FI108677B - Method and arrangement for measurement of the distance between an object and a known measurement point - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a [method] for measurement of the distance between an object and a known measurement point. The method makes use of a beacon 1, arranged at the measurement point and rotating about its vertical axis, which sends out at least one beam 2, 3 within the laser or infrared range, which makes an angle with the vertical plane. In the method, the radiation emitted from the beacon 1 is received by a receiver 5 placed essentially vertical at the measurement point, which has at least two beam detectors 6, 7 arranged one on the other, whose mutual known difference in level forms the known measurement base. In the method, said beam 2, 3 which is at an angle in relation to the vertical plane strikes the detectors 6, 7 with detector signals generated at different times, and these go to a processor 10 connected to the receiver, which processor on the basis of the data furnished by the detector signals and said known measurement base calculates the distance of the object from the beacon. <IMAGE>

Description

ί 108677 ί 1

Method and apparatus for measuring the distance between an object and a known measuring point

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring the distance and height difference between an object and a known 5 measuring points.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved, relatively simple method and apparatus for measuring the distance and height between an object and a known measuring point using a plane laser device.

To accomplish this object, the method of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that the method employs a beacon rotating about its vertical axis at a measuring point that emits at least one laser or infrared ray beam that is angled with respect to the vertical plane; receiving at a position to be measured, a substantially vertically mounted receiver having at least two superimposed radiation detectors having a known height difference between each other to form a known measurement base, wherein said beam in angular position with respect to the vertical plane hits the detectors at different times; · »20 is fed to a processor connected to the receiver, which calculates the information provided by the detection signals and the base of said known measurement base * I · '; distance from the lighthouse to the distance to be measured.

The method of the second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the * t 25 method employs a rotating beacon which emits at least two laser or infrared beams, located at a measuring point about its vertical axis. . · · ·. a bundle of which one of the beams forms a beam of light which is angled relative to the vertical plane and which beams depart from the lighthouse in the direction of rotation, at angles spaced from each other, wherein the method emits radiation from the beacon to: at least two radiation detectors having a known height difference forming a measuring base, and which receiver is arranged to be moved vertically 108677! 2, wherein said beam angle in the method is inclined at various times with respect to said vertical plane to produce detector signals output to a processor coupled to the receiver, which calculates the distance from the detector signal to the light and from said known measurement base; one of the beams forms a point laser beam which indicates a horizontal plane, wherein in the method the receiver is moved in a vertical plane until one of the detectors is at a horizontal plane pointing laser beam indicating the horizontal plane of the beacon.

10

The apparatus according to the invention for measuring the distance between a target and a known measuring point, in turn, is characterized in that the apparatus comprises: a lighthouse rotating about its vertical axis disposed at the measuring point and transmitting at least one laser or infrared region beam; a receiver positioned at a measurable position, substantially vertically mounted, to receive radiation from the beacon; at least two radiation detectors in the receiver having a known height difference between each other to form a known measurement base; and a processor connected to the receiver; wherein the detectors are arranged to produce detector signals at the time I · «· 20 at which the radiation hits those detector signals arranged to be · · '*'; ' to a processor arranged to compute the output signal of the detection signals «· 4 ';;; the distance of the point to be measured from the light and said known measuring base and angular position information * · I · of the beam.

* »11« t 4 »f 25 The apparatus according to another aspect of the invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises: a vertical axis disposed at a measuring point * ·. · · \ A rotating beacon arranged to transmit at least two laser or

I »I

•. an infrared bundle, one of which forms a beam in an angular position relative to a vertical plane and the other of the beam »*. 30 forms a dotted laser beam which indicates a horizontal plane which is arranged to leave the beacon in the direction of rotation of the beacon '·' as viewed at angles apart; a receiver located substantially at vertical position 3 108677 to receive radiation emitted from the beacon, the receiver being arranged to be transmitted vertically; at least two radiation detectors in the receiver having a known height difference between each other forming a known measurement base 5; and a processor connected to the receiver; wherein the detectors are arranged to produce detector signals from the time the radiation hits those detector signals arranged to be fed to a processor arranged to calculate a distance of 10 beams from the beacon and from said beacon measured from said detector signals and said angular position information; to determine the level at a point to be measured by searching for a horizontal plane detector using a vertically movable receiver! point laser beam.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:. . Fig. 1 schematically shows a side view of a $ beacon / laser beam transmitting apparatus according to the invention, 20 · · · a. ·· *. Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of a laser beam emitting a laser beam of the apparatus according to the invention, Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a receiver positioned at the object to be measured, I t <· '. Figures 4-6 show schematically the radiation emitted from the lighthouse,

»I

7 * illustrates the determination of the distance in the method of the invention.

4, 108677

According to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a beacon 1 rotating about its vertical axis at a measuring point and arranged to emit laser or infrared beams 2, 3 which, in the illustrated embodiment, form a beam of radiation having a radial plane In the embodiment shown, each beam 2 and 3 are at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the vertical plane and are at an angle «spaced from each other when viewed in the direction of rotation of the lighthouse. In the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2, said angle range is 180 °, whereby each of the beams 2, 3 is in the same space plane but at different angles of the center of rotation 10 and thus meet the radiation angles of the receiver 5 shown in Figure 3.

In Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 4 denotes the horizontal plane of the lighthouse, which forms the reference height of the lighthouse 1. In Figures 1 and 2, the beams 2 and 3 15 are located symmetrically and more densely on both sides of the reference plane 4 to represent a portion of the beams above the reference plane 4.

S

j. . Fig. 3 shows a receiver 5 having superimposed radiators / screens 6a-6c and 7a-7b connected by a cable 12 "5, 20 from base 11 to processor unit 10. Reference numeral 8 illustrates two radiation sensors 6a and! ··· · 7a the exact distance between each other to form the known measurement base needed for the measurement There may be two or more radiation detectors,

t I

, ···. such as the five detectors shown in Figure 3. The base 11 of the receiver 5 is provided with a · · · leveler which allows the receiver to be vertically oriented. 25

I I

Fig. 4 shows the moment when the beam 2 * * ♦ inclined with respect to the vertical plane passes the beam detector 6a. The beam detector emits an exact * * · t | the detector signal to the processor 10. In Fig. 4, the radiation detector 6a is illustrated • positioned above horizontal plane 4 and the radiation detector 7a positioned below horizontal plane 30. Reference numeral 20 denotes the point where the radius 2 in the horizontal plane 4 of the beam x 2 is located when the radiation detector 6a emits a detection signal.

! 5, 108677

Figure 5 shows the point at which the beam fan 2 bypasses the beam detector 7a, which is recorded by the detector signal transmitted by the detector 7a to the processor 10. Reference numeral 20 again indicates the position of the beam in the horizontal plane 4 with respect to the detectors 6a and 7a at the time when the detector 5 7a gives a signal. Reference numeral 8a illustrates how differences in bypass times read from radiation detectors 6a, 7a can be interpreted to correspond to sides of an isosceles triangle, i.e., 8a = 8 at a radius of 45 ° to the vertical if this angular position deviates from 45 °. 6a and 7a, respectively. When the exact mutual distance 8 of the radiation nil 10 scanners 6a and 7a is known and the radiation hit moments to the detectors are fed to the processor 10, the distance of the target can be measured | beacon 1 is calculated by a processor, for example by determining the circumferential velocity of the beam at the point to be measured, and further determining the distance from the beacon 1 of the object to be measured based on said known measuring base.

The functions according to Figures 4 and 5 are respectively implemented also with the beam fan 3a, whereby the bypass order of the radiation detectors 6a, 7a is reversed and thus the second measured values are confirmed to confirm the result.

