GB2363149A

GB2363149A - Apparatus for use in setting out an area to be marked

Info

Publication number: GB2363149A
Application number: GB0013825A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Iain Peter Mcguffie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-08
Filing date: 2000-06-08
Publication date: 2001-12-12
Also published as: GB0013825D0

Abstract

The apparatus is for setting out lines or a graphical symbol such as a logo. The area may be a sports pitch or a car park. There is a base station 1 that has a rotatable laser emitter 3. A movable station 101 has a reflector for reflecting the scanning laser back to the base station. The base station has a memory 13 and a microprocessor 15 with the memory storing the graphical plan to be marked out. The movable station may be moved manually or may be on a vehicle. The movable station is moved sequentially to different spots on the area and the interaction between the stations will indicate via means on the movable station, that it is in the correct position or has to be moved, and in what direction. There may be more than one base station and the distance between the stations can be determined by means other than laser means.

Description

2363149 APPARATUS FOR USE IN SETTING OUT AN AREA TO BE MARKED This

invention relates to an apparatus f or use in setting 5 out an area to be marked, for example with lines or a graphical symbol such as a logo. The area might be, f or example, a sports pitch or a car park.

It is conventional practice when setting out a sports pitch 10 or the like to begin at a suitable point, such as a corner of the pitch, and mark out with string or the like the lines to be painted. Lines intended to be at right angles to one another are determined with the aid of a right angle triangle of suitable size and/or by measuring the sides of 15 a triangle incorporating the right angle lines to check the ratios 3:4:5. The lengths of the various lines of a sports pitch are generally defined in the rules and are often presented in the form of an annotated plan, while the lines of a car park, for example, are generally marked out 20 graphically on a scale plan. Logos can be marked or painted with the aid of templates, but this requires the template to be made off-site and transported to the pitch or the like in order that workers can apply paint to the playing or like surface through and/or around the template.

Although a sports pitch generally only needs to be marked out once each season (with the lines subsequently being overmarked), it can take several workers a number of hours to mark out each pitch. This can impose significant pressures and costs on an organisation, such as a municipal council or contractor, that may have a significant number of pitches to mark in a relatively short time at the 5 beginning of each season. It would therefore be of great help to have some means by which at least the major points of a sports pitch could be identified in order to assist marking out the pitch. Similarly, it would save a great deal of time if at least the major points of a car park or 10 other graphical plan (such as a logo) could be identified in order to assist marking out.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for use in setting out an area to be 15 marked.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for use in setting out an area to be marked, the apparatus comprising:

means movable relative to the area to be marked; means for determining the location of the movable means relative to the area to be marked; memory means containing information defining, at least in part, a graphical plan to be marked out; and controller means for determining in conjunction with the location determining means and with the memory means a required sequence of locations for the movable means for marking out the are to be marked and for determining when 5 the required locations have been established.

The means for determining the location of the movable means may comprise a base station positioned relative to the area to be marked and provided with distance and direction 10 determining means for determining the distance and direction of the movable means relative to the base station. Thus, the base station may be provided with a rotatable laser beam and the movable means may be provided with means for reflecting the laser beam back to the base 15 station. Alternatively, the base station may be provided with means for emitting other relatively short wavelength electromagnetic radiation such as radar or radio/microwave radiation or for emitting sonar radiation.

20 The memory means and/or controller means may be provided as part of the movable means or as part of the base station, where provided.

The movable means may be provided with a level indicator to 25 determine whether the movable means is in a desired orientation.

The movable means may be portable or may be provided with wheels, which may be driven.

The movable means may be provided with means f or indicating 5 to a user whether the movable means is in a desired location. The indicating means may be visual and/or audible. The indicating means may additionally inform a user, when the movable means is not in a desired location, in which direction(s) the movable means should be moved in 10 order to attain the desired location.

The movable means may include means for communicating with the base station, for example to acknowledge the movable means is at a desired location.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention for use in setting out an area to be marked; 25 Figure 2 is a block diagram of a base station forming part of the apparatus according to the present invention; and Figure 3 is part of a movable station forming part of the apparatus of the present invention.

The apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a base station 1 5 and a movable station 101. The base station 1 is portable and can be positioned at a convenient location relative to a sports pitch or other area to be marked, but then remains stationary during use. The movable station 101 can be carried by a user, either directly or on a wheeled unit, 10 and functions to indicate to the user the location of the movable station relative to the area to be marked.

The base station 1 is shown diagrammatically in Figure 2 and incorporates a laser beam emitter 3 and a rotating unit 15 5 for rotating and scanning the laser beam in a horizontal direction substantially parallel to the ground surface to be marked. For this purpose, the base station incorporates a level indicator 7 (in the manner of a spirit level) to ensure the laser beam is emitted in a substantially 20 horizontal direction.

