Surveying equipment and surveying methods

Abstract

To provide a surveying instrument that can recognize the orientation of the surveying instrument even when its position cannot be recognized. [Solution] The present invention provides a surveying instrument characterized by emitting a visible light laser beam coaxial with or parallel to the sighting axis as the main laser pointer beam, and emitting a laser beam of a different configuration from the main laser pointer beam as an auxiliary laser pointer beam, in a vertical plane including the laser pointer beam, at a predetermined angle to the main laser pointer beam. By confirming the main irradiation point of the main laser pointer and the auxiliary irradiation point of the auxiliary laser pointer beam, the orientation of the surveying instrument can be determined even if the surveying instrument is not visible.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a surveying instrument, and particularly to a surveying instrument that emits visible laser light from the line of sight axis of the surveying instrument.

Background Art

[0002] When aligning a surveying instrument using a remote-controllable controller, in some cases, the line of sight point of the surveying instrument is irradiated with visible laser pointer light that is coaxial or parallel to the line of sight axis from the surveying instrument. By controlling the line of sight direction of the surveying instrument while checking the irradiation point of the laser pointer light that becomes the line of sight point, a desired point can be aligned with the surveying instrument.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when operating the surveying instrument with an operation terminal instead of aligning it through the sighting port provided in the surveying instrument, if the operator cannot visually recognize the surveying instrument, it is impossible to know where the surveying instrument is just from the irradiation point of the laser pointer light, and it is difficult to align the laser pointer light to a predetermined location. Even if the surveying instrument has a camera, when aligning a slanted measurement surface, such as a ceiling surface, it is difficult to move the irradiation point of the laser pointer light in the desired direction by looking at the camera image acquired from the surveying instrument or the actual irradiation point. This is because, since the surveying instrument cannot be seen, the line of sight direction cannot be determined from just the single point of the laser pointer light. It is desirable to be able to grasp the arrangement direction of the surveying instrument even when its position is not recognized.

[0005] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a surveying instrument that can recognize the orientation of the surveying instrument even when its position cannot be recognized. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, the surveying instrument of the first aspect of this disclosure emits a visible light laser beam coaxial with or parallel to the sighting axis as the main laser pointer beam, and emits an auxiliary laser pointer beam of a different nature as the auxiliary laser pointer beam, in the vertical plane including the main laser pointer beam, at a predetermined angle to the main laser pointer beam.

[0007] In this configuration, by connecting the irradiation point of the main laser pointer beam and the irradiation point of the auxiliary laser pointer beam, the surveying instrument is positioned in the direction of the extension of that line, and the orientation of the surveying instrument can be determined. Even if the position of the surveying instrument is not recognized, the orientation of the surveying instrument can be determined from the two irradiation points.

[0008] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the system is configured to include, in the first embodiment, a surveying instrument body, a lens barrel portion of a distance measuring optical system provided on the surveying instrument body and supported so as to be rotatable in the horizontal and vertical directions, a main laser pointer supported by the lens barrel portion and emitting the main laser pointer light in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel portion, and an auxiliary laser pointer supported by the lens barrel portion and emitting the auxiliary laser pointer light.

[0009] Furthermore, in a third embodiment, the surveying instrument comprises the main body, the lens barrel, a base, a rotating base that rotates horizontally relative to the base, a cover member, the main laser pointer, and the auxiliary laser pointer, wherein the rotating base is provided with a support member that supports the lens barrel so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction, the cover member covers the support member and the lens barrel, and the rangefinder light, the main laser pointer light, and the auxiliary laser pointer light are emitted from a window provided in the cover member. In this embodiment, the lens barrel is covered by the cover member and therefore cannot be seen from the outside. Because the orientation of the lens barrel is the sighting direction, it is difficult to determine which direction is being sighted as the lens barrel is not visible. The sighting direction can be determined by the irradiation points of the two laser pointers.

[0010] Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, the main laser pointer light is a visible light range measuring light, as in the first to third embodiments. In this embodiment, since the range measuring light also serves as the main laser pointer light, there is no need to place a main laser pointer. This allows for a space-saving and simple configuration.

