DE2712468A1 - LASER ARRANGEMENT TO IMPROVE SIGHTING WITH CONVENTIONAL MEASURING AND RECORDING DEVICES - Google Patents

Description

Dr. rer. near Horst pupil PATENT ADVOCATE

6000 Frankfurt / Main Kaiserstrasse 41

March 21, 1977 Rb / Vo / be / we

Telephone (0611) 235555 2712468 Telex: 04-16 759 mapat d Postscheck account: 282420-602 Frankfurt / M. Bank account: 225/0389 Deutsche Bank AG, Frankfurt / M.

4218-4864 / G

CGE - Compagnia Generale di Elettricita S.p.A. Via Bergognone 2 8 20144 Milan

Italy

Laser arrangement to improve sighting with conventional surveying and recording devices

709840/0848

Laser arrangement to improve sighting with conventional measuring and recording devices

The invention relates to a laser arrangement which is connected to conventional surveying and recording equipment and to the improvement of the sighting process is used to obtain precise measurements of the recording angle in particular.

The invention relates in particular to an auxiliary arrangement, which is used for the exact recording, specification and measurement of the angular errors that occur when aiming at a point in space with conventional Instruments, e.g. optical or radar instruments occur, the point in space being the target of a weapon or a topographical is the point to be recorded.

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According to the invention, a laser assembly is related to a conventional one Surveying or recording device provided for improving the sighting and recording, this laser arrangement being a electrical feed device and a regulating and control device, and a projection unit with a laser device on one one-piece holding device, and also contains an optical lens, this entire arrangement on the so-called Observation site is located, and provided at the target point .. m device is. The objective is arranged in the vicinity of the measuring or recording device, with the optical axis of the objective runs parallel to that of the device. The laser device is connected to the lens and contains three emitter lasers, which are excited by a feed unit, the feed unit being part of the electronic feed device represents. There are three flat, thin bundles of rays from the laser sources that open in a fan shape and by choosing three different emission frequencies or by amplitude modulation are appropriately coded. Optical devices are also provided that the image of the three emitters in the Throw back the focal plane of the lens, the three emitters and the three optical devices being arranged so that in a position that acts as the normal or zero position of the laser device is referred to, two of the three rays coming from the lens lie in a first plane and each other are adjacent (or partially overlapping) along a straight line coinciding with the axis of the lens, the two bundles of rays being arranged symmetrically with respect to this line, the opening angle of the two The bundle of rays is larger than the maximum angle of the sighting error of the conventional surveying or recording device. That The third bundle of rays, on the other hand, lies in a second plane which is perpendicular to the first plane and is with respect to the axis of the objective symmetrically aligned, whereby a composite beam is created, the axis of which is in the zero position coincides with the axis of the lens. The laser device is in at least two directions with respect to the zero position

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adjustable, which are preferably perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the objective axis, creating the axis of the composite The beam deviates from the axis of the lens. The on Device arranged target point contains a detector which, upon receipt of one or more of the aforementioned three beam bundles emits a signal having a code corresponding to the code of the incident beams and the identification of the bundle of rays received at the target point, in order to improve the sighting process Determine corrections.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the falls first plane and the second plane, in which the beams of the lasers lie, with the azimuth plane of the objective (defined as the plane containing the objective axis and a horizontal straight line perpendicular to the objective axis passing through the observation site runs) or together with the plane of the lens (defined as the plane that is the axis of the lens and contains the vertical line that runs through the observation site). It should be noted that the azimuth plane and the location plane of the composite beam can be defined in a similar manner with respect to the beam axis, these planes correspond to the planes defined with respect to the objective axis only in the zero position. Unless otherwise stated, the laser arrangement is described below in its zero position; the azimuth jne and the setting plane are below generally understood as those planes which contain the objective axis.

The images of the laser emitters of the first and second beams in the azimuth plane are symmetrically placed on opposite sides Sides with respect to the objective axis, while the image of the laser emitter of the third beam coincides with the plane of placement. The three emitters direct their bundles of rays against three reflection prisms, which the images of the emitters into the Throw back the focal plane of the lens. In addition, the laser

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device adjustable in two directions, which are perpendicular to the optical axis and lie in the azimuth plane and in the setting plane. The sighting errors are caused by the adjustment the laser arrangement specified, which is necessary to improve the sighting process. As emitters are preferred three gallium arsenide diode lasers are used, the radiation of which is determined by the frequency (wavelength) of the emission or by eaue Coded pulse amplitude modulation, e.g. through differences in the length (duration), the repetition frequency or the phase of the pulses differs.

