JPH09229686A - Device and method for determining and transmitting data - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To provide a surveying device that does not use radio frequencies that require permission. The device (10) comprises a laser surveying device (12) for determining position data of a selected target. The laser survey instrument produces light pulses that are transmitted to and reflected from the target. The laser survey instrument determines the range for the target in response to the transmission and reflection of the light pulse. The surveying instrument also determines the horizontal and vertical angles between the instrument and the target. The range and horizontal and vertical angle values make up the position data. After determination, the position data is modulated with light pulses to form light signals that are transmitted to distant positions. When the selected target is positioned at a distant position, the same optical pulse used to determine the position data is used to form an optical signal for position data transmission, which light pulse determines the position data. And can be used simultaneously for the transmission of data to the target.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to position determining devices. In particular, the present invention relates to selected targets.
Apparatus and methods for determining position data associated with the and utilizing optical signals to communicate that data to selected targets.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of surveying equipment and methods are available to facilitate the collection of data needed for mapping and surveying operations.

For example, US Pat.
No. 91,262 discloses a laser survey instrument operable to determine position data associated with a selected target. The laser survey instrument produces infrared laser pulses directed at a target. The transmission of the laser pulse to the selected target and the reflection of the laser pulse back to the surveying instrument allows the range between the laser surveying instrument and the selected target to be determined. The surveying instrument also determines the horizontal and vertical angles between the surveying instrument and the selected target. The horizontal and vertical angles, together with the range between the surveying instrument and the target, constitute position data that identifies the position of the selected target.

A handheld surveying instrument available from Laser Technology, Inc., 7070, South Tucson Way, 81112, Colorado, USA, also locates selected targets. The range, horizontal angle, and vertical angle that form the position data to be determined are determined. The position data determined by the laser surveying device is supplied to a data store which records the data collected by the surveying device.

The HYDROII (tm) laser surveying instrument and system is also available from Laser Technology Corporation. The surveying laser determines the range between the surveying laser and the selected target. The theodolite determines the horizontal and vertical angles between the surveying laser and the selected target. The range value and the horizontal and vertical angle values are provided to a continuous wave radio circuit that modulates a continuous wave radio frequency signal. The modulated radio frequency signal is generated by a radio transmitter that transmits to the distance. The HYDROII (tm) laser survey instrument and system is particularly useful in underwater plotting operations. The onboard rope bottom (water depth measurement) device used to determine the water depth supplies data representing the measured water depth to the onboard data storage device. The onboard radio receiver demodulates the received signal and the value of the signal is stored in the onboard data storage device. Underwater plotting is possible by correlating the data determined by the laser survey instrument with the data collected by the water depth instrument.

Similar laser surveying instruments can be used in other applications to transfer data collected by laser surveying instruments to distant locations.

[0007]

Existing laser surveying instruments that generate a continuous wave radio frequency signal to transmit data to distant locations can operate sufficiently to transmit data to distant locations. However, over the years, governments and others have regulated the transmission of radio frequency signals. For many years, transmissions by radio transmitters have required permits. If you intend to use laser surveying equipment in various geographical areas covered by governments, you may have to obtain multiple permits for the use of radio transmitters. Obtaining the necessary permits to use radio transmitters is subject to bureaucratic liability issues. Also, radio transmission of information by continuous wave modulation techniques is susceptible to radio frequency interference or frequency drift.

It would be advantageous to have a laser surveying instrument capable of collecting data and transmitting the data to a distant location by a transmission mechanism that does not require government approval.

In view of the above situation and other background information regarding surveying instruments, significant improvements have been made to the present invention.

[0010]

The present invention provides an effective apparatus, method and system for determining relevant position data by a selected target and transmitting that position data to a distant position. The position data is modulated to form a digital optical signal consisting of optical pulses. The optical signal is transmitted to a receiver located at a remote place.

The surveying instrument has a light-generating element that generates light pulses that are transmitted to a selected target. The range between the surveying instrument and the selected target can be determined based on the time it takes to transmit the light pulse to the selected target and reflect it to the surveying instrument. Theodolite and other angle determination devices
Determine the values of the horizontal and vertical angles between the surveying instrument and the selected target. The range values and the horizontal and vertical angle values are modulated by the light pulses generated by the light generating elements of the surveying instrument. The light generating element is used both for determining the range for the selected position and for transmitting the position data to the distant position.