[0011] Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a surveying method using a surveying instrument that emits a visible light laser beam as a main laser pointer beam, which is coaxial with or perpendicular to the sighting axis, and an auxiliary laser pointer beam of a different configuration from the main laser pointer beam, which are emitted in a vertical plane including the sighting axis at a predetermined angle to the main laser pointer beam, and an operating terminal having an operating unit for operating the sighting direction of the surveying instrument, the method comprising: an irradiation step of irradiating both the main laser pointer beam and the auxiliary laser pointer beam; a confirmation step of determining the sighting direction of the surveying instrument from the irradiation point of the main laser pointer beam and the irradiation point where the auxiliary laser pointer beam is irradiated; a matching step of matching the horizontal direction of the operating terminal with the horizontal direction of the sighting direction of the surveying instrument determined in the confirmation step; and a sighting step of moving the sighting direction of the surveying instrument in a desired direction using the operating terminal. According to this embodiment, since the sighting direction of the surveying instrument and the direction of the operating terminal coincide, the operating direction and the direction of movement of the sighting point coincide, allowing the operator to smoothly operate the sighting direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] As is clear from the above explanation, it is possible to provide a surveying instrument that can recognize the orientation of the surveying instrument's placement. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view illustrating the outline of the surveying instrument according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic perspective view showing the use of the surveying equipment. Figure 2(A) shows the surveying equipment sighting the floor. Figure 2(B) shows the surveying equipment sighting the ceiling. [Figure 3] This is a front view of the surveying instrument. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal structure of a surveying instrument. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram of the surveying equipment. [Figure 6] This is an optical block diagram of a surveying instrument. [Figure 7]An embodiment of the measuring machine is shown. Fig. 7(A) shows a perspective view of the measurement site. Fig. 7(B) shows a plan view of the measurement site, looking from directly above the ceiling surface. The measuring machine is sighted at the ceiling surface. It is shown transparently as appropriate. [Figure 8] It is an explanatory diagram for explaining the effect of the measuring machine. It is a perspective view from the operator's side of the same measurement site. [Figure 9] It is an explanatory diagram for explaining the effect of the present invention. It is a comparison diagram showing a conventional configuration. It corresponds to Fig. 8. [Figure 10] It is an example of the display screen of the operation terminal. Fig. 10(A) shows the display screen of this configuration. Fig. 10(B) shows the display screen of a conventional configuration for comparison. [Figure 11] It is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the operator. It shows a plan view of the measurement site, looking from directly above the ceiling surface. The measuring machine is sighted at the ceiling surface. It is shown transparently as appropriate. [Figure 12] It is a flowchart of an example of the use of the measuring machine.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments are illustrative rather than limiting the invention, and not all features or combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Also, in the descriptions of the following embodiments and modification examples, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0015] (Summary of the Invention) Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view for showing an overview of a measuring machine 10 according to the present invention. The measuring machine 10 is a total station equipped with a distance measuring and angle measuring function and a tracking function, and can perform distance measuring and angle measuring in both the non-prism method and the prism method.

[0016] The surveying instrument 10 is capable of irradiating a main laser pointer light La that is coaxial with the sighting direction or parallel to the vertical direction. Further, the surveying instrument 10 also irradiates an auxiliary laser pointer light Lb that emits at a predetermined angle with respect to the main laser pointer light La in a vertical plane including the sighting axis, together with the main laser pointer light La. The main laser pointer light La and the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb are both visible light rays, and an operator can grasp the sighting direction of the surveying instrument 10 by confirming the main laser pointer light La and the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb that are visually recognized at the irradiation points.

[0017] In this embodiment, the main laser pointer light La is a red laser light ray of visible light, and the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb is a green laser light ray. Also, the main laser pointer light La is irradiated coaxially with the sighting axis, and the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb is offset upward by a predetermined angle θ with respect to the main laser pointer light La in a vertical plane including the sighting axis of the surveying instrument 10 and irradiated. It is not limited to this, and the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb may be a laser light ray of visible light in a different mode from the main laser pointer light La. For example, for the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb, in addition to using a laser light of a color different from the main laser pointer light La, various modes of light can be used such as one being a blinking light and the other being a continuous light, or having different blinking periods. It is also possible to use a visible light distance measuring light for the main laser pointer light La. In that case, the main laser pointer light La is preferably a continuous light rather than a blinking light. Also, the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb may be emitted offset downward by an angle θ from the main laser pointer light La in a vertical plane including the main laser pointer light La.

[0018] The surveying instrument 10 is configured to be remotely operable by an operation terminal 50. Even from a position away from the surveying instrument 10, an operator OP can recognize the sighting point and the sighting direction of the surveying instrument 10 from the irradiation points of the main laser pointer light La and the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb. Whether the operator OP is near the surveying instrument 10 or at a position away from the surveying instrument 10, the operator can operate the surveying instrument 10 with the operation terminal 50 at hand to move the sighting direction and command to match the distance measuring point to a desired point for distance measurement and angle measurement.