The device, which is arranged at the target point that is to be measured or recorded, contains a device for perceiving the rays of said three bundles of rays and for converting these rays into an electrical signal with a marking or coding _/ which corresponds to that of the incident bundles of rays ; The apparatus further includes means for amplifying the signals and means for retransmitting the signals by means of a conventional transmission system to the receiver, which is arranged at the observation site and contains an encoder which separates and identifies the incoming signals and converts them into control signals.

The adjustment of the laser arrangement can be carried out by means of two electric motors. The device at the target point also contains eir.e control and / or regulating device for these electric motors, the said control signals processed and the regulation or control of a scanning movement in the direction of the setting level and then this movement stops automatically when one of the two azimuth bundles hits the target point. The regulating or control device also performs an azimuth movement in one direction or the other, depending on which azimuth bundle the target point has hit, this movement being terminated when the position beam (Positioning beam) hits the target point. These

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. _1η 2712-68

electric motors are designed as servo or stepper motors, which work with a screw type reduction gear. The aforementioned regulating process also contains a regulation for zeroing the laser array before starting the aiming process improvement, and it contains facilities to count the number of steps performed by the motors to correct the original azimuth errors and errors in the actuating direction.

In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing.

In the figures show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a measuring or recording device, which is used to explain a Visor error is suitable;

2 shows a cross section through three partially overlapping one another and intersecting beams made in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention be used;

Fig. ^ A perspective view of the three laser beam bundles according to Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in section, of the projection unit of the present invention;

5 shows a plan view, partly in section, of the projection unit according to the invention;

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of an electronic circuit used in an embodiment of the present invention is used; and

7 shows a preferred form of coding for the beam.

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In Figure 1 a conventional sighting instrument C, for example of the optical or radar type, aimed at a point P is shown is, and to which the laser arrangement according to the invention is connected. The axis A of the instrument runs due to a Azimuth and / or position errors (in the direction of adjustment) are not caused by the Point P, which can either be movable or fixed.

As already mentioned, the aim of the invention is to perceive and display these angular errors of the alignment axis A precisely and to eat.

Some of the components of the arrangement are at location C, others at destination P.

The components of the assembly located at point C generally include:

A projection unit which consists of elements which will be explained in more detail and which are provided in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 with the reference symbols 4, 1> _t 6, 9, 34, 35, 33, 32, 31;

an actuating unit with two stepper motors, which are shown in FIG with 19, ^ O and 21, 28 is designated, which will be explained in more detail what this unity is for ο;

an electronic circuit for controlling or regulating the motors, which uses the signals received to control these motors processed, as will be explained in more detail, this circuit containing the elements 15, 17, 40, 17 ', 29, 27 of FIG.

The components arranged at point P consist of a photodetector unit 12, which has small dimensions, consists of an amplifier 11 which amplifies the signals generated by the photodetector, wt-. the photcdetector perceives radiation from the Projection unit was emitted, and a signal transmitter 13, the function of which will be explained in more detail.

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ORIGINAL INSPECTED

It is known that the emission of a laser turns into a very can focus a thin beam, and that this property can be used to make precise measurements of angular positions vorzu.

However, the thinner the beam, the more difficult it is to adjust the laser, since the beam only emits a signal within the corresponding angular aperture of the radiation. The object of the invention is therefore _; also to avoid this disadvantage and to achieve maximum accuracy.

At the moment lasers are nxa lei. ·. ' They consist of gallium arsenide diodes that are excited directly by the electrical supply current. These lasers provide an image of the emitting source in a "r width which is much greater than the thickness, wherein the thickness width ratio of 1: 100. If this source is focused with the aid of a photographic lens or a photographic objective which has adequate correction of the spherical aberration, a radiation beam is obtained which, under practical conditions, ie a normal objective, has a ratio of thickness to width, jn 1:25 owns.

With a lens with a focal length of 50 mm it is possible to produce a flat, thin and wide beam with a thickness of 0.1 mi ..liradians and a width of 3 or 4 milliradians.

As will be explained in more detail, the laser arrangement of the present invention contains ⁷ laser diodes (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the type specified, which are arranged so that when their lids are thrown back to the focal plane of the objective 9, three flat or laminar bundles of rays dr above-described Fon., whose overall cross section is shown in Figure 2, while Figure 3 shows a perspective view.