The optical signal is transmitted to a remote optical receiver. Unlike the permission required for the transmission of radio frequency signals, no permission is required for the generation of optical signals. Furthermore, since the surveying instrument does not require a radio frequency transmitter, all costs associated with radio frequency transmitters can be saved. Also, the optical signal is immune to radio frequency interference or frequency drift.

The optical signal receiver is located remotely and receives the transmitted optical signal. The value of the optical signal received by the optical signal receiver is stored in a distantly located data storage device. Additional data collected at remote locations can also be stored in the optical signal receiver. If the selected target is located far enough to carry the light signal, the light pulses forming the light signal generated by the light generator are used to determine range data and move the data to the far position. Can communicate. That is, the position data and other data measured during the previous measurement can be transmitted to the distant position during the next measurement.

The present invention can be effectively used for the application of hydrographic mapping. A surveying device is provided at the reference position to determine position data of the selected target on which the depth measuring device is located. An optical receiver co-located with the depth measuring device receives the light signal generated by the surveying device and stores a value representative of the light signal and the data collected by the depth measuring device.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for determining position data representative of at least the relative position of a selected target and transmitting that position data to a distant position. The light generator generates light pulses. A position determining device coupled to the light generating device determines position data representative of at least the relative position of the selected target. The modulator is coupled to the light generator and the position determining device and receives the position data determined by the position determining device. The modulator modulates the light pulse generated by the light generator as a position signal for transmission to a distant position.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the optical signal receiver is located at a remote location and receives the optical signal in the form of optical pulses generated by the light generator. A data storage device is also provided at a remote location to store the value of the optical signal transmitted to the optical signal receiver. Additional data may be stored in the data storage device.

[0017]

1 shows a device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device 10 determines position data representative of the selected target and transmits this position data to a distant position. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the selected target and the distant location are co-located.

The device 10 is a surveying device (in the illustrated embodiment,
Laser surveying device) 12. Alternatively, the surveying instrument 12 can be another type of optical light-producing surveying instrument. The surveying device 12 has a laser light generator 14 for generating a laser pulse forming an optical pulse. The light pulses generated by the light generator 14 are transmitted to a light reflector 18 and a light receiver 20 located on the selected target.

The light reflector 18 reflects the transmitted light pulse and returns it to the surveying instrument 12.

The surveying instrument 12 also includes a photodetection and processing circuit 22 for detecting the light pulses reflected by the light reflector 18. The photo-detection and processing circuit 22 produces signals which indicate the time when the photo-detection and processing circuit 22 receives the reflected light pulse, which signals are supplied to the position-determining device 24. The position determining device 24 is also connected to the light generator 14 and displays the time at which the light generator 14 generates the light pulse. The position determining device 24 responds to the determination of the time difference between the time when the light generator 14 generates the light pulse and the time when the light detection and processing circuit 22 receives the reflected light pulse. The value of the range between the surveying instrument 12 and the selected target is determined.

The laser survey instrument 12 also includes an angle determining device 28 that determines the horizontal and vertical angles between the laser survey instrument 12 and the selected target. The horizontal and vertical angles determined by the angle determining device are also supplied to the position determining device 24.

Positioning device 24 produces position data on line 30. The position data includes a range value, a horizontal angle value, and a vertical angle value between the surveying instrument 12 and the selected target. The line 30 is connected to a light modulator 32, which is the position determining device 2
The position data generated by 4 can be received.

The light modulator 32 modulates the position data into light pulses by changing the interval between adjacent light pulses of the light pulses generated by the light generator 14. The series of light pulses modulated with position data form an optical signal that is transmitted to the optical receiver 20.

The optical receiver 20 determines the spacing between adjacently located pulses of the optical signal transmitted to it. By appropriately determining the spacing between the optical pulses of the optical signal transmitted to the optical receiver 20, the optical receiver 20 determines the position data associated with the selected target. The position data values received by the optical receiver 20 are stored on a data storage device 36, such as a data logger or computer, connected to the optical receiver via line 38.

