Geodetic Surveying Device Dynamic Static Object Data Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Geodetic surveying devices often overwhelm operators with excessive data in camera images, making it difficult to identify relevant information quickly and accurately, leading to increased time consumption and error risks due to the cluttered display of numerous object data points.

Innovation Solution

A geodetic surveying device equipped with dynamic and static filtering capabilities, allowing only relevant object data to be displayed based on user-defined criteria such as positional relationships, angular ranges, object properties, and distance thresholds, using a camera with a pivoting aiming unit and a graphic output unit for filtered data representation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If all object data is displayed in the camera image, then complete information is provided, but the display becomes cluttered and difficult to interpret

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiddisplay interpretability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments object data into multiple categories (e.g., construction objects, natural objects, technical installations) and applies different filtering rules to each category. This allows the system to selectively display relevant data while hiding irrelevant information, resolving the contradiction between providing complete information and maintaining display interpretability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic filtering that automatically adjusts which object data is displayed based on the current camera view, measurement context, and user preferences. The filter criteria are not static but adapt dynamically to the measurement situation, allowing the system to maintain information completeness while ensuring display interpretability under varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If comprehensive object data is displayed, then all measurement information is available, but time consumption increases due to difficulty in identifying relevant data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement information availabilityVSAvoiddata identification time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies filtering criteria in advance to pre-select and display only the object data that is relevant to the current measurement task. By performing this selection action before the operator needs to interpret the data, the system makes measurement information immediately available without requiring the operator to spend time searching through comprehensive but cluttered displays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to the operator about which object data is being displayed and why it was selected based on the filter criteria. This feedback mechanism helps operators quickly understand the relevance of displayed information and reduces the time needed to identify and interpret measurement data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If filtering criteria are made selective and specific, then relevant information is highlighted, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation relevanceVSAvoidfiltering system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal filtering system that handles multiple categories of object data (construction objects, natural objects, technical installations) and various filtering criteria (distance, angle, category, user preferences) through a single integrated mechanism. This multi-functional approach highlights relevant information without requiring separate complex filtering systems for each data type, thus managing device complexity while maintaining information relevance.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2756261B1Measuring device and method for filtered presentation of object information
Publication Date: 2019.01.16 LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
  • EP2756261B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2756261B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2756261B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4a

AI summary

The invention relates to a geodetic surveying device, more particularly a total station or a theodolite, with at least one sighting unit pivotable about two axes, wherein the sighting unit defines a target direction in a coordinate system and has a camera with a current range of view for capturing a camera image (10) substantially in the target direction. Object data stored in a database, wherein the object data is stored with a respective position reference indicating a position in the coordinate system is additionally provided, as well as a graphical output unit (11) on which the camera image (10) and the object data can be displayed, and a control and processing unit. The surveying device further comprises a filter functionality, with dynamic filtering, wherein the object data is filtered in the dynamic filtering on the basis of the current range of view, and static filtering, wherein the object data is filtered in the static filtering based on a user-selectable or specifiable selection criterion. In addition, the object data filtered by the dynamic and static filtering is graphically displayed on the output unit (11) by means of markings (20, 21) representing the object data conjointly with the camera image (10), wherein the markings (20, 21) are displayed at a respective point in the camera image (10) referenced by the position reference.