[0019] Figure 2 shows the state in which the surveying instrument 10 is used. As shown in Figure 2(A), for example, by drawing a line connecting the green auxiliary irradiation point Pb1, which is the irradiation point of the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb1 irradiated onto the floor surface F, and the red main irradiation point Pa1, which is the irradiation point of the main laser pointer light La1 irradiated onto the floor surface (see dashed line CL1), the operator OP can determine the orientation of the surveying instrument 10. Furthermore, from the two irradiation points, the operator OP can determine the sighting direction of the surveying instrument 10.

[0020] Similarly, as shown in Figure 2(B), for example, by connecting and extending the red main irradiation point Pa2, which is the irradiation point of the main laser pointer beam La2 irradiated onto the ceiling surface C, and the green auxiliary irradiation point Pb2, which is the irradiation point of the auxiliary laser pointer beam Lb2 irradiated onto the ceiling surface C (see dashed line CL2), the operator OP can determine the orientation of the surveying instrument 10. Furthermore, from the two irradiation points, the operator OP can determine the sighting direction of the surveying instrument 10.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the main laser pointer beam La and the auxiliary laser pointer beam Lb always form a V-shape at an angle θ around the optical center of the surveying instrument 10, and both rotate in the horizontal and vertical directions. Therefore, please note that the order in which the illumination points are connected differs between the ceiling surface C and the floor surface F. The direction of placement of the surveying instrument 10 and the direction of sighting are often lost when the illumination point is on the ceiling surface. This is because the surveying instrument 10 cannot be tracked using the prism held by the operator as a target, and the operator must guide the sighting point to the measurement point. For this reason, the auxiliary laser pointer beam Lb may be configured to be illuminated only when the sighting direction is horizontal or higher. In this embodiment, the surveying instrument 10 can rotate its sighting axis up to approximately 90 degrees (vertical) in the vertical direction. In the case of surveying equipment whose sighting axis can be rotated vertically upward by more than 90 degrees to more than 180 degrees, it should also be noted that when either of the two laser pointer beams is rotated vertically upward by more than 90 degrees, the order in which the two illuminated points are connected will also change.

[0022] Understanding the orientation of the surveying instrument 10 relative to the operator OP is useful for smooth operation when the operator OP remotely controls the surveying instrument 10 using the control terminal 50, especially when the surveying instrument 10 is obscured by obstacles and cannot be seen by the operator OP. By irradiating not only the main laser pointer beam La but also the auxiliary laser pointer beam Lb, the operator OP can recognize not only the sighting point but also the orientation of the surveying instrument 10 and the sighting direction. Even when moving the sighting direction from a distance using the control terminal 50, the operator OP can accurately operate the surveying instrument 10 because they can understand its direction from the two illuminated points.

[0023] In conventional methods, where only the sighting point is indicated by a laser pointer, it was difficult to move the surveying equipment as intended based solely on the position information of the laser pointer's beam. In particular, if the surveying equipment was not visible to the operator, even if the operator knew the sighting point, they could not determine the direction of sighting, making it extremely difficult to remotely move the sighting point to the desired location.

[0024] In contrast, even when the surveying instrument 10 is not visible, the operator OP can determine the placement direction and sighting direction of the surveying instrument 10 from the main illumination point Pa and the auxiliary illumination point Pb, and control the movement of the surveying instrument 10 in the sighting direction. The operator OP can move the main illumination point Pa of the main laser pointer light La, which is the sighting point, to the desired location and have the surveying instrument 10 perform distance and angle measurement.

[0025] (Surveying instrument) The surveying instrument 10 will be explained using Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a front view of the surveying instrument 10. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal structure of the surveying instrument 10.

[0026] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the surveying instrument 10 is composed of a base 13, a rotating base 14 that rotates horizontally relative to the base 13, a surveying instrument body 15, and a cover member 16.

[0027] The base unit 13 is generally composed of a fixed base 13a that is fixed to the tripod base 2, a leveling base 13b having a leveling screw (not shown), and a case 13c that houses a drive mechanism such as a horizontal rotation drive unit M1 that rotates the rotating base 14 horizontally around the vertical axis V.

[0028] A mounting section 17, composed of a pair of support members 17a, 17a, is erected on the rotating base 14. The lens barrels 18 of the rangefinder optical system and the tracking optical system are positioned between the support members 17a, 17a.