The device 10 further comprises a data acquisition device 40 for acquiring data for storage in the data storage device 36. The data acquisition device 40 and the data storage device 36 are connected by a line 42. Data acquisition device 40
The data obtained by the above is stored in the data storage device 36 together with the position data received by the receiver 20.
Since the position data transmitted to the optical receiver 20 and the data obtained by the data acquisition device 40 are stored in the data storage device 36, the data obtained by the data acquisition device 40 are the same as the position data transmitted to the optical receiver 20. Can be correlated. For example, all the data needed to obtain a topographic map, the operation of device 10,
It can be stored in the data storage device 36.

The device 10 includes a light reflector 18 and a light receiver 2.
0, the position of the selected target with the data storage device 36 and the data acquisition device 40 changes momentarily (for example, if these elements 18, 20, 36, 40 are mounted on a ship, mounted on a vehicle). , Or when carried by an individual and positioned in separate locations). When positioned at different locations, the data acquisition device 40 acquires data relating to the location of the element and the optical receiver 20 positions the data determined by the laser survey instrument 12 of the location of the element. To receive. The data store 36 stores all the information needed to perform plotting and other surveying operations utilizing the position data and additional data obtained by the data acquisition device 40.

FIG. 2 shows a laser surveying device 12 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The surveying device 12 is positioned at a reference position or a position having a known relationship with respect to this reference position.

The laser light generator constituting the light generator 14 and the laser light receiver constituting the light detection and processing circuit 22 are housed in a common housing 50. The housing 50 has light transmitting portions 52 and 54. Light transmission part 5
2, 54 enable the transmission of laser light from the generator 14 and the reception of laser light reflected by the circuit 22. The circuitry that comprises the position determining device 24 (FIG. 1) and the modulator 32 (FIG. 1) is also housed within the housing 50. A telescope 55 is mounted on the housing 50 to allow the operator to aim the surveying instrument 12 at the selected target. After aiming at the selected target, the operator actuates a manual trigger to cause the light generator 14 to generate a light pulse.

The housing 50 is mounted on the theodolite 56 which constitutes the angle determining device 28 shown in FIG. The theodolite 56 operates to determine the horizontal and vertical angles between the surveying instrument 12 and the selected target and to generate a signal representative of the value of the angle. The theodolite 56 further includes an aiming mechanism 57 that an operator of the device 12 can use to aim the surveying device 12 at a selected target, instead of the telescope 55.

The housing 50 is such that the housing 50 and the light generator 14 and photodetection and processing circuitry 22 contained therein provide limited pivotal motion with respect to the theodolite 56 via a suitable pivot mechanism 58. In a manner that allows
It is mounted on the theodolite 56. Then, by the endless tangent mechanism 60, the theodolite 56 and the housing 5
Rotation of 0 is possible. The endless tangent mechanism can be manually actuated by rotating the actuating lever 62.

The power cable 64 is a suitable power source (eg, 1
A device capable of supplying a DC voltage of 2 V) 1
Supply power to 2. The power cable 64 is connected to the interface 68. The interface 68 is connected to the theodolite 56 by a cable 70, and a signal is generated on the cable 70 that represents the vertical and horizontal angles determined by the theodolite 56. The interface 68 is further connected to the housing 5 via the cable 72.
0 is connected to the circuit. Cable 72 includes lines for supplying power to the circuitry within housing 50 and signals representative of vertical and horizontal angles determined by theodolite 56. The circuitry comprising positioner 24 and light modulator 32 can be operated in the manner described above to control the spacing between the light pulses generated by light generator 14.

FIG. 3 shows a light reflector 18 and a light receiver 20 located on a selected target. Light reflector 18 and light receiver 20 are supported about a central shaft 80 which is supported to extend above a suitable support surface. The reflector 18 has a plurality (eight in the figure) of prisms 82 that are located in the radial direction and face outward. The prism 82 is supported on the shaft 80 in two vertical positions, the prism 82 supported at the first height is offset from the prism 82 supported at the second height, and the ring (ring) of the two prisms 82 is supported. Body) form. These prisms 82 include at least one prism 82 regardless of the orientation of the reflector 18 with respect to the laser survey instrument 12.
2 (FIG. 1) so as to face each other. The use of reflector 18 increases the operability range of laser survey instrument 12 by forming a highly efficient reflector for the reflected light transmitted by laser survey instrument 12.

