Measuring Marker Laser Emitter for 3D Position Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-dimensional position measurement systems require tracking of a prism, which is resource-intensive and fails when the prism is obscured, preventing accurate measurement.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a surveying instrument and a measuring marker that calculates and transmits position and posture information, allowing the surveying instrument to measure the three-dimensional position of a point without tracking a prism, using distance-measuring and angle-measuring sections, and imaging to identify the measurement point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the surveying instrument tracks the prism to determine offset direction, then the measurement system can automatically measure three-dimensional position, but the arithmetic section experiences heavy load and measurement fails when prism is hidden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a measuring marker as an intermediary device that carries both a prism and a laser emitter. The laser light serves as a new intermediary signal that directly indicates the measurement point location without requiring the instrument to track the prism. This mediator (laser light) provides reliable directional information even when the prism itself is obscured by obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical tracking system (which requires continuous visual acquisition and arithmetic calculation of prism position) with an optical indication system. The laser light directly marks the measurement point, substituting the complex mechanical tracking and calculation process with a simpler optical signaling approach that is not affected by obstacles blocking the prism.
2Extent of automation
If the surveying instrument uses prism tracking to determine offset direction, then automated measurement is enabled, but computational resources are heavily consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The laser light emitted from the measuring marker serves as an intermediary that directly provides measurement point location information. Instead of requiring the arithmetic section to calculate offset directions from tracked prism positions, the laser light visually and optically indicates the exact measurement point, dramatically reducing computational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy or projection of the measurement point location through the laser emitter. The laser light effectively copies the spatial information of the measurement point and projects it as a visible indicator, allowing the operator to directly identify the measurement point without complex arithmetic calculations of offset directions.
3Measurement precision
If a retroreflective prism is used for distance measurement, then accurate three-dimensional position measurement is achieved, but the necessary size of the prism prevents setting the optical reflection point at the actual measurement point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement function into two separate components: the retroreflective prism for distance measurement and the laser emitter for precise location indication. The prism can be positioned at the measurement point while the laser emitter (which can be very small) precisely marks the exact measurement location, separating the functions to overcome the size limitation of the prism.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser light acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the physical prism and the actual measurement point. Since the laser can be emitted from a very small source, it can precisely indicate the measurement point location even when the larger prism cannot be positioned exactly at that point, allowing the optical reflection point to be effectively set at the measurement point.
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
Enables accurate three-dimensional position measurement without the need for prism tracking, reducing computational load and allowing measurements to be taken even when the prism is obscured.
Implementation Method 1
a laser emitting section configured to emit laser light of visible light in an axial direction
Implementation Method 2
a distance-measuring section configured to perform a reflection prism distance measuring and a non-prism distance measuring by distance-measuring light
Data Source
AI summary
A three-dimensional position measuring system includes a surveying instrument including a distance-measuring section, an imaging section, an angle-measuring section, a drive section configured to drive the distance-measuring section to set angles, and a communication section, and a measuring marker including a position sensor, a posture sensor, a laser emitting section configured to emit laser light of visible light in an axial direction, an emission port for the laser light, and a communication section, wherein the measuring marker calculates position information and posture information of the emission port from the position sensor and the posture sensor and transmits the information to the surveying instrument, and the surveying instrument measures a three-dimensional position of the emission port, grasps the axial direction based on the posture information and searches for a measurement point in the axial direction by the imaging section, and measures a three-dimensional position of the measurement point.