[0029] The telescope tube 18 is supported by a horizontal axis H provided on the mounting section 17 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. The telescope tube 18 has a main lens 18a, and the optical axis of the main lens 18a becomes the sighting axis of the surveying instrument 10. The telescope tube 18 houses a tracking unit 23, a distance measuring unit 24, and a main laser pointer 41 that emits the main laser pointer beam La. A surveying instrument control unit 29 is provided on the upper surface of the mounting section 17.

[0030] A vertical rotation drive unit M2, which rotates the lens barrel 18 in the vertical direction, is fixed to one end of the horizontal axis H, and a vertical angle detector 22 for detecting the rotation angle of the lens barrel 18 is provided at the other end.

[0031] The cover member 16 has a handle portion 16b on its upper surface and a window 16a extending vertically on its front surface. The window 16a extends vertically from the center of the front surface of the cover member 16, and further extends continuously from the upper end of the front surface to near the rear end of the upper surface, forming across two surfaces: the front and the upper surface (see Figure 1). The handle portion 16b on the upper surface is inclined backward so as not to interfere with the window 16a (see Figure 1). The window 16a is formed on the optical axis of the lens barrel portion 18 and transmits the infrared laser light of the distance measuring and tracking optical system, as well as the main laser pointer light La and auxiliary laser pointer light Lb, which will be described later. Imaging of the scenery in the sighting direction, which will be described later, is performed through the window 16a.

[0032] An imaging unit 30 is positioned at the top of the telescope tube 18. The sighting axis of the surveying instrument 10 and the direction of the light-receiving part of the imaging unit 30 are positioned parallel to each other in the vertical direction.

[0033] An auxiliary laser pointer 42 that emits auxiliary laser pointer light Lb is positioned above the imaging unit 30. The auxiliary laser pointer 42 has a lens 42b, and the optical axis of the lens 42b is the emission axis of the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb. The lens 42b of the auxiliary laser pointer 42 is positioned directly above the main lens 18a of the lens barrel 18, and its optical axis is set upward by an angle θ from the optical axis of the main lens 18a of the lens barrel 18. The auxiliary laser pointer 42 may also be mounted inside the lens barrel 18, and the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb may also be emitted from the main lens 18a.

[0034] (Block diagram) Figure 5 is a control block diagram of the surveying instrument 10 and the operating terminal 50. The surveying instrument 10 includes a horizontal angle detector 21, a vertical angle detector 22, a horizontal rotation drive unit M1, a vertical rotation drive unit M2, a tracking unit 23, a distance measuring unit 24, a surveying instrument communication unit 25, a memory unit 26, an imaging unit 30, a main laser pointer 41, an auxiliary laser pointer 42, and a surveying instrument control unit 29 to which all of these are connected.

[0035] The horizontal angle detector 21 and the vertical angle detector 22 are absolute encoders or incremental encoders having a rotating disk, a slit, a light-emitting diode, and an image sensor. The horizontal angle detector 21 is mounted on the rotation axis of the rotating base 14 and detects the horizontal angle of the rotating base 14. The vertical angle detector 22 is mounted on the horizontal axis H of the lens barrel 18 and detects the vertical angle of the lens barrel 18.

[0036] The horizontal rotation drive unit M1 and the vertical rotation drive unit M2 are motors. Controlled by the surveying instrument control unit 29, the horizontal rotation drive unit M1 moves the rotation axis of the rotating base 14, and the vertical rotation drive unit M2 moves the horizontal axis H of the telescope tube 18. The orientation of the telescope tube 18 is changed by the cooperation of both drive units. The angle measuring unit is composed of the horizontal angle detector 21 and the vertical angle detector 22. The drive unit is composed of the horizontal rotation drive unit M1 and the vertical rotation drive unit M2.

[0037] The tracking unit 23 includes a tracking light transmission system that emits infrared laser light of a different wavelength than the distance measurement light as tracking light, and a tracking light receiving system that has an image sensor such as a CCD sensor or CMOS sensor. The tracking unit 23 acquires a landscape image including the tracking light and a landscape image excluding the tracking light, and sends both images to the surveying instrument control unit 29. The surveying instrument control unit 29 determines the center of the target image (prism) from the difference between the two images, detects it as the target position, and automatically tracks so that the lens barrel 18 is always facing the target, so that the distance between the center of the target image and the center of the optical axis of the lens barrel 18 is within a certain value.

[0038] The distance measuring unit 24 includes a light transmitting unit and a light receiving unit. It sights the object to be measured, emits distance measuring light onto the object, receives the reflected light with the light receiving unit, and measures the distance from the phase of the distance measuring light and the internal reference light.

