Electronic Level Wide-Angle Lens Multi-Staff Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic levels are unable to simultaneously recognize multiple level staffs and obtain their collimation heights, requiring sequential collimation and reading of code patterns for each staff, which is time-consuming and prone to errors.

Innovation Solution

An electronic level with a wide-angle lens system and image processing unit that captures and processes images of multiple level staffs with divided code patterns, allowing for simultaneous recognition and automatic calculation of collimation heights by using offset values to correct height-level measurement values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional electronic level performs collimation and reading for each level staff sequentially, then reading accuracy is maintained, but surveying time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereading accuracyVSAvoidsurveying time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the code pattern into multiple segments that can be simultaneously recognized across multiple level staffs. The code pattern is segmented both spatially (across different staffs) and functionally (different reading positions), allowing parallel processing of multiple measurements without sacrificing accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple collimation operations into a single simultaneous measurement process. By combining the reading of multiple level staffs into one operation, the system achieves both high productivity (reduced surveying time) and maintains measurement precision through electronic reading and processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If conventional electronic level reads code patterns one by one, then measurement accuracy is ensured, but the device cannot simultaneously recognize multiple level staffs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollimation height accuracyVSAvoidmulti-staff recognition capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic level is designed with multi-functionality to simultaneously perform collimation and reading operations on multiple level staffs. The system can handle both single-staff and multi-staff measurements, adapting to different surveying scenarios while maintaining accuracy through consistent electronic reading methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from sequential one-dimensional processing (one staff at a time) to simultaneous multi-dimensional processing (multiple staffs at once). By utilizing the spatial dimension and arranging code patterns across multiple staffs, the system achieves parallel recognition while maintaining measurement precision through coordinated electronic reading

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If code pattern is divided across multiple level staffs, then simultaneous recognition becomes possible, but identification of individual staffs becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimultaneous measurement capabilityVSAvoidstaff identification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each level staff is assigned a unique local quality through its specific code pattern characteristics. The code pattern varies locally across different staffs through different arrangements, positions, or configurations, enabling individual identification while maintaining the overall segmented structure that enables simultaneous recognition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2476997B1Electronic level device and level staff associated thereto
Publication Date: 2019.06.26 TOPCON CORPORATION
  • EP2476997B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP2476997B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2476997B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic level includes a wide-angle lens system having a two-dimensional imaging element configured to form thereon a picture image including an image of a level staff assigned with a code pattern, an extraction part configured to extract the image of the level staff from the picture image, a height-level measurement value calculation part configured to obtain a height-level measurement value indicated by a portion of the code pattern in the image of the level staff extracted by the extraction part, the portion of the code pattern located at a collimation optical axis of the wide-angle lens system, and a calculation part configured to calculate a collimation height from the height-level measurement value.