Integrated auto-level and electronic rod reader
AssigneeTrimble Inc.
InventorMichael Bank
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated auto-level and electronic rod reader is disclosed. In one embodiment, the integrated auto-level and electronic rod reader comprises a telescope and an image delivery device integrated with the auto-level which is configured for capturing an image of a standard grade rod visible through the telescope and a crosshair. Logic implemented by a processor automatically recognizes the crosshair, automatically compares the crosshair against a scale of the standard grade rod, and automatically determines an elevation of the standard grade rod based upon the comparing.
Claims26
An integrated auto-level and electronic rod reader comprising:
- a telescope;
- and
- an image delivery device integrated with the telescope and comprising:
- an image capture device configured for capturing an image, wherein the image includes data representing:
- alphanumeric characters annotating a scale on a grade rod visible through the telescope, wherein the scale of the grade rod indicates either metric or imperial measurement units, and
- a crosshair, and
- a transmitter configured to transmit the image to an electronic field notebook comprising a receiver configured to receive the image, and a circuit configured to automatically determine whether the scale indicates metric or imperial measurement units, to automatically recognize the alphanumeric characters and the crosshair of the image, and to automatically determine an elevation of the grade rod based on a position of the crosshair with respect to the scale annotated with the alphanumeric characters and based on whether the scale indicates metric or imperial measurement units.
A method of automatically reading and recording auto-level readings, said method comprising:
- capturing an image through a telescope of an auto-level using an image delivery device integrated with said auto-level, wherein the image includes data representing alphanumeric characters annotating a scale on a grade rod;
- automatically recognizing a crosshair overlying said image using a circuit;
- automatically determining whether the scale indicates metric or imperial measurement units;
- automatically determining an elevation of said standard grade rod based on the crosshair and the alphanumeric characters using said circuit, and based on whether the scale indicates metric or imperial measurement units;
- and
- automatically storing said elevation using a non-transitory computer readable data storage medium coupled with the circuit as a first reading.
An auto-level and rod reader comprising:
- an auto-level comprising:
- a telescope;
- and
- an image delivery device coupled with the telescope and configured for capturing an image through said telescope, wherein the image includes data representing:
- alphanumeric characters annotating a scale on a grade rod visible through the telescope, wherein the scale of the grade rod indicates either metric or imperial measurement units, and
- a crosshair;
- and
- a circuit configured to automatically determine whether the scale indicates metric or imperial measurement units, and to determine an elevation of said standard grade rod based on a position of the crosshair with respect to the scale annotated with the alphanumeric characters and based on whether the scale indicates metric or imperial measurement units;
- and
- a non-transitory computer readable data storage medium coupled with said circuit for storing said elevation as a first reading.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.