Geodesic Target Identification via Modulated Laser Beam

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing geodetic surveying systems face challenges in robustly identifying a specific target unit among multiple units in the field of view, often leading to misidentification and high data processing efforts due to all target units transmitting their identities in response to a search beam.

Innovation Solution

Modulating the identification code of the target unit to be searched onto the search beam emitted by the surveying device, allowing only a matching target unit to transmit a reactive confirmation signal, thereby reducing the surveying device's data processing effort and ensuring accurate identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all target units transmit their identities in response to a search beam, then the surveying device can receive identification data from multiple targets, but the data processing effort increases significantly and misidentification occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoiddata processing effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by modulating the search beam with the identification code of the target to be searched before transmission. This allows target units to pre-check if they are the intended target by comparing the modulated code with their own identification, and only the matching target unit transmits a response. This preliminary filtering action eliminates the need for the surveying device to process multiple identity transmissions, directly resolving the contradiction between identification reliability and data processing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism by using a modulated search beam that carries identification information. This modulated beam acts as an intermediary between the surveying device and target units, enabling selective identification without requiring all target units to transmit their identities. The modulated search beam mediates the communication process, allowing only the relevant target unit to respond, thus reducing data processing effort while maintaining identification accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Extent of automation

If a fan-shaped laser beam is used for automatic target search, then the target search process is automated, but the system reacts to all reflectors in the field of view including interfering objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic target searchVSAvoidtarget identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by modulating the fan-shaped laser beam with the identification code of the target to be searched before transmission. This allows target units to pre-check if they are the intended target by comparing the modulated code with their own identification, and only the matching target unit transmits a response. This preliminary filtering action eliminates the need for the surveying device to process multiple identity transmissions, directly resolving the contradiction between identification reliability and data processing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism by using a modulated search beam that carries identification information. This modulated beam acts as an intermediary between the surveying device and target units, enabling selective identification without requiring all target units to transmit their identities. The modulated search beam mediates the communication process, allowing only the relevant target unit to respond, thus reducing data processing effort while maintaining identification accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables error-free identification of the target unit with reduced data processing effort, as only the unit with a matching ID responds, simplifying the search process and minimizing misidentification.

Implementation Method 1

a radiation source (21) for emitting an optical beam (22) in a defined spatial direction, in particular a vertically fanned out laser beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 2

a detector (32) for detecting the optical beam (22)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

a retroreflector (31) and a detector (32) for detecting the optical beam (22)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRetroreflection: Retroreflector

Data Source

PatentEP2404137B1Geodesic measuring system and method for identifying a target unit with a geodesic measuring device
Publication Date: 2015.04.01 LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
  • EP2404137B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2404137B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2404137B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a geodesic measurement system (1) having a geodesic measurement device (2), in particular theodolite or total station and a plurality of target objects (11) that form a target object volume. A unique identification code (ID) is allocated to each of the target objects (11), such that the target objects (11) can be differentiated from one another based on the identification code (ID). The measurement device (2) has a distance and angle measurement functionality for determining the position of the target objects (11) and at least one radiation source (21) for emitting an optical beam (22) in a defined spatial direction, in particular a pivotable, vertically expanded laser beam. A target unit (3) that represents one of the target objects (11) has a reflector (31), in particular an optical retro reflector, and a detector (32) for receiving the optical beam (22). According to the invention, the measurement device (2) is designed for emission of the beam (22) such that the identification code (ID) of a target object (11) that is searched for from the target object volume can be modulated to the beam (22) as a code (sID) to be searched for. The target unit (3) has an evaluation component (33) connected to the detector (32) for inspecting correspondence between the code (sID) modulated to the beam (22) and the own identification code (ID) of the target unit (3) and a transmission component (34) for transmission of a reactive confirmation signal (35) to the geodesic measurement device (2) that takes place upon correspondence being determined. Furthermore, according to the invention, a processing component (23) of the measurement device (2) is designed to identify the target unit (3) from the target object volume based on the reactive confirmation signal (35), in particular dependent on a receiving time of the reactive confirmation signal (35).