The optical receiver 20 comprises a plurality of photodetectors 84 for converting light energy into an electric signal. Each photodetector 84 is connected to a receiver circuit, preferably
The optical receiver comprises a plurality of separate receivers, each associated with a particular photodetector 84. Like the prism 82,
Each photodetector 84 is located radially outwardly around the central shaft 80, and has a ring of photodetectors 84.
To form At least one photodetector 84 is positioned to receive the light pulses generated by the laser survey instrument 12 (FIG. 1) regardless of the orientation of the receiver 20 with respect to the laser survey instrument 12. Optical receiver 20
Is energized by a suitable power source via cable 86 and the electrical signal generated by receiver 20 is provided via cable 88 to data storage device 36 (FIG. 1).

The circuit of the laser surveying device 12 is shown in FIG. Laser survey instrument 12 is described in US Pat. No. 5,291,2.
Similar to the corresponding structure disclosed in No. 62. Unlike that disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,291,262, the laser surveying device 12 further comprises:
It has a circuit that controls the spacing between adjacent light pulses generated by a laser survey instrument.

The laser survey instrument 12 has a microcontroller 94 with a microprocessor 96, a memory unit 98 and an oscillator 102. The elements of the microcontroller 94 are suitably activated by the connection to the low voltage power supply 95. The power supply 95 also energizes the other elements of the laser survey instrument 12. Microprocessor 9
6 and the memory unit 98 are interconnected via a bus (bus) 104, and the microprocessor 96 is connected to other circuitry of the laser survey instrument 12 via a data bus 106. Processor 96 also includes logic control line 10
It is connected via 8 to another circuit of the laser surveying device 12.

The memory unit 98 is connected to the data input / output circuit 110 via the bus 112. This data input / output circuit includes a UART 114, a display 116,
And a keypad 118. The UART 114, the display 116 and the keypad 118 are the data bus 106.
Connect to The theodolite 56, which determines the horizontal and vertical angles between the laser survey instrument 12 and the selected target, is connected to the UART 114 via cable 70 (FIG. 2). The horizontal and vertical angles determined by the theodolite 56 are passed via the UART 114 to the microcontroller 94.
Is supplied to.

A logic control line 108 extending from the processor 96 is connected to the photodetection and processing circuit 22 and the photogenerator 14.

Specifically, the light generator 14 is a high voltage power supply 12
2 and the logic control line 108 is connected to the high voltage power supply 122 of the light generator 14. The high voltage power supply 122 is connected to a laser pulse generator 124. The logic control line 108 is also connected to the laser pulse generator 124. The laser pulse generator 124 also has a line 128.
It is connected to the laser pulse interval counter 126 via. The laser pulse interval counter 126 forms the optical modulator 32 of the laser surveying instrument 12 and is connected to the data bus 106 and the logic control line 108. The laser pulse interval counter is a microprocessor 9 that causes the counter 126 to count according to a count value (count value).
Controlled by 6. When the counter 126 has completed counting, the signal generated on line 128 is pulse generator 1
Light pulses can be generated via 24. The laser pulse interval counter 126 is shown as a separate element in FIG.
However, it may be integrated into the microprocessor 96.

The laser pulse generator 124 generates an optical pulse transmitted through the collimator 132. The light pulse is shown as a waveform 134 delivered to a selected target 136. The reflected pulse, shown as waveform 138, is received by the photodetection and processing circuit 22. The photodetection and processing circuit 22 has a collimator 140, a filter 142, a photodetector 144, a signal processing and amplification circuit 146, and a timing analysis circuit 148. The timing analysis circuit is connected to the data bus 106 and the logic control line 108.

