US3680958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Survey apparatus
Assignee: LTV Aerospace Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-15
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1990-10-15
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an automated surveying system composed of three separate stations. Two base line stations are positioned at selected points on the terrain and the distance between them measured. A third station is positioned at successive remote points on the terrain, removed from the base line stations, and topographic and contour data are collected for each successive remote location of the third station by measuring the distance between each of the stations, the difference in elevation between each of the stations, and the bearing of the remote station relative to the base line stations. Each of the base line stations contains distance measuring equipment and apparatus for measuring both elevational and horizontal angles. Data collected by two of the stations are transmitted to a main one of base line stations which contains data processing equipment to convert the data to a map of the terrain as the survey data are collected.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J Von Bose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C15/00; G01C15/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
Surveying apparatus comprising: a. a moveable target rod including i. leveling means for establishing said rod in a vertical position, and ii. reflecting means for returning electromagnetic signals directed at said reflecting means to the source of said signals; b. a main base line station including i. means for measuring the distance separating said main base line station and said target rod, ii. means for measuring the distance separating said main base line station and a remote base line station recited below, iii. means for measuring the elevational difference between said main base line station and said target rod, and iv. means for measuring the elevational difference between said main base line station and said remote base line station; c. a remote base line station including i. means for measuring the distance separating said remote base line station and said target rod, and ii. means for transmitting measurement data taken at said remote base line station to said main base line station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
Surveying apparatus comprising: a. a moveable target rod including i. leveling means for establishing said rod in a vertical position, and ii. reflecting means for returning electromagnetic signals directed at said reflecting means to the source of said signals; b. a main base line station including i. means for measuring the distance separating said main base line station and said target rod, ii. means for measuring the distance separating said main base line station and a remote base line station recited below, iii. means for measuring the elevational difference between said main base line station and said target rod, and iv. means for measuring the elevational difference between said main base line station and said remote base line station; c. a remote base line station including i. means for measuring the distance separating said remote base line station and said target rod, and ii. means for transmitting measurement data taken at said remote base line station to said main base line station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 and further including a. data converting means for collecting measurement data taken by said remote base line station and said main base line station and converting said data to signals for driving a plotter, and b. a plotter responsive to the signals from said data converting means for recording and displaying the collected data in map form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 including a control transmitter mounted on said target rod, said control transmitter being operative to initiate data measurement functions of said main base line station and said remote base line station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said remote base line station includes a. means for measuring elevational differences between said remote base line station and said target rod, b. means for determining the bearing of said target rod from said remote base line station, and c. means for measuring the distance separating said main base line station and said remote base line station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
227 words
Surveying apparatus comprising: a. a moveable target station comprising i. means for reflecting electromagnetic signals to the source of said signals, and ii. control means for initiating measurement functions performed by a station removed from said target station; b. a main base line station removed from said target station including i. means for measuring the distance separating said target station and said main base line station and including means for directing electromagnetic signals toward said target station and means for detecting electromagnetic signals reflected from said target station; ii. means for measuring the elevational angle of said electromagnetic signals with respect to horizontal when said signals are reflected from said target station; iii. means for measuring the horizontal angle through which said means for directing electromagnetic signals is moved when said means for directing electromagnetic signals is moved from a first position to a second position to reflect signals from said target station at first and second remote locations, respectively; and c. a remote base line station removed from said target station and said main base line station and including i. means for measuring the distance separating said target station and said remote base line station and includiNg means for transmitting electromagnetic signals reflected from said target station, and ii. means for transmitting data collected by said remote base line station to said main base line station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
227 words
Surveying apparatus comprising: a. a moveable target station comprising i. means for reflecting electromagnetic signals to the source of said signals, and ii. control means for initiating measurement functions performed by a station removed from said target station; b. a main base line station removed from said target station including i. means for measuring the distance separating said target station and said main base line station and including means for directing electromagnetic signals toward said target station and means for detecting electromagnetic signals reflected from said target station; ii. means for measuring the elevational angle of said electromagnetic signals with respect to horizontal when said signals are reflected from said target station; iii. means for measuring the horizontal angle through which said means for directing electromagnetic signals is moved when said means for directing electromagnetic signals is moved from a first position to a second position to reflect signals from said target station at first and second remote locations, respectively; and c. a remote base line station removed from said target station and said main base line station and including i. means for measuring the distance separating said target station and said remote base line station and includiNg means for transmitting electromagnetic signals reflected from said target station, and ii. means for transmitting data collected by said remote base line station to said main base line station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5 and further including: a. a source of electromagnetic signals on said target station, and b. tracking means associated with said main base line station and responsive to the last-named electromagnetic signals for orienting said means for detecting electromagnetic signals reflected from said target station into a position to receive said reflected signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein: a. said source of electromagnetic signals on said target station emits omni-directional radiation of a wavelength different from the wavelength emitted by said means for directing electromagnetic signals toward said target station; and b. said means for directing electromagnetic signals toward said target station emits a collimated beam directed at said target station upon command from said target station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
162 words
Surveying apparatus comprising: a. a main base line station including i. means for measuring the distance separating said main base line station and a target rod recited below, ii. means for measuring the distance separating said main base line station and a remote base line station, iii. means for measuring the elevational difference between said main base line station and said remote base line station; b. a moveable target rod including i. leveling means for establishing said rod in a vertical position, ii. reflecting means for returning electromagnetic signals directed at said reflecting means to the source of said signals; and iii. means for measuring the elevational difference between said main base line station and said target rod; and c. a remote base line station including i. means for measuring the distance separating said remote base line station and said target rod, and ii. means for transmitting measurement data taken at said remote base line station to said main base line station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
162 words
Surveying apparatus comprising: a. a main base line station including i. means for measuring the distance separating said main base line station and a target rod recited below, ii. means for measuring the distance separating said main base line station and a remote base line station, iii. means for measuring the elevational difference between said main base line station and said remote base line station; b. a moveable target rod including i. leveling means for establishing said rod in a vertical position, ii. reflecting means for returning electromagnetic signals directed at said reflecting means to the source of said signals; and iii. means for measuring the elevational difference between said main base line station and said target rod; and c. a remote base line station including i. means for measuring the distance separating said remote base line station and said target rod, and ii. means for transmitting measurement data taken at said remote base line station to said main base line station.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |