sweeping in a substantially vertical plane;
• a receiver, including a light detector adapted to be positioned in a field of operation and detect said strobe and said angled fan of light;
• and
• a receiver processor in data communication with said receiver, said receiver processor operatively configured to determine a position of said receiver with respect to said transmitter, including a distance from said receiver to said transmitter and an orientation of said receiver with respect to said transmitter based on timing of detections of said fan of light and from said light pulse from said strobe emitter;
• and further in which said transmitter processor signals said receiver processor that said angled fan of light is sweeping in a substantially vertical plane.

A transmitter and spatial positioning receiver for a spatial positioning system, said system capable of switching between a horizontal and a vertical mode, said system comprising:

• a spatial positioning receiver including a detector for detecting light, capable of being positioned in a field of measurement;
• a transmitter emitting a divergent rotating light fan onto said field of measurement and having a synchronization strobe providing a synchronization strobe beam onto said field of measurement, said transmitter pivotable between said horizontal and vertical modes and further including a first sensor to sense when said transmitter is oriented so as to sweep said divergent rotating light fan in a substantially vertical plane and a second sensor to sense when said transmitter is oriented so as to sweep said divergent rotating light fan in a substantially horizontal plane;
• and
• a processor to determine at least one spatial coordinate of said detector based on a time of receipt of at least one of said divergent rotating light fan and said synchronization strobe beam.

A method for forming a spatial positioning transmitter synchronization strobe beam to improve energy distribution and operating range when communicating with a spatial positioning receiver operating in a field of measurement, said method comprising:

• [a] arraying a first strobe having an output distribution of a first value for half power beam angular width onto the field of measurement;
• and
• [b] arraying a second strobe having an output distribution of a second value for half power beam width higher than said first value for half power beam angular width, onto the field of measurement;
• [c] said first and second strobes further positioned and oriented such that said operating range of said spatial positioning receiver is increased with respect to said first and second strobes both having either said first value or said second value for half power beam angular width.

A strobe set to provide a spatial positioning transmitter synchronization strobe beam to improve energy distribution and operating range when communicating with a spatial positioning receiver operating in a field of measurement, said strobe set comprising:

• [a] a first strobe having an output distribution of a first value for half power beam angular width, oriented to provide output onto the field of measurement;
• and
• [b] a second strobe having an output distribution of a second value for half power beam width higher than said first value for half power beam angular width, oriented to provide output onto the field of measurement;
• [c] said first and second strobes further positioned and oriented such that said operating range of said spatial positioning receiver is increased with respect to said first and second strobes both having either said first value or said second value for half power beam angular width.

A transmitter and spatial positioning receiver for a spatial positioning system, said system capable of switching to a vertical mode, said system comprising:

• [a] a stationary portion and a rotating laser head in proximity to said stationary portion, said rotating laser head further comprising a first light emitting device emitting a divergent rotating light fan onto a field of measurement;
• [b] a synchronization strobe providing a synchronization strobe beam for communicating with said spatial positioning receiver operating in said field of measurement;
• [c] a detector in said spatial positioning receiver to detect said divergent rotating light fan and also said synchronization strobe beam;
• [d] a processor to determine at least one spatial coordinate of said detector in said spatial positioning receiver based on a time of receipt of said divergent rotating light fan and said synchronization strobe beam;
• and
• [e] said transmitter comprising a sensor to sense when said transmitter is oriented so as to sweep said divergent rotating light fan in a substantially vertical plane, said sensor communicating said sense to said processor for a vertical coordinate determination.

A field-deployable spatial positioning transmitter and receiver for spatial position-marking, setting, calibrating or referencing, the field-deployable spatial positioning transmitter and receiver comprising:

• a transmitter kit comprising a rotating laser head emitting an angled fan of light, where angled means that the fan is neither orthogonal nor parallel to the plane through which the head rotates, and a strobe emitter that emits a light pulse in predetermined or programmed relation to the position of the laser head;
• a processor in data communication with a receiver, said receiver adapted to be moved about a field of measurement and determine, in conjunction with said processor, distance and orientation, said receiver comprising a light detector, said receiver determining distance and orientation to the transmitter based on the timing of detections of light from the fan of light and from the strobe, the receiver further comprising a field-deployable length standard comprising:
• a reelable tape comprising at least one markable position and a reel attached to or incorporated within a housing for the receiver, said reelable tape and said markable position each so positioned and oriented with respect to the receiver such that when the receiver is posed at a first location and then, upon unreeling the reelable tape and using the markable position posed at a second location, the processor makes its calculations using light detections at the first location and second location, and a known distance provided by the reelable tape.

A method for forming a spatial positioning transmitter synchronization strobe beam to improve energy distribution and operating range when communicating with a spatial positioning receiver operating in a field of measurement, the method comprising:

• operating a rotating a laser head emitting an angled fan of light;
• periodically operating, in connection with defined rotations of the laser head, a first strobe having an output distribution of a first value for half power beam angular width onto the field of measurement;
• and
• periodically operating, in connection with defined rotations of the laser head, a second strobe having an output distribution of a second value for half power beam width higher than the first value for half power beam angular width, onto the field of measurement.

A spatial positioning system comprising:

• a transmitter having:
• a rotating laser head adapted to rotate about a spin axis and emit light along a radial axis generally orthogonal to said spin axis and in the shape of at least one divergent rotating fan onto a field of measurement;
• a synchronization strobe adapted to provide a synchronization strobe beam in said field of measurement, said synchronization strobe beam defined by a combination of at least one first strobe having a first output distribution angular width and at least one second strobe having a second output distribution angular width different from said first output distribution angular width;
• and
• a first level sensor adapted to sense when said spin axis of said rotating laser head is substantially aligned with a first desired axis;
• a receiver positionable in said field of measurement and having a detector to detect said at least one divergent rotating light fan and said synchronization strobe beam;
• and
• a processor adapted to determine at least one spatial coordinate of said detector in said receiver based on at least one of a time of receipt of said at least one divergent rotating light fan and said synchronization strobe beam after said first level sensor has sensed that said spin axis is substantially aligned with said first desired axis.

A method for dynamic leveling of a rotating body to bring a rotational axis of said rotating body into better alignment with a desired axis, said method comprising:

• [a] aligning an operating axis of an autocollimator to said desired axis, said autocollimator designed to output a light ray along said operating axis, and said desired axis as a result of said aligning, and to monitor any reflected light rays from said light ray with respect to said desired axis;
• [b] affixing a mirror to said rotating body;
• [c] orienting the rotating body to within the field of view of said autocollimator;
• [d] noting the position of said reflected light rays monitored by said autocollimator, whereby a circular arc is formed by said reflected light rays;
• [e] determining the direction and magnitude of a deviation of a geometric center of said circular arc from the operating axis of said autocollimator;
• [f] changing the orientation of said rotating body in such a manner so as to bring said rotational axis into better alignment with said operating axis of said autocollimator, whereby said rotational axis will be put into better alignment with said desired axis.

A method for dynamic leveling of a rotating body to bring a rotational axis of the rotating body into better alignment with a desired axis, the method comprising:

• aligning an operating axis of an autocollimator to the desired axis by outputting a light ray along the operating axis, and monitoring any reflected light rays from the light ray to identify any deflection from the desired axis;
• orienting the rotating body, said rotating body having an affixed mirror, to within the operating axis of the autocollimator;
• noting the position of the reflected light rays monitored by the autocollimator, whereby a point or circular arc is formed by the reflected light rays;
• determining the direction and magnitude of a deviation of a geometric center of the point or circular arc from the operating axis of the autocollimator;
• and
• changing the orientation of the rotating body to bring its rotational axis into better alignment with the operating axis of the autocollimator, whereby the rotational axis is put into better alignment with the desired axis.