The high voltage power supply 122 of the photogenerator 14 is further connected to the photodetector 144 of the photodetection and processing circuit 22, which redirects the light pulse generated by the laser pulse generator 124. (Waveform 152
To receive)). The redirecting portion of the light pulse generated by the laser pulse generator 124 is used to form the timing reference signal. This turning portion forms a reference pulse.

The light generator 14 and the light detection and processing circuit 22 generate light pulses so that the range between the laser survey instrument 12 and the selected target 136 (which reflects the light pulses) can be determined, To receive. Selected target 136
The light pulse reflected from is filtered by filter 142. The filter 142 passes a signal having a wavelength corresponding to the frequency of the optical pulse generated by the laser pulse generator 124. Preferably the filter 14
2 is a narrow band interference filter.

The operation of light generator 14 and light detection and processing circuit 22 is controlled by the operation of microcontroller 94 via logic control line 108. The operator activates the laser surveying instrument 12 by appropriately actuating the manual trigger 152. In one embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the laser survey instrument operates with an input / output circuit 11
It can also be started via a device connected to 0.

The microcontroller 94 determines the value of the time required to transmit the light pulse to the selected target 136 and receive the reflected light pulse reflected from the target, thereby determining the laser survey instrument 12 and the selected target 136. Determine the value of the range between and. The microcontroller 94 is also connected via the UART 114 to receive horizontal and vertical angle values determined by the theodolite 58. The values of the horizontal and vertical angles and the values of the range to the selected target form position data representing the position of the selected target with respect to the laser survey instrument 12.

According to the value of the position data, the microcontroller 94 presets the laser pulse interval counter 126 with the selected count value. The signal generated on line 128 enables laser pulse generator 124 to generate a light pulse when counter 126 counts the selected count value. Laser pulse generator 1
The light pulses generated by 24 are separated from each other by an interval corresponding to the value of the position data determined during operation of the laser surveying device 12. Therefore, the light pulses generated during operation of the laser survey instrument 12 are used to determine position data representative of the selected target and to convey that position data to a distant position.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, additional data may be conveyed by the laser survey instrument 12. For example, such additional data may be manually entered via the keypad 118 or an external device suitably connected to the laser survey instrument 12.

FIG. 4 also shows a magnetic compass 166, an electrolytic tilt sensor 168, a temperature sensor 170 and a signal conditioner 172, which are shown in dashed box. These elements 166-172 form part of the laser survey instrument 12 in another embodiment of the invention. Elements 166-172 could be replaced by theodolite 56, laser survey instrument 12 and selected target 1
It is operative to determine the values of the horizontal and vertical angles between 36. Since the elements 166-172 can be housed within the housing 50 (FIG. 2) of the laser survey instrument 12, the embodiment in which the elements 166-172 were used instead of the theodolite 56 was used when the laser survey instrument 12 was to be portable. ,desirable.

FIG. 5 shows the timing characteristics of the optical signal generated by the representative embodiment of the present invention. The position data determined by the laser survey instrument 12 can determine the timing interval between adjacent light pulses 178 so that the light signal forms a pulse position modulated signal.

The average percentage of light pulses generated is Class I
The maximum allowable average energy level of the light produced by the laser device is not exceeded. In particular, the average rate of light pulse generation is selected to correspond to the average spacing between adjacent light pulses of 6,000 microseconds.

The operating range of the laser surveying device 12 is about 1
It ’s 100,000 feet, so it ’s 10
About 200 microseconds are required for the transmission of the light pulse to the selected target at a distance of 10,000 feet and the reflection of the pulse back to the laser survey instrument 12. Therefore, the average spacing of 6,000 microseconds between light pulses is greater than the time required to deliver the light pulse to the selected target and receive the reflected light pulse from the selected target.

Preferably, the optical signal includes sync blocks and data blocks. The optical pulses of the sync block (shown in the left part of FIG. 5) are used to synchronize the circuitry of the optical receiver 20 with the circuitry of the laser survey instrument 12. The position data determined by the laser surveying device 12 is stored in a data block of the optical signal (shown as a part on the right-hand side of FIG. 5).