[0039] The surveying instrument communication unit 25 enables communication with an external network. For example, it connects to the internet using the Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) and sends and receives information with the operating terminal 50. Wireless communication is not limited to this, and other known wireless communication methods can be used.

[0040] The memory unit 26 is a storage medium such as a hard disk drive, and stores programs for calculation control. Acquired survey data and status data are also stored there.

[0041] The imaging unit 30 has an image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS, and can acquire moving images in real time. The imaging unit 30 in this embodiment is a so-called wide-angle camera with a wide field of view. The imaging unit 30 is positioned above the lens barrel 18 so that its optical axes coincide horizontally, and it captures the scenery in front of the lens barrel 18. The scenery captured by the imaging unit 30 is sent to the operation terminal 50 via the surveying instrument communication unit 25 and displayed on the display unit 52. The imaging unit 30 may also be positioned inside the lens barrel 18 so that its optical axis coincides with the sighting axis, and the center of the imaging unit 30 becomes the sighting axis.

[0042] The surveying instrument 10 can be operated by a single operator (one person), and the operator OP, who is located away from the surveying instrument 10, can check the view in front of the surveying instrument 10 in real time by viewing the image captured by the imaging unit 30. In this embodiment, since the main visible laser pointer beam La is projected in the sighting direction, the imaging unit 30 captures the scenery in front of the lens barrel 18, as well as the main irradiation point Pa of the main laser pointer beam La as the sighting point. The operator OP remotely operates the surveying instrument 10 using the operation unit 51 while checking the main irradiation point Pa on the display unit 52.

[0043] The main laser pointer 41 emits main laser pointer light La. The auxiliary laser pointer 42 emits auxiliary laser pointer light Lb.

[0044] The surveying instrument control unit 29 is a microcontroller with components such as a CPU, ROM, and RAM integrated into an integrated circuit. All the components of the surveying instrument 10 are connected to it, and it controls them. For example, it controls the horizontal rotation drive unit M1 and the vertical rotation drive unit M2, controls the illumination of the tracking unit 23 and the distance measuring unit 24, automatically tracks the object to be surveyed, automatically aims, measures distance and angle, turns the main laser pointer 41 and the auxiliary laser pointer 42 on and off, and sends and receives measurement data and commands via the surveying instrument communication unit 25.

[0045] The operating terminal 50 includes an operation unit 51 for inputting commands, a display unit 52 for displaying status and information, an operating terminal communication unit 53 for sending and receiving commands with the surveying instrument 10, and an operating terminal control unit 59 for controlling these.

[0046] The surveying instrument 10 and the operating terminal 50 are connected to each other so that they can communicate with one another. Commands entered on the operating terminal 50 and data acquired by the surveying instrument 10 are transmitted and received via the surveying instrument communication unit 25 and the operating terminal communication unit 53.

[0047] The operating terminal 50 is not limited to an operating terminal dedicated to the surveying instrument 10; for example, a smartphone or tablet may be implemented with the controller function of the surveying instrument 10 by installing an application. The operator carries the operating terminal 50 and inputs commands as needed while checking the status.

[0048] (Optical block diagram) Figure 6 is an optical block diagram of the surveying instrument 10. The distance measuring unit 24 comprises a distance measuring light transmitting unit 24a, a distance measuring light transmitting optical system 24b, a beam splitter 24c, and a distance measuring light receiving unit 24f. The distance measuring light transmitting unit 24a is a light-emitting element such as a semiconductor laser, and the distance measuring light receiving unit 24f is a light-receiving element such as an avalanche photodiode.

[0049] The range measuring light Ls emitted from the range measuring light transmission unit 24a passes through the range measuring light transmission optical system 24b and the beam splitter 24c, then through the main lens 18a and window 16a of the lens barrel 18, and is irradiated onto the object to be measured. The range measuring light retroreflected by the object to be measured is incident on the range measuring light receiving unit 24f via the beam splitter 24c. The range measuring unit 24 performs distance measurement for each pulse of the range measuring light based on the time difference (round trip time of the pulsed light) between the light emission timing of the light-emitting element and the light-receiving timing of the light-receiving element.

[0050] The main laser pointer 41 has a main laser light transmitting unit 41a and a main laser light transmitting optical system 41b. The main laser light transmitting unit 41a is a light-emitting element that emits a visible laser beam. The main laser pointer light La emitted from the main laser light transmitting unit 41a is guided by the main laser light transmitting optical system 41b to the optical axis of the main lens 18a, passes through the main lens 18a and the window 16a, and is irradiated to the outside. As a result, the main laser pointer light La is emitted in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel 18.