As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the three are located

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ORIGINAL INSPECTtD

Beams in two planes that are at right angles to each other. The beam 1 generated by the diode 4 lies in the so-called Setting plane, while the right azimuth beam 2 and the left azimuth beam 3 are generated by the laser diodes 5 and 6, respectively (compare FIGS. 4 and 5) and lie in the level of anxiety.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a group of three right-angled prisms, of which the prisms 7 and 8 serve to guide the image of the beam sources consisting of the laser diodes 6 and 5 into the focal plane P. These images I ₁ and Ip are shifted slightly to the right or to the left with respect to the optical axis of the lens, while a suitable control makes it possible to set a larger or smaller zone of the overlay of the two azimuth bundles (zone S in FIG. 2).

The third prism 10 in FIG. 4 serves to generate the beam in the position plane in which. _The third image I, which is the image of the third laser diode 4, is placed in the focal plane of the lens. As can be seen, the laser diode 4 therefore has an angle of 90 ° with respect to the other two Laaerdiodes.

The unit composed of the three laser diodes and the three prisms is held by a holding device 25, which is movable in two directions, χ and y, which are offset from one another by 90 °, the two directions in the positioning plane and in the Azimuth plane lie. This BEWE _b Ungen (of the slide guide 26 can be carried out) corresponding movements call of the three images of the radiation sources of the laser diodes xn the focal plane of the lens produced. This results in a rotation of the composite beam in the direction of the azimuth and the position plane by the values ■ + oC, - c *, and · + £ , - £, which also depend on the focal length f of the lens. The movement in the x and y directions is carried out by two electrical steps 19 and 1, which are shown in FIG

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and which are equipped with a suitable reduction gear, so that with each step (control pulse) of the motor an angle increase of Ac *. or from -Δε in the rotation of the composite beam.

In Figure 6 is a block diagram is shown that the electronic Control devices of the inventive arrangement shows.

A photodetector arranged at the target location ρ contains a photodiode 12 and is connected to a stowed device 11, the a transmitter 13 enabled to transmit a coded signal when the photodiode 12 one or more of the three Perceives a bundle of rays. As already explained, the bundles of rays are generated by the unit containing three laser diodes, the three laser diodes in FIG. 6 being denoted by 5, 6 and 4. These diodes are powered by current amplifiers 31, 32 and 33 energized, which are controlled by the coding modulator 34, which in turn is controlled by a control generator. As an example, the coding can be effected by leaving the three laser diodes be fed with pulses that have three different repetition frequencies or three different pulse widths. The coding can also be brought about by using a synchronous time (phase) designation such as shown in Figure 7, for example being, with some simple identification and therefore also decoding of the signals is achieved which corresponds to the signals generated by the three laser diodes.

In the latter coding system generates a pulse train that is supplied by a control generator or clock generator 35, in the encoder 34, which in particular consists of a simple ring counter may exist, pulses that control the supply of the three laser diodes, and the time in Figure 7 'ils successive Pulses are shown, whereby first the beam 1 is generated, then the beam 2 and finally the beam 3 is caused. In Figure 7 the

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Beam 1 at the clock pulses O, 5 »10, 15 etr., The Beam 2 generated at the clock pulses 1, 6, 11, 16 etc., and the beam 3 generated at the clock pulses 2, 7, 12, 17 etc. The interval between the pulses of one and the same beam can vary from the interval shown, which consists of five clock pulses exists, differ, it is only important that the interval for all three bundles of rays should always be the same.

The signals generated by the elements 11 and 12 therefore have a different coding, which depends on whether the Photodetector 12 of the laser beam 1, 2 or 3 or more than one of these laser beams is hit.

The transmitter 13 ι * nn have a conventional structure, he can e.g. consist of a radio transmitter that transmits via cables or an infrared beam transmitter.

The signal received by the receiver 14 is selected by the decoder, which is assigned according to the type of coding used for the three bundles of rays. For example, if the one in Figure 7 is used, the decoder 15 also has the form of a ring counter that is generated by the clock generator 35 is operated, it then also contains logic devices which are able to determine the corresponding to the three beams Signals to differentiate. In all cases this decoder can three control signals transmitted, a signal on the line -OC, provided the detector 12 radiation from the left Az ^ muthbündel 3 contains a signal on line -I-OC, provided that the De tei or 12 contains radiation from the right nzimuth bundle 2, and a Signal on the line Z, provided that the detector 12 contains radiation from the beam 1 in the control plane.

The three signals of the lines -OC, - + ■ oc and Z become a control circuit 17 fed to the Drehui. ^ of the azimuth angle controlling stepping motor 19 controls. This control loop consists of a rear circuit that generates the signals can cause rotation in both directions and the

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Stop stepping motor 19 in a predetermined position. The control loop works in the following way:

Venn the control circuit a signal on the - receives oC -Leitung, it switches the stepping motor 19 in one direction, whereby the beam is caused to rotate, for example, to the right;

If the control circuit receives a signal via the -f OL line , the stepping motor 19 is rotated in the opposite direction, the beam rotating to the right;

and if the control circuit receives a signal via the Z line, the motor 19 is stopped in the last position.