The average interval between light pulses is shown by TD AVG (FIG. 5). The average interval between pulses is 6,000 microseconds, but the interval between any two adjacent pulses may be different and the interval between adjacent pulses is the minimum (T
It can be any value between D MIN) and the maximum value (TDMAX). Light pulse 178 is each pulse 178
It can occur at any time within the time period represented by block 182 (shown by the dotted line) located around the.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the light pulse has a pulse width of 15 nanoseconds. These pulses are generated within a time slot defined as a 6 microsecond time period. The time period of the time slot is indicated by TN (FIG. 5). 256 (2 ⁸ ) time slots 184
Is shown in the enlarged portion of FIG. A light pulse having a duration of 15 nanoseconds can be generated in the selected slot 184. Since a 15 nanosecond light pulse can be generated in any one of 256 different time slots, the minimum spacing between adjacent light pulses is 4,46.
4 (= 6,000-1,536) microseconds, and the maximum time difference between adjacent optical pulses is 7,536 (= 6,0).
00 + 1,536) microseconds.

Since there are 256 different time slots in which a light pulse can be generated, 8 bits of data can be carried in each subsequent light pulse. In the example of FIG. 5, the data block has 30 light pulses (ie, m =
30), the spacing between adjacent pulses of the 30 light pulses defines 8 bits of data. The transmission of a data block of 30 pulses (each carrying 8 bits of data) enables the transmission of the position data needed to locate the selected target. Other timing and modulation methods can be used to obtain other amounts of data to convey.

The optical pulses in the sync blocks are separated by a time interval (TS) of 7,600 microseconds. 7,600
An optical receiver that receives light pulses that are separated by a microsecond time interval translates the separated pulses to form a sync block. The optical receiver determines the information content of the optical signal if the interval between the optical pulses is less than 7,600 microseconds.

The timing method shown in FIG. 5 is merely exemplary. Of course, other timing methods can be used that can modulate the position data to form an optical signal that is transmitted to a distant position. Also, as described above, additional data may be transmitted in the same manner. The timing method described above can deliver a desired amount of data to a distant location without exceeding the maximum allowable energy level for laser light delivery. Since multiple bits (8 bits in the illustrated embodiment) of data can be conveyed in each subsequent light pulse, efficient transfer of data is possible.

Since the time interval between the pulses is very large compared to the pulse width, the receiver 20 receiving the pulses can operate over a wide range of the input light pulses.

FIG. 6 shows a part of the optical receiver 20 which receives the optical signal generated by the laser surveying device 12. As mentioned above, the optical receiver includes a plurality of photodetectors 84.
Having. Each detector 84 receives a light pulse via a wide-angle receiver 186 or a narrow-angle receiver 188. A single narrow-angle receiver (shown for illustrative purposes in FIG. 6) can be connected to the bottom photodetector 84. Narrow-angle receiver 188 can be used to increase the operating range of device 10. The absorption filter 189 filters the light pulse received by the wide-angle receiver 186,
1 filters light pulses received by narrow-angle receiver 188. When the pulses forming the optical signal are received and detected by one or more photodetectors 84, the photodetector 8
4 converts the light pulses into electrical signals that are provided to the signal processing and amplification circuit 194 associated with each of the plurality of photodetectors 84. Each signal processing and amplification circuit 194 is connected to the laser pulse interval timer 198 via the synthesizer 200. Timer 198 receives via line 204 the clock signal generated by clock oscillator 202. The clock oscillator is connected to crystal 205. Although one or more photodetectors 84 can simultaneously detect the optical pulses of the transmitted optical signals, the signals generated by the photodetectors 84 that detected the optical pulses are the same and are generated by the totalizer 200. The signal produced corresponds to the signal produced by any circuit 194 that receives the light pulses received by the associated photodetector 84. That is, the synthesizer 200 performs a function equivalent to that of a logical OR gate.

Laser pulse interval timer 198 determines the time interval between adjacent light pulses detected by one or more photodetectors 84 and generates a decision signal on data bus 208 connected to microprocessor 210. Laser pulse interval timer 198 functions as a modulator that modulates a signal representative of the optical signal received by detector 84. In response to the signal generated by timer 198, microprocessor 210 determines the position data transmitted to the receiver. In the figure, timer 198
Although shown as a separate element, timer 198 may be incorporated into microprocessor 210. The microprocessor is connected to crystal 211. Microprocessor 210 generates signals on data bus 208 and logic control line 212 connected to laser pulse interval timer 198.