[0051] The auxiliary laser pointer 42 has an auxiliary laser light transmitting unit 42a and a lens 42b. The auxiliary laser light transmitting unit 42a is a light-emitting element that emits a visible light laser beam with a different wavelength (different emission color) from the main laser pointer light La. The auxiliary laser pointer light Lb emitted from the auxiliary laser light transmitting unit 42a is collimated, passes through the lens 42b and window 16a, and is irradiated to the outside. The auxiliary laser pointer 42 may also be placed inside the lens barrel 18 and configured so that the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb is also irradiated from the main lens 18a of the lens barrel 18.

[0052] (Examples) An example of a survey using the surveying instrument 10 and the operating terminal 50 will be explained in detail with reference to the figures. Figure 7 shows a survey site where the ceiling surface C of a store with shelves 5 is being surveyed. Parts are shown as transparent where appropriate. Figure 7(A) is a perspective view of the survey site. Figure 7(B) is a plan view of the survey site. This is a view of the survey site from even higher up on the ceiling surface. The laser pointer light is shining on the ceiling surface. The light is shown as if it were passing through the ceiling surface. Figure 8 is the same survey site as seen from the worker's side.

[0053] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the surveying instrument 10 is positioned with its sighting direction pointed above the horizontal, and the main laser pointer beam La and the auxiliary laser pointer beam Lb are projected onto the ceiling surface C as the main irradiation point Pa and the auxiliary irradiation point Pb, respectively. A shelf 5 is located between the installed surveying instrument 10 and the operator OP, so the operator OP cannot see the surveying instrument 10. However, there is space between the shelf 5 and the ceiling surface C, so the operator OP can see the ceiling surface C and the main irradiation point Pa and auxiliary irradiation point Pb projected onto the ceiling surface C with the naked eye.

[0054] Since the main illumination point Pa and auxiliary illumination point Pb shining on the ceiling surface C can be visually identified, the worker OP can determine the orientation of the surveying instrument 10 by extending a line connecting the main illumination point Pa to the auxiliary illumination point Pb (see dashed line CL in Figure 8). Furthermore, by determining the orientation of the surveying instrument 10, the sighting direction of the surveying instrument 10 can be determined.

[0055] Figure 9 shows a conventional configuration for comparison. Figure 9 shows the same configuration as in Figures 7 and 8, but with a surveying instrument 910 that does not have an auxiliary laser pointer 42 and only emits laser pointer light L.

[0056] In the conventional configuration, as shown in Figure 9, the surveying instrument 910 can see the point P of the laser pointer light L, which is projected coaxially with the sighting axis, on the ceiling surface C. However, the operator OP9 cannot see the surveying instrument 910 and therefore cannot determine its position. As a result, operator OP9 does not know whether the surveying instrument 910 is behind or in front of them, and cannot determine in which direction (forward, backward, left, or right) the scope of the surveying instrument 910 should be moved.

[0057] Figure 10 shows the images displayed on the display unit of the operating terminal at the same survey site. Figure 10(A) is the image displayed on the display unit 52 of the operating terminal 50 at the survey site shown in Figure 7. Figure 10(B) is a conventional example for comparison, and is the image displayed on the display unit 952 of the operating terminal 950 at the survey site shown in Figure 9.

[0058] The operating terminal 50 is a tablet device, with the operating unit 51 integrated into the display unit 52. The operating terminal 950 is similar.

[0059] Since the imaging unit 30 of the surveying instrument 10 is imaging the sighting direction, the main illumination point Pa and auxiliary illumination point Pb that are illuminating the ceiling surface C being imaged by the imaging unit 30 can be confirmed on the display unit 52 of the operation terminal 50 as the main illumination point PPa and the auxiliary illumination point PPb, respectively. (Of course, depending on the field of view of the imaging unit 30, the shape of the illuminated object, the illumination position, etc., one or both illumination points may not be displayed.)

[0060] As shown in Figure 10(A), the main imaging illumination point PPa and the auxiliary imaging illumination point PPb can be confirmed on the screen. The operator OP can confirm the main illumination point Pa and the auxiliary illumination point Pb on the screen and with their naked eye, and send commands to the surveying instrument 10 using the control unit 51 to rotate the lens barrel 18 horizontally and vertically to move the main illumination point Pa, which is the sighting point, to the desired location. In this way, even in sites where the surveying instrument 10 cannot be directly seen, the operator OP can grasp the position of the surveying instrument 10 and rotate the horizontal rotation drive unit M1 and the vertical rotation drive unit M2 to move the lens barrel 18 to the desired position and move the sighting axis, allowing for one-person surveying work.

