US 12,117,564 B2
Scanning surveying system
Michael Vogel, Schleifreisen (DE)
Assigned to Trimble Inc., Westminster, CO (US)
Filed by Trimble Jena GmbH, Jena (DE)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/212,341.
Claims priority of application No. 20180273 (EP), filed on Jun. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0389430 A1, Dec. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G01S 17/86 (2020.01); G06F 3/04842 (2022.01); G06F 3/0488 (2022.01); G06T 7/521 (2017.01); H04N 23/63 (2023.01); H04N 23/695 (2023.01); H04N 23/90 (2023.01)
CPC G01S 7/4817 (2013.01) [G01S 17/10 (2013.01); G01S 17/86 (2020.01); G06F 3/04842 (2013.01); G06F 3/0488 (2013.01); G06T 7/521 (2017.01); H04N 23/631 (2023.01); H04N 23/695 (2023.01); H04N 23/90 (2023.01); G06T 2207/10016 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10028 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A scanning surveying system, comprising:
a base;
an alidade mounted on the base and rotatable relative to the base about a first axis;
a first motor configured to rotate the alidade relative to the base;
a rotating mirror mounted on the alidade and rotatable relative to the alidade about a second axis;
a second motor configured to rotate the rotating mirror relative to the alidade;
an optical distance measuring unit configured to direct measuring light onto the rotating mirror such that it is reflected towards objects surrounding the scanning surveying system, and to receive measuring light back from these objects via the rotating mirror;
at least one camera configured to record at least one image; and
a controller configured to:
control the first motor to rotate the alidade about the first axis based on a selected location in an image of the at least one recorded image, wherein the alidade is rotated to an orientation such that the selected location is within a measurement plane of the rotating mirror, and
control the optical distance measuring unit to emit a plurality of pulses of the measuring light, wherein the plurality of pulses of the measuring light are reflected from the rotating mirror in a direction corresponding to the measurement plane, and wherein at least one of the plurality of pulses of the measuring light is reflected from the rotating mirror in a direction corresponding to the selected location within the image.