US 12,467,750 B2
Surveying device for improved target classification
Martin Mayer, Koblach (AT); Ulrich Hornung, St.Gallen (CH); Barbara Haupt, Walzenhausen (CH); and Katrin Mentl, Marbach (CH)
Assigned to LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG, Heerbrugg (CH)
Filed by LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG, Heerbrugg (CH)
Filed on Nov. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/523,714.
Claims priority of application No. 22213123 (EP), filed on Dec. 13, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0191991 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
Int. Cl. G01C 15/00 (2006.01); G02B 23/16 (2006.01); G06T 7/73 (2017.01); G06V 10/764 (2022.01)
CPC G01C 15/006 (2013.01) [G02B 23/16 (2013.01); G06T 7/73 (2017.01); G06V 10/764 (2022.01); G06T 2207/10152 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20081 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20224 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A geodetic surveying device, wherein the geodetic surveying device is configured for surveying retroreflective cooperative targets, the geodetic surveying device comprising:
a base,
a telescope, wherein the telescope is configured for carrying out a distance measurement by means of a laser beam emitted via a beam exit of the telescope,
a support, wherein the support is attached to the base so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation and the telescope is attached to two opposing leg components of the support so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation,
an emitting unit, called PowerSearch-illuminator, in particular with a pulse laser diode, for illuminating retroreflective targets with electromagnetic radiation shaped as an, in particular vertical, emitting fan which can be moved over an, in particular horizontal or vertical, angular range, in particular the emitting fan being rotatable over a full circle, wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a modulation, in particular a pulse modulation, in particular with a pulse rate between 10 and 100 kHz,
a receiving unit, called PowerSearch-sensor, with:
an optoelectronic, in particular spatially resolving, detector for detecting signals reflected from the retroreflective targets, the signals being detected by the detector within a, in particular vertical, fan-shaped detection range, the detection range being movable over an, in particular horizontal or vertical, angular range, in particular rotatable over a full circle,
a timer for determining the time of flight of signals reflected from the retroreflective targets of a pulse of electromagnetic radiation,
wherein the receiving unit is configured to detect the signals related to a respective time marker and/or angle marker and, optionally, to provide the signals in a two-dimensional data structure, in particular with signal strength over angle, and/or signal strength over distance and/or signal strength over time of flight,
a processing unit for determining a rough location, in particular an azimuth angle, of the retroreflective targets based on the signals, and
an angle encoder, wherein the angle encoder is configured to determine orientations of the telescope and/or the support and/or the PowerSearch illuminator relative to the base,
wherein the geodetic surveying device is configured to distinguish desired targets from undesired targets, wherein the geodetic surveying device further comprises a classification model, wherein the classification model is configured for classification of retroreflective targets generating the signals, wherein the retroreflective targets are classified into desired targets and undesired targets, wherein the classification is carried out by applying the classification model on the signals, in particular the two-dimensional data structure.