Reflective Target Prism Orientation for Wide-Angle Surveying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reflective targets used in surveying applications have limited operational angle ranges, leading to deviations in angle and distance measurements when the angle of incidence exceeds the optimal range, resulting in suboptimal performance.

Innovation Solution

A reflective target with a wide operational angle range is achieved by arranging multiple planar reflective sections with prisms oriented such that a common edge formed by two of the three perpendicular surfaces lies in the same plane as the target axis, allowing for 360° coverage without gaps, and utilizing alternative orientations and arrangements of prisms to mitigate reflective peaks and deviations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single prism is used for reflection, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the operational angle range is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational angle rangeVSAvoidprism arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reflective target is divided into multiple planar reflective sections (at least three), each containing prisms with specific orientations. This segmentation allows each section to handle specific angle ranges, collectively providing 360° coverage while maintaining manageable complexity in each individual section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Prisms in different reflective sections are oriented asymmetrically relative to the target axis. Specifically, prisms in alternative reflective sections are oriented in alternative directions relative to the target axis, creating an asymmetric arrangement that expands the operational angle range beyond what a single symmetric prism configuration could achieve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Measurement precision

If prisms are oriented for optimal reflection at perpendicular incidence, then measurement precision is high at normal angles, but measurement deviations occur when angle of incidence exceeds the optimal range

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangle and distance measurement accuracyVSAvoidperformance consistency across angle ranges

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Different reflective sections have prisms oriented with different local qualities - each section is optimized for specific angle ranges. The prisms in alternative reflective sections are oriented in alternative directions, creating locally optimized reflection characteristics that collectively provide consistent measurement precision across all incident angles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple prisms are arranged to provide wide angle coverage, then operational angle range increases, but reflective peaks and measurement deviations may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangle range coverageVSAvoidmeasurement consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By orienting prisms in alternative reflective sections in alternative directions relative to the target axis, the asymmetric arrangement distributes reflective peaks more evenly across the angle range, preventing concentrated deviations and improving measurement consistency while maintaining wide angle coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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

The solution provides accurate and reliable angle and distance measurements across a broader range of angles of incidence, reducing measurement deviations and enhancing the overall performance of reflective targets in surveying applications.

Implementation Method 1

Incident light entering the prism through the front surface 920 within a certain range of angles of incidence is refracted by the front surface 920

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

If the angle of incidence of the light beam on one of the 3 perpendicular surfaces falls below the critical angle of total reflection only weak reflection occurs due to Fresnel effects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 3

each reflective section includes a plurality of prisms... Each of the prisms is oriented such that a common edge formed by two of the three surfaces of the prism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9664823B2Reflective target for surveying instruments

Publication Date: 2017.05.30 TRIMBLE JENA

AI summary

Reflective target for surveying instruments having a plurality of planar reflective sections arranged to form a shape having a target axis. Each reflective section includes a plurality of prisms, each prism constituted by a corner cube having three surfaces oriented perpendicular to one another and forming a base for receiving incident light, and each of the prisms is oriented such that a common edge formed by two of the three surfaces of the prism is oriented such that the common edge and the target axis or a line parallel to the target axis lie in a common plane.