Abstract: A measurement instrument is disclosed. The measurement instrument comprises a distance measurement module, a splitter and a deflection module. The distance measurement module is configured to transmit optical radiation along a transmit path and receive optical radiation along a receive path. The transmit path and the receive path are merged in a measurement beam at the splitter. The deflection module is located optically between the distance measurement module and the splitter. The deflection module is configured to aim the transmit path and the receive path at the splitter and to deflect at least one of the transmit path and the receive path across an instrument optical axis.

Abstract: A method of rendering a three-dimensional point cloud in a two-dimensional display includes inputting the three-dimensional point cloud that includes three-dimensional coordinates of a set of points, creating a depth buffer for the three-dimensional point cloud that includes depth data for the set of points from a viewpoint location. The method further includes determining a foreground depth buffer by, for each respective pixel area of the two-dimensional display, determining a foreground depth by detecting a closest point to the viewpoint location among a subset of the set of points corresponding to the respective pixel area, and assigning a depth of the closest point as the foreground depth for the respective pixel area. The method further includes filtering the depth buffer to obtain a filtered depth buffer by removing points that are not in the foreground, and outputting the filtered depth buffer to the two-dimensional display.

Abstract: Embodiments provide for a geodetic instrument comprising a scanning head, a reflecting optical element, a radiation source, a control unit and an electronic distance measurement (EDM) unit. The scanning head is rotatable about a first axis. The reflecting optical element mounted in the scanning head and rotatable about the same first axis. The radiation source is adapted to emit light to be output along a light beam path from the geodetic instrument via light reflection against the reflecting optical element. The control unit is adapted to adjust an angular displacement profile of the reflecting optical element about the first axis relative to an angular displacement profile of the scanning head such that an angular displacement of the light beam path about the first axis as a function of time presents a stair-like profile. The EDM unit is adapted to determine a distance to a target during a flat portion of the stair-like profile.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a measuring instrument and a method implemented in such a measuring instrument. The measuring instrument includes an image sensor, an actuator, a control unit and a processor. The actuator is arranged to move a field of view of the image sensor. The control unit is configured to cause the image sensor to capture at least one digital image during motion of the field of view of the image sensor by the actuator. The exposure time for capturing the digital image is longer than an identifiable section of a regulating pattern for modulation of an optical radiation either emitted or reflected by at least one target. The processor is configured to process at least a portion of the captured image for detecting in the at least one portion the identifiable section of the regulating pattern. Such a measuring instrument is advantageous for detecting and/or identifying a target in the vicinity of the instrument.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for calibrating a geodetic instrument, an instrument and a computer program product thereof. In the method and geodetic instrument of the present invention, a value of at least one parameter affecting the measurements made by the instrument is detected and compared with a predetermined threshold. On the basis of the comparison between the detected value and the predetermined threshold, the instrument aims at a reference target and a calibration is performed using the reference target. The present invention is advantageous in that the accuracy and reliability of the measurements performed by the instrument are increased. Further, the present invention is advantageous in that the requirements on mechanical stability are reduced.

Abstract: A robotic laser-pointing apparatus has an instrument center, a first rotation axis, a second rotation axis, and a pointing axis, with the first rotation axis, the second rotation axis and the pointing axis in a known relationship to the instrument center. A laser source provides a pointing-laser beam along the pointing axis. A pointing drive system aims the laser beam by rotating the pointing axis about the instrument center in response to a pointing-direction control. Focusing optics having a focusing-optics drive serve to focus the pointing-laser beam in response to a focusing-optics control. A processor, responsive to target-position information, generates the pointing-direction control and the focusing-optics control. Some embodiments include an electronic-distance-measurement system having a measurement beam. Some embodiments provide for compensation of aiming errors of the pointing-laser beam and the measurement beam.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for calibrating a geodetic instrument, an instrument and a computer program product thereof. In the method and geodetic instrument of the present invention, a value of at least one parameter affecting the measurements made by the instrument is detected and compared with a predetermined threshold. On the basis of the comparison between the detected value and the predetermined threshold, the instrument aims at a reference target and a calibration is performed using the reference target. The present invention is advantageous in that the accuracy and reliability of the measurements performed by the instrument are increased. Further, the present invention is advantageous in that the requirements on mechanical stability are reduced.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring distance from an instrument origin to each of a plurality of points in an environment. Laser pulses are emitted along a measurement axis at successive displacements about the origin. The emission time of each pulse is time-shifted relative to a fixed rate. The time shift corresponds to an index of a repetitive sequential pattern. Received pulses are detected at respective arrival times. For each received pulse: a current apparent distance is determined, a measured delta distance is calculated, a range interval is assigned by comparing measured delta distance with an expected delta distance synchronized with the index of the latest emitted pulse, the current apparent distance is defined to be a true measured distance for any received pulse assigned to a first time interval, otherwise the current apparent distance is defined to be a false measured distance.

Abstract: Distance measurement methods and apparatus use laser pulse sets having signatures which enable returned pulses to be correlated with emitted pulses. Each pulse set comprises at least one pulse and a signature selected from a set of possible signatures. Pulse sets reflected from at least one surface are detected and, for each set, the signature is recognized and a time of flight is determined. Signatures are defined by one or more of: spacing in time between pulses of a set, wavelength of the at least one pulse of the set, spacing in time between a first subset of a set and a second subset of a set, difference of wavelength between pulses of a set, and difference of wavelength between a first subset of a set and a second subset of a set. Each set can have multiple groups of pulses and pulses within a group can have different amplitudes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing data representing three-dimensional points organized in a data structure wherein each point has multiple components, the data is organized in a respective layer per component, each layer is segmented in cells of a two-dimensional grid, the cells are arranged such that the components of a given point are contained in corresponding cells of multiple layers, the cells are grouped in patches by layer, and the patches are arranged such that the components of an array of points is represented by corresponding patches of multiple layers. At least one first criterion and at least one second criterion are obtained. Data are retrieved from cells of patches meeting the at least one first criterion and from layers meeting the at least one second criterion. The retrieved data are processed to obtain a derivative data set.