The memory device 214, UART 216 and display device / keypad input device 218 are connected to and communicate with the microprocessor 210. UART 216 enables connection of receiver 20 to data storage device 36 shown in FIG.

The receiver 20 further includes a low voltage power supply 220.
And a photodetector bias power supply 222. Power supply 22
0 powers most of the circuitry of the receiver 20 and the photodetector bias power supply is a photodetector 8 consisting of a PIN diode, for example.
Energize 4.

Microprocessor 210 of receiver 20
Determines the position data transmitted to the receiver 20 according to a predetermined interval between adjacent pulses of the optical signal.

FIG. 7 shows an application of the device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention to waterway measurement. The device 10 is used to draw water 224. The laser surveying device 12 is located at the reference position, and the light reflector 18 and the light receiver 20 are mounted on the ship 226 floating on the water. Surveying device 12 is a ship 22
6 and determines at least position data representing the position of the ship 226 to the optical receiver 20. Optical receiver 20
The position data received by is stored in the data storage device 36. Data acquisition device (sound gauge in this example) 40
Determines the depth of the water 224 just below the ship 226, and the data obtained by the sounder is stored in the data storage device 36. All data needed to draw the water 224 is stored in the data store 36. By properly utilizing the data stored in the storage device 36, the water 224
Can be drawn on.

The application of the device 10 to this channel measurement is particularly useful for dredging operations. The device 10 can be used to perform drawing, and dredging work is performed in response to drawing on water. After performing the dredging work, the drawing work is performed again to determine whether the dredging work is sufficiently performed.

FIG. 8 shows another application of the device 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. In this example, the device 10 is used to map a land 230. Laser survey instrument 1
2 is located at the reference position, and has a light reflector 18 and a light receiver 2
0 is supported by the shaft member 232. The light reflector 18 can be composed of a single prism 82, and the light receiver 20 can be composed of a single photodetector 84. An operator holding the shaft member 232 is able to receive the light pulses generated by the surveying device 12 so that the surveying device 1
2. Orient the light reflector 18 and the light receiver 20 with respect to 2. The position data transmitted to the receiver 20 is stored in the data storage device 36. Preferably, the data storage device 36 also allows manual input of data, allowing correlation between the manually input data and the position data transmitted to the receiver 20.

Since the position data determined by the surveying instrument 12 can be used to form an optical signal that is transmitted to a distant location, the operator of the surveying instrument 12 can use a frequency license to transmit the position data to a distant location. You don't have to get The energy level of the optical signal produced by the surveying instrument 12 is below a predetermined maximum energy level permitted in a Class I laser operation by appropriately selecting the modulation method that modulates the position data to form the optical signal. Can be suppressed. The same light pulse used to determine the range between the surveying instrument 12 and the selected target can also be used to convey position data to the selected target. Therefore, in order to determine the position data and transmit that position data to the selected target,
A single light generator 14 can be used.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the presently preferred embodiments, this is merely an example and does not limit the present invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a laser surveying device forming a part of the device of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a perspective view of an optical receiver forming a part of the device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the laser surveying device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing an optical signal generated by a laser surveying instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention, and an enlarged portion shows a time slot for generating an optical pulse of the optical signal.

6 is a functional block diagram of a part of the optical receiver shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 used for drawing on water.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 used for plotting on land.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 device 12 laser surveying device 14 light generator 18 light reflector 20 light receiver 22 light detection and processing circuit 24 position determination device 28 angle determination device 32 light modulator 36 data storage device 40 data acquisition device

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[Submission date] June 14, 1996

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Front Page Continuation (71) Applicant 596042394 7070 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112, United States of America