• *

Fig. 6 illustrates a situation in which the angular difference α 20 between the rays 2 and 3 in the direction of rotation of the beacon is 180 °. Then the beams 2, 3 intersect »» · il! radially at 360 ° 12, which is located at the mean or horizontal plane 4 of the beam spikes produced by lighthouse 1 at point 9 in Figure 6. Comparing the time generated by the beam spinner 2 with the detector 7a, the time difference, · · * · multiplied by circumferential speed produces As a dual function ,,: the difference in height 25 can be calculated from the beam 3, respectively, so that •. changing time signs and altitude signs.

I i ·

To determine the radiation reception times and time differences of the detectors, the apparatus * *! 'Includes the necessary timing means, which are not described further.

: 30 The distance between the object to be measured and the known measuring point can also be determined without calculating the peripheral velocity simply referring to Fig. 7, where R represents the circumference of the beam at the target, r represents the radius, i.e. the distance between the target and the known measuring point. 6 108677 without cause and the distance traveled in the circumferential direction of the beam by the detectors 6a and 7a providing the detector signals. The time interval may be expressed as an absolute time difference or pulse difference, e.g., by using a pulse generator (not shown) transmitting one or more pulses and means (not shown) indicating the total number of pulses transmitted per revolution and transmitted pulses at the times of emitting 6a. , 7a. The ratio of the time interval between the time of reception of radiation, expressed as a time difference or pulse difference, to the total time or total number of pulses per revolution gives a ratio α corresponding to the ratio I of the radius fan 2, or 3, l / R and known measurement base 8 and radius | based on the angular position information of the fan 2, 3, the processor further calculates the distance of the point to be measured from the lighthouse as follows: 15 circumference R = 2IIr, where l / R = l / 2ITr = a, which further gives r = a2Il / l, where l = known measurement base 8 when the angle of the beam is vertical. . is 45 °.

I · '! Using a pulse generator, a very simple measurement method can be achieved,. # which avoids the absolute measurement of time and time difference. The pulse rate detectors,,,, 1 may be arranged to measure the total pulse rate and said pulse difference during each rotation of the beam, whereby the rotation speed of the beacon may also vary from one revolution to another without substantially affecting measurement accuracy. In addition, the measurement accuracy can be improved by using a plurality of • · overlapping detectors 6a-6c, 7a-7b for which the exact mutual distances> I * I are known.

t> li »

Claims (9)

