Surveying Instrument Optical Axis Deflection via Wavelength Dispersion Prism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surveying instruments face challenges in achieving rapid and highly accurate measurements due to the size and weight of total stations with rotating shafts and the inability of laser scanners to accurately measure reference directions without telescopic sighting.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a surveying instrument that utilizes wavelength dispersion compensation prisms to enable rapid optical axis deflection with minimal inertial force, correcting magnification and distortion, and removing the influence of wavelength dispersion fluctuations, allowing for highly accurate measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a highly-accurate rotating shaft is used in a total station for sighting, then measurement precision is improved, but the size and weight of the surveying instrument main body increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesighting accuracyVSAvoidinstrument weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical rotating shaft system with an optical axis deflection system using wavelength dispersion compensation prisms. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy, high-precision mechanical rotating shafts while maintaining sighting accuracy through optical means, thereby reducing instrument weight without compromising measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameter from mechanical rotation to optical axis deflection. By using wavelength dispersion compensation prisms to deflect the optical axis, the system achieves accurate sighting without the mechanical inertia and weight constraints of traditional rotating shafts, resolving the contradiction between precision and weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the main body is directed toward an object for sighting in conventional total stations, then measurement accuracy is improved, but rapid measurement cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesighting accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the sighting function from the main body orientation requirement. By using wavelength dispersion compensation prisms to deflect the optical axis independently, the system can maintain accurate sighting without requiring the entire main body to be physically directed toward the object, enabling rapid measurement through optical redirection rather than mechanical repositioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wavelength dispersion compensation prisms act as an intermediary that redirects the optical axis without moving the main body. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to achieve accurate sighting of reference points and measuring points while keeping the main body stationary, thereby enabling rapid measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a laser scanner is used without telescopic sighting function, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to measure reference directions accurately is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstrument structureVSAvoidreference direction measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the wavelength dispersion compensation prism system into the laser scanner, providing both the laser scanning function and the telescopic sighting function through a shared optical path. This multi-functional design allows the instrument to measure reference directions accurately while maintaining relatively simple device structure, as the same optical components serve dual purposes.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the sighting function with the laser scanning function by using the wavelength dispersion compensation prisms in a shared optical path. This combination allows the laser scanner to perform both rapid scanning and accurate reference direction measurement without requiring separate, complex subsystems, thereby maintaining device simplicity while achieving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 rapid and accurate measurement of surveying instrument positions and reference points, reducing the size and weight of the instrument while improving measurement precision.

Implementation Method 1

wavelength dispersion compensation prism disposed in a shared portion of the range-finding optical axis and the narrow-angle imaging optical axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWavelength dispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 2

the magnification and distortions of the image can be corrected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical refraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP4030137B1Surveying instrument
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 TOPCON CORPORATION
  • EP4030137B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4030137B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3B
  • EP4030137B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

There is provided a surveying instrument including a distance measurement arithmetic module configured to measure a distance to an object and the reflection intensity of a reflected distance measuring light based on a distance measuring light and the reflected distance measuring light, a narrow-angle image pickup module configured to acquire an image with an axis of the distance measuring optical as a center, an optical axis deflector configured to have a wavelength dispersion compensation prism arranged in the distance measuring optical axis and deflect the distance measuring optical axis by the rotation of the wavelength dispersion compensation prism, an extracting means configured to extract an end face reflection image of the wavelength dispersion compensation prism from the image, and an arithmetic control module configured to calculate a deflecting direction of the optical axis deflector based on the end face reflection image extracted by the extracting means.