[0061] In contrast, as shown in Figure 10(B), in the conventional configuration, only the image illumination point PP can be seen on the screen. However, since only the illumination point P can be seen with the naked eye, the operator OP9 does not know which direction the surveying instrument 910 is positioned relative to them. Therefore, they do not know which direction to point the sighting axis to move it in the desired direction, and cannot accurately instruct the surveying instrument 910 to move in the sighting direction to move the sighting point.

[0062] In this way, by using a surveying instrument 10 capable of emitting an auxiliary laser pointer beam Lb, the operator OP can recognize that the surveying instrument 10 is located in the direction of the extension of the line connecting the two points Pa and Pb on the illumination surface. This allows the operator OP to recognize the sighting direction (hereinafter referred to as the planar sighting direction) when the surveying site is viewed secondarily from above (plan view). When the planar sighting direction is known, it is preferable for the operator OP to ensure that the planar sighting direction of the surveying instrument 10 and the direction of the operator OP's operating terminal 50 are the same during operation. This is because it allows the operator OP holding the operating terminal 50 to operate it intuitively.

[0063] The above will be explained in detail using Figure 11. Figure 11 is a plan view of the surveying site shown in Figure 7. It is a top view taken from above the ceiling surface C. The surveying instrument 10 has its lens barrel 18 pointed upwards and is irradiating the ceiling surface C with the main laser pointer beam La and the auxiliary laser pointer beam Lb. In Figure 11, the beam is shown as passing through the ceiling surface C.

[0064] As mentioned above, operator OP can determine that the surveying instrument 10 is located on the extension of the line moving from the main illumination point Pa to the auxiliary illumination point Pb. Furthermore, operator OP can determine that the direction moving from the surveying instrument 10 to the main illumination point Pa is the sighting direction of the surveying instrument 10 in the horizontal plane (plane sighting direction DR1, indicated by the white arrow).

[0065] Operator OP grasps the planar sighting direction DR1 of the surveying instrument 10 from the main illumination point Pa and auxiliary illumination point Pb illuminated on the ceiling surface C, and rotates his body holding the operating terminal 50 so that the planar sighting direction DR1 and the direction of the operating terminal 50 coincide (see Operator OP' in the figure).

[0066] In this way, by aligning the direction of the operator OP's body and the direction of the operation terminal 50 (direction DR2 of the black arrow) with the planar sighting direction DR1, the operation in the sighting direction can be performed smoothly. By aligning both directions in two-dimensional vector directions (vector directions on the plan view), when the operator OP operates the operation terminal 50, the direction of the actual illumination point P seen with the naked eye and the direction of the imaged illumination point PP on the screen of the display unit 52 coincide. Therefore, the direction of operation and the direction of movement of the illumination point P coincide, allowing the operator OP to operate intuitively and perform surveying smoothly. Since the operator holds the operation terminal 50 below shoulder level and tilts it to match their line of sight, it is sufficient that the direction from the front to the back of the operation terminal 50 (normal direction of the front surface), or the direction from bottom to top (see direction DR2 in Figure 10(A)), is the same as the planar sighting direction DR1 on the plan view. If the operation terminal 50 has a display screen that shows the illumination point, it is preferable to use the display screen as the reference. If the operating terminal 50 has only an operating unit 51 for moving the sighting direction and does not have a display unit 52, it is preferable to use the surface of the operating unit 51 as the reference.

[0067] For example, if a worker is unable to determine the position of the surveying instrument and is looking in the exact opposite direction (180 degrees opposite) to the instrument's sighting direction, pressing the rightward movement button on the control terminal to move the sighting direction to the right will result in the sighting point moving to the left from the worker's perspective, as the sighting direction actually moves to the right from the surveying instrument's point of view. Thus, conventionally, even if the sighting point could be confirmed with the naked eye and on a screen, it was difficult to remotely move the surveying instrument's sighting point to the desired position if the location of the surveying instrument was unknown.

[0068] In contrast, with the surveying instrument 10, the placement and sighting direction of the surveying instrument 10 can be recognized by irradiating with the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb, making it easier for a single operator to perform the survey. Furthermore, by aligning the direction DR2 of the operation terminal 50 with the planar sighting direction DR1, the operator OP holding the operation terminal 50 can accurately operate the sighting axis, making the surveying work easier.