Abstract: Embodiments provide for a geodetic instrument comprising a scanning head, a reflecting optical element, a radiation source, a control unit and an electronic distance measurement (EDM) unit. The scanning head is rotatable about a first axis. The reflecting optical element mounted in the scanning head and rotatable about the same first axis. The radiation source is adapted to emit light to be output along a light beam path from the geodetic instrument via light reflection against the reflecting optical element. The control unit is adapted to adjust an angular displacement profile of the reflecting optical element about the first axis relative to an angular displacement profile of the scanning head such that an angular displacement of the light beam path about the first axis as a function of time presents a stair-like profile. The EDM unit is adapted to determine a distance to a target during a flat portion of the stair-like profile.

Abstract: A method for determining position and orientation of a first measuring instrument is disclosed. A second MI and at least one reflective target including a retroreflector unit are arranged in the vicinity of the first MI. At least one imaging module is arranged in the first MI for determining orientation thereof. The at least one imaging module in the first MI can be used in a similar manner as a tracker unit of an optical total station, by way of detecting optical radiation emitted from the second MI and reflected by the at least one TGT.

Abstract: An optical device is disclosed that may be employed in distance measuring devices. In at least one embodiment, the optical device includes a control unit that is adapted to cause at least one control signal generator unit to generate at least one control signal according to a predetermined temporal function on the basis of an elapsed time from a predetermined point in time. On the basis of the generated at least one control signal, at least one parameter of a receiver unit may be adjusted during the travel time of the optical pulse, wherein the at least one parameter affects the dynamic range of the receiver unit. In this way, the dynamic range of the receiver unit may be increased. A method is further disclosed for operating such an optical device, along with a distance measuring device including such an optical device and a surveying instrument including such a distance measuring device.

Abstract: A tracker unit for a measuring instrument such as a total station is disclosed. The tracker unit comprises a first and at least a second optical radiation source arranged at different positions and each of which is noncoaxially arranged with respect to a tracker pointing axis and adapted to emit optical radiation towards the reflective target when activated. The first and the at least a second optical radiation source are arranged at such positions so that the tracker pointing axis and the position of the first optical radiation source define a first plane and the tracker pointing axis and the position of the at least a second optical radiation source define a second plane, such that the first optical radiation source is coaxial with respect to the tracker pointing axis in a plane perpendicular to the first plane and the at least a second optical radiation source is coaxial with respect to the tracker pointing axis in a plane perpendicular to the second plane.

Abstract: A method for determining, in relation to a surveying instrument, target coordinates of a point of interest, or target, identified in two images captured by a camera in the surveying instrument. The method comprises determining coordinates of the surveying instrument, capturing a first image using the camera in the first camera position; identifying, in the first image, an object point associated with the target; measuring first image coordinates of the object point in the first image; rotating the surveying instrument around the horizontal axis and the vertical axis in order to position the camera in a second camera position; capturing a second image using the camera in the second camera position; identifying, in the second image, the object point identified in the first image; measuring second image coordinates of the object point in the second image; and determining the coordinates of the target in relation to the surveying instrument.

Abstract: An optical device is disclosed that may be employed in distance measuring devices. In at least one embodiment, the optical device includes a control unit that is adapted to cause at least one control signal generator unit to generate at least one control signal according to a predetermined temporal function on the basis of an elapsed time from a predetermined point in time. On the basis of the generated at least one control signal, at least one parameter of a receiver unit may be adjusted during the travel time of the optical pulse, wherein the at least one parameter affects the dynamic range of the receiver unit. In this way, the dynamic range of the receiver unit may be increased. A method is further disclosed for operating such an optical device, along with a distance measuring device including such an optical device and a surveying instrument including such a distance measuring device.

Abstract: A method for determining position and orientation of a first measuring instrument is disclosed. A second MI and at least one reflective target including a retroreflector unit are arranged in the vicinity of the first MI. At least one imaging module is arranged in the first MI for determining orientation thereof. The at least one imaging module in the first MI can be used in a similar manner as a tracker unit of an optical total station, by way of detecting optical radiation emitted from the second MI and reflected by the at least one TGT.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining coordinates of a target in relation to a surveying instrument wherein a first image is captured using a first camera in a first camera position and orientation, a target is selected by identifying at least one object point in the first image, and first image coordinates of the object point in the first image are measured. In at least one embodiment, a second image is captured using a second camera in a second camera position and orientation, the object point identified in the first image is identified in the second image, and second image coordinates of the object point in the second image are measured. Target coordinates of the target in relation to the rotation center of the surveying instrument are then determined based on the first camera position and orientation, the first image coordinates, the second camera position and orientation, the second image coordinates, and first and second camera calibration data.

Abstract: It is disclosed a method for driving a laser diode such as to enable mitigation or elimination of so called spiking effects related to the number of injected carriers in the laser overshooting the equilibrium value at the beginning of the lasing process. In this manner, among other things, the efficiency of a master oscillator power amplifier that may be utilized in range finding applications will be improved. It is further disclosed an optical pulse transmitter comprising such a laser diode.