The rotation of the motor 19 in both directions is brought about by groups of pulses coming from the amplifier 18. More precisely, a pulse group runs from a clock generator 40 in the control loop 17 »in which it is converted into a multiphase group and set in sequence according to the signals of the: H-OC and - <* - lines or by the signal of the Z-line is held in the last state it was in. The output signals of the control loop 17 control the United more 18 through an OR gate 29, as will be explained in more detail.

The motor 21 for the control level is controlled in a similar manner by means of an amplifier 22 and the control circuit 17 ', which is identical to the control circuit 17 and is operated by the same clock generator 40. In this case, the motor 21 is rotated in one direction or the other depending on the presence of a signal on the + ok- or -oC line , and its movement comes when there is a signal on the - + 0C- or -oC - Line to standstill, since data signal comes from OR-i'or 20.

The control pulses of the motors are going through in two directions

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* 'To be counted electronic counters 23 and 24 are counted to indicate the corrections made to the original sighting to improve; the counter contents corresponding to the corrections carried out can also be stored in a computer for utilize other awakenings.

Before the arrangement according to the invention is used, a zero adjustment must always be carried out. The zero adjustment is carried out with Made using a push button R, the switch 27 an automatic zero reset cycle for the laser device performs. The zero adjustment in the direction of the setting level is carried out by a circuit that has an electrical Position detector 28, which is connected to the motor 21 via an OR circuit 29, a control amplifier 22 and the setting level motor 21 contains.

Similarly, azimuth nulling is performed by circuitry including an azimuth detector 30, the switch 27, an OR gate 29, a control amplifier 18 for the azimuth motor and the azimuth motor 19.

The Nullabgleichsregelurig also sets the electronic counter 23 for the setting level direction and the electronic counter Count 24 back to zero for the azimuth direction.

After the zero adjustment has been carried out, the procedure is as follows:

There is a scanning and searching movement by pressing the pushbuttons 41 or 42 carried out with the -fOC- resp. -CX. Lines are connected, the position of the composite Depending on the assumed position of the target point P, the beam is in one direction or the other with respect to the axis of the sighting instrument ι it is changed. If as a result of this change in position the point P of one of the two azimuth beams 2 or 3 is hit, this scanning movement becomes automatic and

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stopped immediately due to the perceived presence of a signal from the voter 15 via the. + ot line or the -oC line comes. At the same time, the azimuth movement is started by turning to the right (from the observation point when the point P is hit by beam 3 so that a signal appears on the <-öO line; or the rotation is started to the left when the point P is hit by the beam 2, so that a signal appears on the - + oL line. At the moment when the beam 1 also impinges on the point P, is the azimuth movement also stopped because of the presence of a signal on line Z coming from selector 15.

In this position, the point P is located within the intersection of the three rays with a tolerance that of the The thickness of the rays, i.e. about 0.1 milliradians.

The numbers appearing in counters 23 and 24 correspond to the number of steps (increments) performed by the motor were to bring the intersection of the beams to point P; this Zanl therefore represents a digital measure of the corrections, i.e. the original azimuth error and the error in the direction of the setting plane.

The person skilled in the art can make further changes and embodiments of the illustrated embodiment. So, for example, can be the device for l · ickübertragung located on Zielpunkc replace simply by tine reflective surface.

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Claims (1)

