Surveying Autofocus Recalibration for Sharp Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surveying apparatuses face focusing errors due to manufacturing inaccuracies and environmental influences, leading to inconsistent calibration over time, resulting in unsharp images on both the eyepiece and camera display.
Innovation Solution
A recalibration functionality that allows users to adapt and renew the autofocus reference curve using camera autofocus and manual focus through a trial measurement sequence, enabling individual calibration in the field without relying on a specific calibration environment, and automatically correcting focusing optical unit positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a distance-dependent autofocusing functionality is implemented using a standardized reference curve, then autofocus operation is simplified and productivity is improved, but manufacturing inaccuracies and environmental influences cause focusing errors that deteriorate image sharpness and measurement precision over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration by capturing a series of images at different focusing optical unit positions and automatically determining the optimal position that produces the sharpest image. This preliminary action establishes accurate reference data that compensates for manufacturing inaccuracies and environmental influences before normal operation begins
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by evaluating image sharpness through analysis of captured images and using this information to automatically adjust the focusing optical unit position. The sharpness evaluation results feed back into the autofocusing algorithm to correct deviations from the standardized reference curve, maintaining image quality despite environmental changes
2Ease of manufacture
If calibration coefficients are fixed during manufacturing, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but focusing errors accumulate over time due to environmental influences, requiring manual refocusing that increases loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically capturing images, evaluating sharpness, and adjusting the focusing optical unit position without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability allows the system to correct focusing errors autonomously, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual refocusing while maintaining simplicity in the manufacturing process
3Measurement precision
If the focusing optical unit position is manually adjusted for each target distance, then measurement precision is maintained, but the ease of operation deteriorates and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment of the focusing optical unit with an automated control system that uses image sharpness evaluation to determine the optimal position. This substitution eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining focusing accuracy, significantly improving ease of operation and productivity
Data Source
AI summary
Surveying apparatus such as, for example, a video theodolite or video tachymeter, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the surveying apparatus may include a base, a support pivotable about a first axis relative to the base, a targeting unit pivotable about a second axis relative to the support and comprising a telescope optical unit comprising at least one objective and a motorized-adjustable focusing optical unit and also an eyepiece and/or a camera chip for recording an image through the objective, goniometers for measuring pivoting positions of the support and the targeting unit, an electro-optical distance measuring device, an evaluation and control unit, which provides a calibrated autofocusing functionality for automatically setting the focusing optical unit in a manner dependent on a target distance measured by the distance measuring device and contains for this stored calibration coefficients with regard to focusing optical unit positions to be set in a target-distance-dependent manner.