Patent US5098185A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5098185A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic tracking type measuring apparatus
Assignee: KITTAKA ENGINEERING LABORATORY Co Ltd A CORP OF JAPAN
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Filing: 1989-06-15
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Granted: 1992-03-24
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Expires: 2009-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A reflector provided on a land is automatically collimated in such a way that it always comes to the center of the field of view of an automatic tracking type measuring apparatus provided on a platform. When the platform moves vertically or horizontally in this state, the reflector moves within the field of view. Then, a drive signal is supplied to a servo system to cause the reflector to come to the center of the field of view. Based on data measured by the apparatus, the platform is positioned.
Inventors
- 👤 Kaname Watanabe
- 👤 Kohji Kittaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/497; G01S7/4972; G01S17/00; G01S17/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
An automatic tracking type measuring apparatus, comprising: reflector means for reflecting an incident light; and tracking measuring means having a tracking scanning body and a light wave distance measuring instrument body provided apart from each other vertically at a separation distance, and integrally supported for horizontal rotation; wherein said tracking scanning body of said tracking measuring means comprises: scanning means for scanning the laser beam only in the vertical direction in a field of view of the tracking measuring device when said tracking measuring device is set in a search mode for searching for said reflector means positioned apart from said tracking measuring device and for scanning the laser beam both in the horizontal and vertical directions in the field of view of the tracking measuring means when said reflector means is in the field of view of said tracking measuring means and when said tracking measuring means is set in an automatic tracking mode; rotating means for rotating said tracking measuring means only in the horizontal direction when said tracking measuring means is set in the search mode; means for detecting the reflector means in the field of view of the tracking measuring means from a reflected laser beam reflected from said reflector means; and means for stopping rotation of said tracking measuring means when the reflector means is detected in the field of view of the tracking measuring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
An automatic tracking type measuring apparatus, comprising: reflector means for reflecting an incident light; and tracking measuring means having a tracking scanning body and a light wave distance measuring instrument body provided apart from each other vertically at a separation distance, and integrally supported for horizontal rotation; wherein said tracking scanning body of said tracking measuring means comprises: scanning means for scanning the laser beam only in the vertical direction in a field of view of the tracking measuring device when said tracking measuring device is set in a search mode for searching for said reflector means positioned apart from said tracking measuring device and for scanning the laser beam both in the horizontal and vertical directions in the field of view of the tracking measuring means when said reflector means is in the field of view of said tracking measuring means and when said tracking measuring means is set in an automatic tracking mode; rotating means for rotating said tracking measuring means only in the horizontal direction when said tracking measuring means is set in the search mode; means for detecting the reflector means in the field of view of the tracking measuring means from a reflected laser beam reflected from said reflector means; and means for stopping rotation of said tracking measuring means when the reflector means is detected in the field of view of the tracking measuring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reflector means includes two corner cube prisms supported in conformity with said separation distance vertically and with their optical axes being parallel to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said laser beam emitting means includes a semiconductor laser to emit a modulated infrared laser beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said tracking measuring means further includes polarizing means for providing circular polarization of said infrared laser beam generated from said semiconductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light emitting means has a light axis different from a light axis of said detecting means in said tracking scanning body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light emitting means has a light axis coincidence with a light axis of said detecting means in said tracking scanning body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said tracking scanning body includes a parabolic reflector having an irradiation hole for emitting said laser beam to said reflector means through said irradiation hole and the reflected laser beam is reflected by the parabolic reflector and focused on said detecting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said tracking scanning body includes an objective lens having an irradiation hole formed at a center of the objective lens for emitting said laser beam to said reflector means through the irradiation hole and the reflected laser beam is focused on said detecting means by the objective lens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
198 words
An automatic tracking method, comprising the steps of: irradiating to a reflector means a tracking laser beam and a distance measuring laser beam which are apart from each other vertically at a separation distance; scanning the tracking laser beam only in the vertical direction in a field of view of a tracking measuring means when said tracking measuring means is set in a search mode for searching for said reflector means positioned apart from said tracking measuring means; scanning the tracking laser beam both in the horizontal and vertical directions in the field of view of the tracking measuring means when said reflector means is in the field of view of said tracking measuring means and when said tracking measuring means is set in an automatic tracking mode; rotating said tracking measuring means only in the horizontal direction when said tracking measuring means is set in the search mode; detecting the reflector means in the field of view of the tracking measuring means from a reflected tracking laser beam reflected from said reflector means; and stopping rotation of said tracking measuring means when the reflector means is detected in the field of view of the tracking measuring means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
198 words
An automatic tracking method, comprising the steps of: irradiating to a reflector means a tracking laser beam and a distance measuring laser beam which are apart from each other vertically at a separation distance; scanning the tracking laser beam only in the vertical direction in a field of view of a tracking measuring means when said tracking measuring means is set in a search mode for searching for said reflector means positioned apart from said tracking measuring means; scanning the tracking laser beam both in the horizontal and vertical directions in the field of view of the tracking measuring means when said reflector means is in the field of view of said tracking measuring means and when said tracking measuring means is set in an automatic tracking mode; rotating said tracking measuring means only in the horizontal direction when said tracking measuring means is set in the search mode; detecting the reflector means in the field of view of the tracking measuring means from a reflected tracking laser beam reflected from said reflector means; and stopping rotation of said tracking measuring means when the reflector means is detected in the field of view of the tracking measuring means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-24 | 1995-09-23 | 1996-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-24 | 1999-09-23 | 2000-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-24 | 2003-09-23 | 2004-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |