Surveying instrument and surveying method
AssigneeTrimble Inc.
InventorsMikael Hertzman, Thomas Klang, Mikael Nordenfelt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surveying instrument and method determine a duration of a measuring period for obtaining readings of angle values of an angle measuring system in dependence of readings of an error signal produced by a tracking system. It is thus possible to determine a value of the angle represented by the readings of the angle signal with a desired accuracy in the presence of air turbulence wherein the measuring period is shorter at low degrees of air turbulence and longer at higher degrees of air turbulence.
Claims30
A surveying instrument comprising:
- a base;
- an optical system rotatably mounted relative to the base;
- at least one motor for controlling an orientation of the optical system relative to the base;
- an angle measuring system for measuring the orientation of the optical system relative to the base;
- a tracking system for controlling the at least one motor such that the optical system is directed to a target;
- and
- a processing unit configured
- to repeatedly obtain readings of at least one angle signal produced by the angle measuring system during a measuring period,
- to repeatedly obtain readings of at least one error signal produced by the tracking system during the measuring period,
- to terminate the measuring period based on a plurality of readings of the at least one error signal obtained during the measuring period, and
- to calculate an angle value based on a plurality of readings of the at least one angle signal obtained during the measuring period.
A surveying instrument comprising:
- a base;
- an optical system rotatably mounted relative to the base;
- at least one motor for controlling an orientation of the optical system relative to the base;
- an angle measuring system for measuring the orientation of the optical system relative to the base;
- a tracking system for controlling the at least one motor such that the optical system is directed to a target;
- and
- a processing unit configured
- to repeatedly obtain readings of at least one angle signal produced by the angle measuring system during a measuring period,
- to terminate the measuring period based on a plurality of readings of the at least one angle signal obtained during the measuring period, and
- to calculate an angle value based on a plurality of readings of the at least one angle signal obtained during the measuring period.
A surveying method of determining an orientation relative to a target, the surveying method comprising:
- starting a measuring period;
- repeatedly obtaining readings of an angle signal produced by an angle measuring system during the measuring period;
- repeatedly obtaining readings of an error signal produced by a tracking system during the measuring period;
- terminating the measuring period based on obtained readings of the error signal;
- and
- determining the orientation based on obtained readings of the angle signal obtained during the measuring period.
A surveying method of determining an orientation relative to a target comprising:
- starting a measuring period;
- repeatedly obtaining readings of an angle signal produced by an angle measuring system during the measuring period;
- terminating the measuring period based on obtained readings of the angle signal;
- and
- determining the orientation based on obtained readings of the angle signal obtained during the measuring period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.