The movable station 101 is shown diagrammatically in Figure 3 and includes a reflector 103 for reflecting the scanning laser beam back to the base station 1.

The reflected laser beam returning to the base station 1 is detected by a rotating angle detector 9 which determines the angle of the movable station 101 relative to the base - 6 station 1 and by a distance detector 11 which determines the distance of the movable station 101 from the base station 1 as a function of the time of travel of the laser beam.

Angle determination from a rotating laser beam is well known per se from commercially available laser survey instruments such as those available from Topcon Corporation. Reference should be made, for example, to USA-6 Oll 613. Similarly, distance measurement by way of a laser beam is well known per se and is described, for example, in US-A-6 023 323. It is not considered necessary to describe in detail the manner in which the angle or the distance is determined.

The base station 1 is additionally provided with a memory 13 (which can be in microchip or other form, such as stored on a floppy disk) and with a microprocessor 15 or other suitable controlling means. The memory 13 serves to store 20 details of a graphical plan to be marked out. For example the plan may be a soccer, rugby or other sports pitch or could be a car park or a logo to be inscribed on a sports pitch or other surface. Depending on the nature of the plan the information stored may be complete or may be 25 scalable as a result of interaction during marking out of the plan. For example, many sports pitches have variable dimensions as well as fixed dimensions in order that the size of the pitch can be adapted to the available area.

Further, the base station 1 is provided with communication means 17, such as an infra-red or radio link, for communicating with a corresponding communication means 105 provided as part of the movable station 101.

The movable station 101 is additionally provided with indicating means 107 (which may be visual and/or audible), such as a liquid crystal display panel, the purpose of which will be described in more detail hereinafter and with 10 a level 109 for ensuring the movable station is in a desired orientation.

In use of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3, the base unit 1 is placed at a convenient location relative to the 15 graphical plan to be marked out. For the purposes of illustration, the plan will be considered to be a sports pitch in which a number of dimensions can be adapted to the available area. The base unit is levelled with the aid of level 7 and the memory 13 is provided with the various 20 fixed or variable dimensions of the pitch to be marked.

Marking out is then initiated, for example by pressing a key on one or other of the base and movable stations.

25 For a pitch of variable dimensions the user will proceed to one of the corners (such as corner 201 marked on Figure 1) of the line defining the boundary of the pitch. The corner can be chosen in any of a number of ways: f or example it might be predefined in the graphical plan of the pitch and the user may simply follow a sequence of locations (in this case a suitable display, such as a display corresponding to the plan of the pitch, may be provided on the movable 5 station to assist the user), or it might be selected by the user either with an appropriate entry on a key or keys provided on the base station 1 or on the movable station.

When the user determines the movable station is in the 10 correct location for the first corner, he can ensure with the level 109 that the station is in the correct orientation and can press a key on the movable station to transmit a signal to the base station to indicate the user has established the location of the first corner. The 15 location of the f irst corner can also be marked on the ground. On receipt of the signal from the movable station, the base station can determine the relative angle and distance of the first corner 201 with respect to the location of the base station 1.

The user can then proceed to the second corner (such as corner 202 marked on Figure 1). The second corner can be chosen in a similar manner to that of the first corner, that is either according to a predetermined sequence or 25 according to a selection by the user.

When the user determines the movable station is in the correct location for the second corner 202, he can ensure with the level 109 that the station is in the correct orientation and can press a key on the movable station to transmit a signal to the base station to indicate the user has established the location of the second corner. The 5 location of the second corner can also be marked on the ground. On receipt of the signal from the movable station, the base station can determine the relative angle and distance of the second corner 202 with respect to the location of the base station 1.

With the information relating to the first and second corners, the microprocessor 15 of the base station 1 can determine the distance between the first and second corners and can determine the direction of the line joining the two is corners.

The user can then proceed to the third corner (such as corner 203 marked on Figure 1). The third corner can be chosen in a similar manner to that of the first and second 20 corners, that is either according to a predetermined sequence or according to a selection by the user.

The user does not have the same amount of freedom in establishing the third corner 203 as he had when 25 establishing the first and second corners. The third corner 203 can only be established with guidance from the base station because the line joining the second corner and the third corner (or indeed joining the first corner and the third corner should the user decide to establish this corner instead of the one illustrated) must be perpendicular to the line joining the first and second corners. Thus as the user moves from the second corner 202 5 to the third corner 203 the base station determines the relative angle of the movable station 101 and also the distance from the base station to the movable station. In this way the base station 1 can determine whether the line joining the movable station and the second corner 202 is 10 perpendicular to the line joining the first and second corners. The user can, however, determine the distance of the third corner from the second corner.

To guide the user along the correct line from the second 15 station 1, the indicating means 107 provides the user with the required information. For example, the indicating means may comprise a display which shows the user if he must move towards or away from the base station 1 and/or the indicating means may comprise an audible sounder which 20 indicates whether the user is the correct distance from the base station.