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A device for determining position data representing at least a relative position of a selected target and transmitting the position data to a distant position, the light generating a light pulse for transmitting to the selected target. Generating means; position determining means connected to the light generating means for determining position data representative of at least the relative position of the selected target in response to reflection of a light pulse from the selected target; Modulating means connected to the generating means and connected to receive the position data determined by the position determining means, wherein the light pulse generated by the light generating means is modulated by the position data, Device for forming an optical signal of an optical pulse for transmission to a position; 2. A laser measuring device for determining a range value between the position determining means and the selected target, wherein the light generating means and the position determining means cooperate with each other. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said position determining means comprises a reflective element provided on said selected target for reflecting light pulses transmitted to said target. 4. The position determining means comprises angle determining means for determining horizontal and vertical angles between the position determining means and the selected target.
Equipment. 5. The light pulse generated by said light generating means is simultaneously used for determining said range value and for forming said light signal transmitted to a distant position. The apparatus of claim 2. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selected target is located at the distant location. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said modulating means modulates the light pulse to form a pulse position modulated signal. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the spacing between adjacent light pulses of the light pulses forming the pulse position modulated signal comprises a plurality of bits of data. 9. The modulating means includes counting means set to a selected count value, and when the counting means counts the selected count value, the counting means causes the light pulse generated by the light generating means. 2. The device of claim 1, which enables the occurrence of 10. The apparatus further comprising at least one optical signal receiver provided at the remote location for receiving an optical signal transmitted to this location.
Equipment. 11. The at least one optical signal receiver comprises a plurality of spaced apart circumferentially located optical receivers, each optical receiver receiving an optical signal and converting the optical signal into an electrical signal. 11. The device of claim 10 wherein: 12. A data storage device further connected to said at least one optical signal receiver; said data storage device storing a value of an electrical signal generated by said at least one optical signal receiver. 11. The device of claim 10, wherein 13. A data acquisition device connected to the data storage device; the data acquisition device acquiring data associated with a selected feature and generating an acquisition data signal having a value representative of the acquired data. 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is adapted to: 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said data storage device is operative to process the acquired data signal generated by said data acquisition device and to store the value of the acquired data signal. 15. A device for determining position data to be transmitted to a selected position, comprising: light generating means for generating a light pulse for transmitting to said selected position; connected to said light generating means. Position determining means for determining position data representing at least the relative position of the selected position; the light generating means and the position determining means are connected to the light pulse generated by the light generating means. Modulation means for modulating with data and forming an optical signal by positioning the optical pulse; an optical signal receiver located at a distant location and receiving an optical signal consisting of the optical pulse transmitted to this distant location; A device characterized by the above. 16. A method of determining position data representing at least a relative position of a selected target and transmitting the position data to a distant position, the method comprising generating an optical pulse for transmitting to the selected target. Determining the position data representing at least the relative position of the selected target in response to the light pulse generated during the generating step; and determining the light pulse generated during the generating step during the determining step. Modulating with the determined position data and forming an optical signal of an optical pulse for transmission to a distant position. 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of storing the value of the optical signal transmitted to the optical receiver.
the method of. 18. A waterway diagram creating device for drawing water, wherein the light generating device is located at a reference position and generates a light pulse transmitted to a selected target located on the water surface; A position determining device connected to determine position data representative of a distance between the reference position and the selected target;
The light pulse connected to the light generator and the position determining device, modulates the light pulse generated by the light generating device with the position data determined by the position determining device, and transmits the light pulse to the selected target. A modulator for forming a signal; an optical signal receiver located on a selected target for receiving an optical signal consisting of optical pulses; a signal connected to the optical signal receiver and received by the optical signal receiver A data storage device for processing a signal representing and storing the value thereof; determining a water depth directly below the selected target, the water depth being located on the selected target connected to the data storage device; A sounding device having a value representing the water depth and generating a signal stored in the data storage device; 19. At least one light for detecting an optical signal and generating an electrical signal representative of the optical signal in a device for receiving position data modulated to form a pulse position modulated signal comprising optical pulses. A detector; connected to receive the electrical signal generated by the at least one photodetector, to determine the spacing between adjacent optical pulses of the optical signal, and to determine the spacing between adjacent optical pulses A demodulator for generating a value timing signal; a data determiner connected to receive the timing signal generated by the demodulator and determining position data in accordance with the value of the timing signal. Characterized device.