A method for measuring the distance between a target and a known measuring point, characterized in that the method employs a beacon (1) rotating about its vertical axis at the measuring point and emitting at least one laser or infrared ray beam (2, 3) which is at an angle relative to the vertical, in which method the radiation emitted from the beacon (1) is received by a substantially vertical mounted receiver (5) located at a measurable position and having at least two superimposed beam detectors (6, 7) with a known known height difference wherein said beam angle (2, 3) at an angle to said vertical plane hits the detectors (6, 7) at different times, producing detector signals fed to a processor (10) connected to the receiver, which calculates information from the detector signals and said 15 known measurement bases distance from the lighthouse. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the process. the time measuring means is used to detect the total time *, * and the time at which the radiation strikes the detector (6a, 7a), t · 20, wherein said information provided by the detector signals is the time difference between the radiation reception and the time difference gives a ratio '\ n which corresponds to the ratio of the distance (I) of the radius fan (2,3) in the circumferential direction to the total circumference (R), for which »· (l / R) and the known on the basis of the measuring base (8) and the angular position path of the beam (2, 3), the processor further calculates the distance of the measuring point »·, ··· from the beacon. t • * t 'i » The process according to claim 1, characterized in that the process: ♦ '! a pulse generator is used to transmit one or more pulses and v: 30 means for detecting the total number of pulses transmitted in one revolution, and I t the number of pulses transmitted at the time the radiation hits the detector (6, 7), wherein said information emitted by detector signals is pulse difference, the ratio of the pulse difference to the total pulse number being 108677 8, which corresponds to the ratio of the distance (I) traveled by the radius fan (2,3) in the circumferential direction to the total circumference (R) for which (I / R) ) and the beam fan (2, 3)! based on the angular position information, the processor further calculates the distance of the measuring point 5 from the beacon. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the method employs a beacon (1) which emits two beams (2, 3),! angular positions in different directions with respect to the vertical, whereby a second beam beam can be used to confirm the distance measurement. 5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that The cats are substantially at an angle of 45 ° to the vertical, forming an angle of substantially 90 ° with each other. 15 A method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the method is also used for measuring the height difference between the object and a known measuring point, wherein the method defines a beam of said beam angles in different directions relative to the vertical plane. : 20 (2, 3), which beam beams leave the lighthouse (1) in the direction of rotation of the lighthouse. when viewed at angles («) apart, the calculated mean cut-off time is the mean time at which the beam in the horizontal plane of the beam should hit the detector, • ♦ · ·: ··: where is the actual time and time of impact on the detector; The height difference between the detector and the horizontal plane of the dwelling can be calculated from the difference *. 7. A method for measuring the distance and height difference between a subject and a known measuring point, characterized in that the method employs a beacon (1) rotating about its vertical axis about its vertical axis and transmitting at least two laser or infrared areas. beams (2, 3) of which radial. one of the bundles forms a beam of light beams angled with respect to the vertical plane, which beams depart from the beacon in the direction of rotation of the beacon 108677 I 9 when viewed at an angle («) apart, in which method emits radiation 5) having at least two radiation detectors (6, 7) having a known height difference 5 forming a measuring base, and the receiver (5) being arranged to be vertically displaceable, wherein in the method said beam beam (2, 3) angled with respect to the vertical plane (6, 7) at different times providing detector signals fed to a processor (10) connected to the receiver, which calculates the distance of the point measured from the detector signals based on the detector signals and the known measurement base to the beacon (1); one of the beams forming a dot laser beam which indicates a horizontal plane, wherein in the method the receiver (5) is moved in a vertical plane until one of the detectors is at a horizontal plane detecting 15 dot laser beams indicating a horizontal plane of the beacon. 7 108677 Apparatus for measuring the distance between a target and a known measuring point, characterized in that the device comprises: a lighthouse (1) rotating about its vertical axis positioned at the measuring point and emitting at least one laser or infrared beam (2, 3) at an angle. in the upright position. relative to the plane; a receiver (5) located in a substantially vertical position at a location to be measured to receive radiation emitted from the beacon (1); «· · *. ···. at least two radiation detectors (6, 7) in the receiver (5) having a known height difference of * I «....: known relative height; and a processor (10) connected to the receiver (5); wherein the detectors (6, 7) are arranged to produce detector signals from the time when the radiation hits those detector signals arranged to be supplied to a processor (10) arranged to calculate the output of the detector signals; ; v. the distance from the lighthouse (1) of the point to be measured on the basis of man information and said known measuring base and angular position, · · ·, 30 position of said beam projector (2, 3). ;., 9. Apparatus for measuring the distance and height difference between a target and a known measuring point, characterized in that: the measuring point is a lighthouse (1) rotatable about its vertical axis and arranged to transmit at least two laser or infrared light; area beams (2, 3), one of the beam beams forming a beam beam at an angular position I with respect to the vertical plane, and the other beam beams forming a point laser beam which indicates the horizontal plane which the beam bundles are arranged in the source | beacon (1) in the direction of rotation of the lighthouse (1) in angles (~) apart; a receiver (5) located substantially at a position to be measured to receive radiation emitted from the beacon (1), which receiver (5) is arranged to be transmitted vertically; at least two radiation detectors (6, 7) in the receiver (5), whose known height difference with each other forms a known measuring base; and a processor (10) connected to the receiver (5); wherein the detectors (6, 7) are arranged to produce detector signals from the time the radiation hits those detector signals arranged as inputs to a processor (10) arranged to calculate the information provided by the detector signals and said known measuring base and beam spike (2, 3). distance from the beacon (1) measured on the basis of angular position information, and which allows the beacon (1) to determine the horizontal plane (4) at the measurement point by searching for a horizontal laser pointing beam emitted by 20 movable beacons. ,, 1 08677 11