When the user determines the movable station is in the correct location for the third corner 203, he can ensure 25 with the level 109 that the station is in the correct orientation and can press a key on the movable station to transmit a signal to the base station to indicate the user has established the location of the third corner. The location of the third corner can also be marked on the ground. On receipt of the signal from the movable station, the base station can determine the relative angle and distance of the third corner 203 with respect to the 5 location of the base station 1.

The fourth corner 204 of the boundary of the pitch can then be established by the user with the guidance from the base station 1. Thus as the user moves from the third corner 10 203 to the fourth corner 204 the base station determines the relative angle of the movable station 101 and also the distance from the base station to the movable station. In this way the base station 1 can determine whether the line joining the movable station and the third corner 203 is 15 parallel to the line joining the first and second corners (or perpendicular to the line joining the second and third corners) and the base station can also determine the distance of the movable station from the third corner.

Further, the base station 1 can determine whether the line 20 joining the movable station 101 to the first corner 201 is perpendicular to the line joining the first and second corners and the base station can also determine the distance of the movable station from the first corner. In this way the base station 1 can cross-reference the

25 location of the fourth corner relative to each of the first and third corners. To guide the user to the correct point, the indicating means 107 provides the user with the required information as explained above in respect of the third corner 203.

When the user determines the movable station is in the 5 correct location for the fourth corner 204, he can ensure with the level 109 that the station is in the correct orientation and can press a key on the movable station to transmit a signal to the base station to indicate the user has established the location of the fourth corner. The 10 location of the fourth corner can also be marked on the ground. On receipt of the signal from the movable station, the base station can determine the relative angle and distance of the fourth corner 204 with respect to the location of the base station 1.

Thus, all four corners have now been established and the user has sufficient information to mark out the boundary line for the pitch. The internal lines can be marked out in a similar manner either in a predetermined sequence or 20 according to a selection by the user.

Clearly it is not essential for the direction and distance of the movable station 101 relative to the base station 1 to be determined by laser and other suitable means can be 25 employed such as radar, radio /microwave, sonar and the like.

Although only a single base station 1 has been described, it may be convenient to provide more than one such base station. If two base stations are provided it is much more simple to determine the precise location of the movable 5 station 101 and if, for example, the two base stations are aligned along the longitudinal mid-line of a sports pitch to be marked out the user can be guided along the desired boundary line even for the line joining the first and second corners (moving along a line parallel to the 10 imaginary line joining the two base stations). Further, it is not necessary that the base station(s) should be mounted on a ground surface: as an alternative the base station(s) may comprise a global positioning system (GPS) based on one or more satellites. In such a case, of course, the memory 15 13 and microprocessor 15 will be required to be incorporated into the movable station 101 and there will be no need for communication from the movable station to the base station(s).

20 The movable station 101 can be moved manually, for example it could be in the form of a staff with the display and level indicator provided on an upper surface of a head portion of the staff. Alternatively, the movable station can be mounted on a vehicle which could be controlled by a 25 driver or could be controlled by the memory in accordance with the graphical plan to be marked out. In the case of a vehicle, such vehicle could be provided in known manner - 14 with line marking apparatus for marking the required lines either as the lines are established, or subsequently.

Claims

1. An apparatus f or use in setting out an area to be marked, the apparatus comprising:

means movable relative to the area to be marked; means f or determining the location of the movable means relative to the area to be marked; memory means containing information defining, at least in part, a graphical plan to be marked out; and controller means for determining in conjunction with the 15 location determining means and with the memory means a required sequence of locations for the movable means for marking out the are to be marked and for determining when the required locations have been established.

20

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means f or determining the location of the movable means comprises a base station positioned relative to the area to be marked and provided with distance and direction determining means for determining the distance and direction of the movable 25 means relative to the base station.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the memory means and/or controller means is provided as part of the base station.

5

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the base station is provided with a rotatable laser beam and the movable means is provided with means for reflecting the laser beam back to the base station.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the base station is provided with means for emitting relatively short wavelength electromagnetic radiation or for emitting sonar radiation.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the relatively short wavelength electromagnetic radiation comprises radar or radio/microwave radiation.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the memory means and/or controller means is provided as part of the movable means.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the movable means is provided with a:level indicator to determine whether the movable means is' in a desired orientation.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the movable means is portable.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, 5 wherein the movable means is provided with wheels.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the wheels are driven.

10

12. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the movable means is provided with means for indicating to a user whether the movable means is in a desired location.

15

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the indicating means is visual.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the indicating means is audible.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the indicating means informs a user, when the movable means is not in a desired location, in which direction(s) the movable means should be moved in order to attain. the 25 desired location.

- 18

16. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the movable means includes means for communicating with the base station.

17. An apparatus f or use in setting out an area to be marked substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.