Dr. rer. not. Horst Schüler f ⁰⁰ ^ "« ^ ™ 1,213.1977 Kaiserstrasse 41 KD / Vo / De / we PATENT ADVOCATE . "...," ,, " Telephone (0611) 235555 Telex: 04-16 759 mapat d 2 7 1 2 A 6 8 Post check account: 2824 20-602 Frankfurt / M. Bank account: 225/0389 Deutsche Bank AG, Frankfurt / M. 4218-48C4 / G CGE - Compagnia Generale di Elettricita SpA Via Bergognone 2 8 20144 Milan
Italy Claims 1.) Laser arrangement, which is connected to a conventional surveying and recording device and the improvement of the Is used for sighting and recording, with an electronic feed and control device, a projection unit, which contains a laser device on a one-piece holder and an objective, the entire device is arranged at the so-called observation site, and with a device that is arranged at the destination, to be measured or recorded, characterized in that the lens in the vicinity of the measuring and recording device on is arranged whose optical axis runs parallel to that of the device that the laser device is coupled to the lens and contains three emitter lasers (4, 5, 6) from one to the electronic device belonging supply unit are excited that the three emitter lasers (4, ί ?, 6) three flat, thin beams 703840/0848
ORIGINAL INSPECTED Radiate bundles (1, 2, 3) that open in a fan shape and by means of three different emission frequencies or are suitably coded by means of amplitude modulation, that optical devices (7, 8, 10) are provided which the three images of the three emitters in the focal plane of the lens (9) so that the three emitters and the three optical devices (7, 8, 10) are arranged are that in the zero position of the laser device two beams (2, 3) of the three emerging from the lens (9) Beams (1, 2, 3) in a first plane are arranged adjacent to each other or partially overlapping along a straight line coinciding with the axis of the lens (9) coincides and are arranged symmetrically to this line that the two bundles of rays (2, 3) have an angle of divergence that is greater than the maximum error angle of the original sighting, that the third beam (1) runs in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane and symmetrically with respect to the axis of the objective (9) is arranged, whereby a composite beam is formed, whose Axis in the zero position coincides with the axis of the lens (9) that the laser device with respect to the Zero position is deflectable in at least two directions, which are preferably perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to Axis of the objective stand, which makes the axis of the composite beam with respect to the axis of the objective (9) differs in that the device (11, 12, 13) provided at the target location contains a detector (12) which, when it hits one or more of the three beams (1, 2, 3) emits a signal that contains a code that corresponds to the code of the incident beams (1, 2, 3) and the identification of those received at the destination Beams (1, 2, 3) allow the corrections required to improve the sighting process to determine. 709840/0848 Laser arrangement according to claim 1,
characterized in that the first plane and the second plane in which the laser beams (1, 2, 3) lie, represent the azimuth plane and the position plane of the lens (9) that in the zero position the images of the emitters of the first and of the second beam (2, 3) are arranged symmetrically in the azimuth plane on opposite sides with respect to the axis of the lens, while the image of the laser emitter of the third beam (1) lies in the plane that the three emitters their beam against three reflector prisms (7 , 8, 10) that throw the images back into the focal plane of the lens (9) so that the laser device (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10) can be deflected or pivoted in two directions perpendicular to the optical axis lie in the azimuth plane or in the setting plane, while the sighting errors are indicated by the adjustment of the laser device, which is necessary to improve the sighting process. Laser arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the device (11, 12, 13) at the target location has a device (12) for perceiving the radiation of the three bundles of rays (1, 2, 3) and for converting the received beams into an electrical signal that contains has a coding which corresponds to that of the incident beam (1, 2, 3) that means (11) for amplifying the signal and means (13) for retransmission by means of a conventional transmission system are provided to the receiver (14) which is arranged at the observation site (C) and a decoder (15) which contains the components of the signal corresponding to the incident beams (1, 2, 3) identified. 709840/0848 4. Laser arrangement according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the deflection or adjustment of the laser device (4 to 8, 10) by two electric motors (19, 21) it is feasible that the arrangement at the observation site contains a control for the electric motors (19, 21), derive the control signals from said signal components and control a scanning movement in the direction of the positioning plane, and which automatically stop this movement if one of the two Azimuth beam hits the target location, and that the control devices regulate an azimuth movement perform in one direction or the other depending on the azimuth beam that is the target location has hit, and that the control stops this movement when the beam in the direction of the position plane Destination. 5. Laser arrangement according to claim 4,
characterized in that the electric motors (19, 21) are designed as step or servo motors with a reduction gear, and that the control system is a control for zeroing the laser arrangement before the start of an improvement in the sighting process, and devices (23, 24) for counting the Contains number of steps that the motors (19, 21) carry out to correct the original azimuth error and the original error in the setting plane direction. 6. Laser arrangement according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that the bundles of rays (1, 2, 3) are coded with different emission frequencies (wavelengths). 7. Laseranordnui ^ according to claims 1 to 5, 709840/0848 characterized in that the three beams (1, 2, 3) by pulse modulation are coded with pulses of different lengths. 8. Laser arrangement according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that the three bundles of rays (1, 2, 3) by pulse modulation through the different frequency or repetition frequency the pulses are coded. 9. Laser arrangement according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that the three bundles of rays (1, 2, 3) are coded by pulse modulation using phase differences, 10. Laser arrangement according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that that the three emitters are designed as gallium arsenide diode lasers ο 11. Laser arrangement according to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that that the device provided at the destination is designed as a reflective surface. 09840/0848