[0069] In particular, in the surveying instrument 10, since the cover member 16 covers the lens barrel 18, the lens barrel 18 cannot be seen, and therefore the direction of the sighting axis cannot be confirmed by the orientation of the lens barrel 18. By irradiating with the main laser pointer light La and the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb, the sighting direction can be determined even if the lens barrel 18 is not visible.

[0070] (flowchart) Figure 12 shows a flowchart illustrating the process of moving the irradiated point P to the desired position.

[0071] As shown in Figure 12, first, in step S101, as an irradiation step, both the main laser pointer light La and the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb are irradiated from the surveying instrument 10.

[0072] Next, in step S102, as a confirmation step, the position and direction of the surveying instrument 10 and the sighting direction of the surveying instrument 10 are determined from the main irradiation point Pa of the main laser pointer light La and the auxiliary irradiation point Pb of the auxiliary laser pointer light Lb.

[0073] Next, in step S103, as a matching step, the direction DR2 of the operating terminal 50 and the plane sighting direction DR1 are aligned. The operator OP changes their body orientation so that their orientation, with the operating terminal 50 in front of them, aligns with the sighting direction of the surveying instrument 10, which was determined in step S102, in the horizontal plane.

[0074] Next, in step S104, as a sighting step, the operator OP operates the control unit 51 to move the sighting axis of the surveying instrument 10 and sight the desired position with the surveying instrument 10.

[0075] Next, in step S105, as a surveying step, operator OP sights the surveying instrument 10 to the desired point, confirms that the main illumination point Pa has moved to the desired point, and then has the surveying instrument 10 perform distance measurement and angle measurement.

[0076] The embodiments described above are examples of the present invention, and these can be combined based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art; such combinations are also included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0077] 10:Surveying machine 14: Rotating base 15: Survey instrument body 16: Cover component 16a: Window 17a: Support member 18: Telescope tube section 41: Main laser pointer 42: Auxiliary laser pointer 50: Operating terminal 51:Operation unit DR1 :Direction La: Main laser pointer light Lb: Auxiliary laser pointer light Ls: Ranging light OP: Worker θ: Angle

Claims

1. A visible light laser beam, coaxial with or parallel to the sight axis, is emitted as the main laser pointer beam, and a laser beam of a different configuration from the main laser pointer beam is emitted as an auxiliary laser pointer beam in the vertical plane containing the main laser pointer beam, at a predetermined angle to the main laser pointer beam. A surveying instrument characterized by the following features.

2. The surveying instrument itself, The lens barrel portion of the rangefinder optical system, which is mounted on the surveying instrument body and supported so as to be rotatable in the horizontal and vertical directions, Supported by the lens barrel, the main laser pointer emits the main laser pointer light in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel, Supported by the lens barrel portion, an auxiliary laser pointer that emits the auxiliary laser pointer light, The surveying instrument according to claim 1, characterized by comprising the following:

3. The instrument comprises the main body of the surveying instrument, the lens barrel, the base, a rotating base that rotates horizontally relative to the base, a cover member, the main laser pointer, and the auxiliary laser pointer. The rotating base is provided with a support member that supports the lens barrel so as to be able to rotate vertically, and the cover member covers the support member and the lens barrel. The distance measuring light, the main laser pointer light, and the auxiliary laser pointer light are emitted from a window provided in the cover member. The surveying instrument according to feature 2.

4. The aforementioned main laser pointer light is a visible light measuring light. A surveying instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A surveying instrument that emits a visible light laser beam coaxial with or parallel to the sighting axis as a main laser pointer beam, and emits a laser beam of a different configuration as an auxiliary laser pointer beam in a vertical plane including the sighting axis, at a predetermined angle to the main laser pointer beam, An operating terminal having an operating unit for operating the sighting direction of the surveying instrument, A surveying method using, An irradiation step in which both the main laser pointer beam and the auxiliary laser pointer beam are irradiated, A confirmation step to determine the sighting direction of the surveying instrument from the irradiation point of the main laser pointer light and the irradiation point where the auxiliary laser pointer light is irradiated, A matching step in which the horizontal direction of the operating terminal is matched with the horizontal direction of the sighting direction of the surveying instrument as determined in the confirmation step, A sighting step in which the sighting direction of the surveying instrument is moved to a desired direction using the operating terminal, A surveying method characterized by comprising the following.

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