Patent US3653774A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3653774A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Improvement of observation-and-measuring theodolite combined with a plurality of stationary evaluation devices
Assignee: Rheinmetall Air Defence AG
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Filing: 1970-04-27
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1990-04-27
Abstract
Abstract An observation-and-measuring theodolite for moving objects which is of the type having at least one image evaluation device which can be directed at each section of a spherical segment surrounding the theodolite. There is provided servomotor means for rotating a housing about a stationary substantially vertical axis of rotation, with a first reflector surface being mounted in said housing at an inclination of 45* with respect to said axis of rotation. Further, an attachment housing is rotatably mounted at the aforesaid housing, this attachment housing possessing a light entry or passage window, and a second reflector surface is mounted in the attachment housing behind said light passage window. This second reflector surface is arranged at an inclination of 45* with respect to a horizontal axis passing through the center of said first reflector surface, with said first reflector surface being situated opposite said second reflector surface. Servomotor means serve to rotate the attachment housing about the horizontal axis connecting the centers of both reflector surfaces, and there is also provided at least one stationary evaluation device. The system is arranged such that light from each spherical segment section, towards which there is momentarily directed the light passage window in front of the second reflector surface, is reflected in the direction of the horizontal connection axis of the centers of both reflector surfaces and at said first reflector surface this light is reflected in the direction of its vertical axis of rotation and then is delivered to said at least one stationary evaluation device.
Inventors
- 👤 Ulrich La Roche
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:16
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C1/00; G01C1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
318 words
An observation-and-measuring theodolite for moving objects which is of the type having at least one image evaluation device which can be directed at each section of a spherical segment surrounding the theodolite, comprising a rotatable housing, a first reflector surface mounted in said housing at an inclination of approximately 45* with respect to said axis of rotation, an attachment housing rotatably mounted at said housing, said attachment housing possessing a light passage window, a second reflector surface mounted in said attachment housing behind said light passage window, said second reflector surface being arranged at an inclination of approximately 45* with respect to a horizontal axis passing through the center of said first reflector surface, said first reflector surface being situated opposite said second reflector surface, the improvement comprising servomotor means for rotating said rotatable housing about a stationary substantially vertical axis of rotation, servomotor means for rotating said attachment housing about the horizontal axis connecting the centers of both reflector surfaces, both said rotatable housing rotatable about said vertical axis of rotation and said attachment housing rotatable about said horizontal axis of rotation being devoid of telescope means having a refracting power greater than zero, a stationary housing, a plurality of stationary evaluation devices provided for said stationary housing, wherein light from each spherical segment section, towards which there is momentarily directed the light passage window in front of said second reflector surface, is reflected in the direction of said horizontal connection axis of the centers of both reflector surfaces and at said first reflector surface is reflected in the direction of its vertical axis of rotation and then is delivered to at least one of said stationary evaluation devices, an adjustable mirror arrangement mounted in said stationary housing at the stationary vertical axis of rotation below said first reflector surface in order to optionally deliver the incident light to one of said plurality of stationary evaluation devices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
318 words
An observation-and-measuring theodolite for moving objects which is of the type having at least one image evaluation device which can be directed at each section of a spherical segment surrounding the theodolite, comprising a rotatable housing, a first reflector surface mounted in said housing at an inclination of approximately 45* with respect to said axis of rotation, an attachment housing rotatably mounted at said housing, said attachment housing possessing a light passage window, a second reflector surface mounted in said attachment housing behind said light passage window, said second reflector surface being arranged at an inclination of approximately 45* with respect to a horizontal axis passing through the center of said first reflector surface, said first reflector surface being situated opposite said second reflector surface, the improvement comprising servomotor means for rotating said rotatable housing about a stationary substantially vertical axis of rotation, servomotor means for rotating said attachment housing about the horizontal axis connecting the centers of both reflector surfaces, both said rotatable housing rotatable about said vertical axis of rotation and said attachment housing rotatable about said horizontal axis of rotation being devoid of telescope means having a refracting power greater than zero, a stationary housing, a plurality of stationary evaluation devices provided for said stationary housing, wherein light from each spherical segment section, towards which there is momentarily directed the light passage window in front of said second reflector surface, is reflected in the direction of said horizontal connection axis of the centers of both reflector surfaces and at said first reflector surface is reflected in the direction of its vertical axis of rotation and then is delivered to at least one of said stationary evaluation devices, an adjustable mirror arrangement mounted in said stationary housing at the stationary vertical axis of rotation below said first reflector surface in order to optionally deliver the incident light to one of said plurality of stationary evaluation devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The theodolite defined in claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of evaluation devices comprises a television camera, the video signals of which are capable of being delivered to an observation-and-sighting location remote from the theodolite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The theodolite defined in claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of stationary evaluation devices defines a sighting ocular for an observer, manually-adjustable control signal generator means connected with said sighting ocular, the output signals of said control signal generator means being directly delivered to both of said serVomotor means which thus continuously direct said light passage window towards a movable object in accordance with the signals triggered at said control signal generator means by the observer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The theodolite defined in claim 3, further including an image erecting prism mounted between said adjustable mirror arrangement and said sighting ocular, and means for continuously rotating said image erecting prism as a function of the momentary rotational positions of said attachment housing and said housing rotatable about said vertical axis so that the object visible in said sighting ocular always appears erect and non-reversed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The theodolite defined in claim 1, wherein a respective gearing member is provided for said housing and said attachment housing, said servomotor means of said housing drivingly acting upon the associated gearing member for rotating said housing about said vertical axis of rotation, and said servometer means of said attachment housing drivingly acting upon the associated gearing member for rotating said attachment housing about said horizontal axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The theodolite defined in claim 5, further including at least one respective angle measuring transmitter driven by each associated gearing member for generating electrical angle measurement signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
The theodolite defined in claim 6, further including a stationary theodolite housing portion, wherein said servometer means for rotating said attachment housing about said horizontal axis of rotation as well as the associated angle measuring transmitter are mounted at said housing rotatable about said vertical axis of rotation, and wherein said servometer means serving to rotate said housing about said stationary vertical axis of rotation and its associated angle measuring transmitter are mounted in said stationary theodolite housing portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2039878A
Cited
US2995972A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |