JP5576763B2 - Autofocus surveying instrument - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an autofocus surveying instrument, and more particularly to an electronic level (electronic level) that automatically starts autofocus.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic level 2 is for measuring the height h by reading the barcode 11 using the scale 1 with the barcode 11 as a scale. In recent years, an autofocus electronic level has also appeared. As the autofocus electronic level, those disclosed in Patent Document 1 or 2 below are known. As an example of an autofocus electronic level, FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of what is disclosed in Patent Document 1 described later.

  This electronic level includes the collimating telescope 20 and the electronic device unit 10. The collimating telescope 20 includes an objective lens 21a, a focusing lens 21b, an automatic horizontal correction mechanism 22, a beam splitter 23, a focusing screen 20a, and an eyepiece 20b.

  The electronic device unit 10 includes a line sensor 24 that receives the light divided by the beam splitter 23, an amplifier 25 that amplifies the output of the line sensor 24, and an A / D converter 27 that performs A / D conversion on the output of the amplifier 25. A RAM 28 for storing the output of the A / D converter 27; a CCD drive circuit 29 for driving the CCD line sensor 24; a clock driver 26 for sending a clock signal to the A / D converter 27, the RAM 28 and the drive circuit 29; The stepping motor 41 that moves the focusing lens 21b, the motor drive circuit 4 that drives the stepping motor 41, the microcomputer 3 that controls the motor drive circuit 4 and the CCD drive circuit 29, the ROM 31 connected to the microcomputer 3, and the display Part 32.

  Autofocus is performed as follows. First, when the focusing lens 21b is positioned farthest from the eyepiece lens 20b, the focusing lens 21b is not in the focusing position, so the output of the line sensor 24 is almost flat as shown in FIG. . Therefore, when the focusing lens 21b is moved to the objective lens 21a side according to an instruction from the microcomputer 3, image data corresponding to the scale position is gradually detected in the output of the line sensor 24. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the output of the line sensor 24 becomes equal to or higher than the reference value α, the focusing lens 21b is stopped. Here, when the center line CL of each mountain is obtained and the average value of the interval between the center lines CL is obtained, the distance from the average value to the scale is obtained. In order to obtain the average value of the interval between the center lines CL, frequency analysis such as Fourier transform may be used. If the distance to the standard is obtained, the focusing lens 21b can be moved to an accurate focusing position. When the focusing lens 21b is positioned at the correct focusing position, the output from the line sensor 24 becomes clearer as shown in FIG. 5C, and the barcode 11 attached to the scale 1 can be read reliably. Thus, a measured value is obtained.

JP 2001-12949 A JP 2006-234614 A

  By the way, in the electronic level disclosed in Patent Document 1, autofocusing is started by pressing an autofocus button or a measurement start button after collimating the scale. For this reason, there is a problem that the time from collimating the scale to when the autofocus button or the measurement start button is pressed increases the measurement time. In addition, when the autofocus button or the measurement start button is pressed, there is a problem that a measurement error is generated by giving an impact or vibration to the electronic level. In order to solve the above-described problem, an object of the present invention is to provide an autofocus surveying instrument that automatically starts autofocus when a measured object is collimated.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the autofocus surveying instrument of the invention according to claim 1 includes an encoder for measuring the angle of the collimating telescope, reads the angle sent from the encoder, and compares the previously read angle and the current time It is determined whether or not the absolute value of the angle difference from the read angle is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. If the absolute value of the angle difference is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, the reading is delayed for a certain period of time , Auto focus means is provided for determining whether or not a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the absolute value became equal to or less than a predetermined value, and for starting autofocus when the absolute value of the angle difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value even after the predetermined time has elapsed. It was. The autofocus electronic level of the invention according to claim 2 includes an encoder for measuring the horizontal angle of the collimating telescope, reads the horizontal angle sent from the encoder, reads the horizontal angle read last time, and the horizontal angle read this time If the absolute value of the angle difference is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and if the absolute value of the angle difference is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the reading is delayed for a certain period of time. There is provided an autofocus means for determining whether or not a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the time when the value became equal to or less than a predetermined value, and to start autofocus when the absolute value of the angle difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value even after the predetermined time has elapsed.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, since the autofocus is started when the angle sent from the encoder is constant for a predetermined time or more, it is not necessary to press the autofocus button or the measurement start button after collimating the measurement object. Measurement time can be shortened. In addition, by pressing the autofocus button or the measurement start button, it is possible to prevent the surveying instrument from being shocked or vibrated and causing a measurement error.

  The invention according to claim 2 also has the same effect as the invention according to claim 1 because the autofocus is started when the horizontal angle sent from the encoder is constant for a predetermined time or more.

1 is a block diagram of an autofocus electronic level according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the measurement procedure of the said electronic level. It is a figure explaining an electronic level and a staff. It is a block diagram of a conventional autofocus electronic level. It is a figure explaining the principle of autofocus.

  An embodiment of the electronic level according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic level includes an encoder 30 that measures the horizontal angle of the collimating telescope 20 at the electronic level.

  The encoder 30 is as inexpensive as possible. When the horizontal angle sent from the encoder 30 is constant for a predetermined time or more, the microcomputer 3 determines that collimation has been completed, and immediately starts autofocus and performs measurement. Other than this, it is substantially the same as the electronic level shown in FIG. 3, so that the same reference numerals are given to the same parts and the description thereof is omitted. Since the collimating telescope 20 at the electronic level is basically kept horizontal, the embodiment does not include an encoder for measuring the altitude angle.

  The measurement procedure performed by the electronic level measurement program will be described in more detail based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the observer sets the electronic level and the staff at the set position and turns on the power switch of the electronic level, the measurement program starts. Next, it progresses to step S1 and the microcomputer 3 judges whether the observer started collimation operation. The determination of the collimation operation start is determined as the collimation operation start when the power switch or the measurement button is pressed. In addition, when the horizontal angle sent from the encoder 30 is periodically read and the absolute value of the angle difference between the horizontal angle read last time and the horizontal angle read this time becomes a predetermined value (for example, 30 seconds) or more. The collimation operation is determined to be started.

  The observer collimates the staff using a peep site (sighting device). Of course, the scale may be collimated with the collimating telescope 20, but in the case of an autofocus electronic level, collimation with a peep site that is easy to aim is sufficient. When the collimation operation is started, the horizontal angle sent from the encoder 30 changes every moment.

  Next, proceeding to step S <b> 2, the microcomputer 3 reads the horizontal angle sent from the encoder 30. In step S3, it is determined whether the absolute value of the angle difference between the previously read horizontal angle and the current read horizontal angle is equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, 2 seconds). If the absolute value of the angle difference exceeds a predetermined value, the collimation operation is being performed and the process returns to step S2. If the absolute value of the angle difference is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, it is determined that collimation operation may be completed, and the process proceeds to step S4 and is delayed for a certain time (for example, 50 milliseconds). This step S4 is necessary to measure the time from when the absolute value of the angle difference between the horizontal angle read last time and the horizontal angle read this time becomes a predetermined value or less.

  Next, proceeding to step S5, the microcomputer 3 determines that the absolute value of the angle difference between the previously read horizontal angle and the current read horizontal angle is equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, 0.5 seconds) or more. Judge whether or not it has passed. The time from when the absolute value of the angle difference becomes equal to or smaller than the predetermined value can be determined by how many times the step S5 is performed from when the absolute value of the angle difference becomes equal to or smaller than the predetermined value. However, even if the absolute value of the angle difference once falls below the predetermined value, if the absolute value of the angle difference exceeds the predetermined value after that, the time that has been measured is cleared, and then the angle Remeasure the time from when the absolute value of the difference falls below the predetermined value again.

  If the predetermined time has not passed since the absolute value of the angle difference between the horizontal angle read last time and the horizontal angle read this time is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the collimation operation may be incomplete. Repeat S1-S5. If the predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that the collimation operation has been completed, and the process proceeds to step S6, where autofocus is automatically started. Autofocus is performed in the same way as in the conventional one. Here, the above-described steps S1 to S6 correspond to the autofocus means according to claim 1 or 2.

  When the autofocus is completed, the process proceeds to step S7, where the microcomputer 3 performs measurement based on the electronic level. Next, it progresses to step S8 and the microcomputer 3 displays a measured value on a display means. Next, it progresses to step S9 and an observer instruct | indicates to the microcomputer 3 by pushing a stop button whether measurement stops. If the stop button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S10 to perform measurement and autofocus stop processing, and returns to step S2 to prepare for the measurement at the next measurement point. The measurement and autofocus stop processing is to temporarily stop the electronic level operation and prepare the measurement at the next measurement point, and clear the currently stored measurement data and autofocus data. That is. If the stop button is not pressed, the process returns to step S7 and waits until the stop button is pressed.

  At this electronic level, when the observer collimates the scale, autofocus is automatically started, so that it is not necessary to press the autofocus button or the measurement start button after collimating the scale, and the measurement time can be shortened. In addition, since there is no need to press the autofocus button or the measurement start button, there is no problem of causing a measurement error by giving an impact or vibration to the electronic level.

  Moreover, since this electronic level is equipped with the encoder 30 which measures a horizontal angle, the horizontal angle of the measurement point which installed the measuring scale can be measured. Furthermore, the distance to the staff can be measured by stadia surveying. Since it is a level, naturally the altitude difference between the measurement point and the collimation point can be measured. Therefore, this electronic level can be used as a simple total station that can measure the horizontal angle, altitude angle, and distance by measuring the altitude angle of the measuring point from the altitude difference between the measuring point and the collimation point and the distance to the standard. it can.

  By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, although the above-mentioned embodiment is an electronic level, the present invention can be applied to other surveying instruments (total station, theodolite, etc.) having an encoder.

1 Electronic Level 2 Standard 20 Sighting Telescope 30 Encoder

Claims (2)

Comprising an encoder for measuring the angle of the collimating telescope, reading the angle sent from the encoder, determining whether or not the absolute value of the angle difference between the previously read angle and the currently read angle is less than or equal to a predetermined value; If the absolute value of the angle difference is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the reading is delayed for a certain time, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the absolute value of the angle difference has become less than or equal to the predetermined value by accumulating the certain time. An autofocus surveying instrument provided with autofocus means for starting autofocus when the absolute value of the angle difference is not more than a predetermined value even after a predetermined time has elapsed. Equipped with an encoder that measures the horizontal angle of the collimating telescope, reads the horizontal angle sent from the encoder, and whether or not the absolute value of the angle difference between the horizontal angle read last time and the horizontal angle read this time is less than a predetermined value Judgment, if the absolute value of the angle difference is less than or equal to a predetermined value, delay reading for a certain period of time. An autofocus electronic level provided with autofocus means for determining whether or not the autofocus is started when the absolute value of the angle difference is not more than a predetermined value even after a predetermined time has elapsed.

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