Abstract: An optical measurement system comprises a first housing body and a second housing body which can be rotated relative to the first housing body about a second axis of rotation, wherein the second housing body contains a measurement telescope, an inner roller bearing support fixed to the second housing body and protruding into the first housing body; an outer roller bearing support fixed to the first housing body; a drive disc fixed to the inner roller bearing support; wherein a motor having a motor shaft is attached to the first housing body in such a way that the motor shaft or a wheel fixed to the motor shaft is positioned on the drive disc and is pressed against said disc by a spring force orientated transversely to the second axis of rotation, and wherein the motor shaft or the wheel is coupled to the drive disc in a frictional fit.

Abstract: A geodetic device comprises three device components, two axes of rotation, and two angle sensors such that the device components are rotatable with respect to each other and their rotational positions are determinable, and an inclination sensor system. A method for determining a characteristic of the device comprises an alignment of the second device component with respect to the first device component into a plurality of different rotational positions, whereby in each rotational position of the plurality of rotational positions a measurement value is determined from the first angle sensor, a measurement value is determined from the second angle sensor, and a measurement value is determined for the orientation of the inclination sensor system.

Abstract: A device for measurement by means of a light ray is equipped with a covering device for reducing stray light. The device comprises an array of lenses along an optical axis; a prism attached to one of the lenses with a slanted surface for coupling of the light ray incident from a light source placed lateral to the optical axis, onto the optical axis, so that the light ray can pass through the array of lenses along the optical axis; a receiver for receipt of a share of the light ray reflected by an object; and a covering device for at least one area of the prism that scatters a share of the light ray as stray light to the receiver.

Abstract: A geodetic surveying system, comprising: a first measurement unit and a second measurement unit. Each of the first and the second measurement unit is configured to perform a measurement for acquiring positioning data of the respective measurement unit. The system further comprises a first inclinometer for acquiring inclination data of the first inclinometer which represent a vertical inclination measured at the first measurement unit; and a second inclinometer for acquiring inclination data of the second inclinometer, which represent a vertical inclination measured at the second measuring unit. The geodetic surveying system is configured to determine a relative orientation angle between the first inclinometer and the second inclinometer in a horizontal plane relative to a vertical adjustment of the geodetic surveying system, depending on the inclination data of the first inclinometer and the second inclinometer.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the quality of a gearing system is described. The method includes the steps of setting a sequence of target angles of rotation of a first gear wheel, measuring for each of the target angles of rotation an output angle of rotation of a second gear wheel, and calculating a plurality of theoretical output angles of rotation. The method also includes obtaining angle of rotation differences between the plurality of output angles of rotation and the plurality of theoretical output angles of rotation, forming a sequence of cumulative values, and determining, based on the sequence, a first amplitude value, a second amplitude value or a third amplitude value.

Abstract: For swift and secure determination of a measurement error a first digital image is obtained using an image sensor unit, wherein a line of sight of an optical arrangement is oriented in a first face direction. A characteristic image area in the first digital image and the position thereof on an image sensor unit is determined. A second digital image is then taken with a line of sight of the image sensor unit oriented in a second face and is the characteristic image area are defined in the first image is searched in the second digital image, wherein preceding late be first or the second digital image is rotated in the image plane by 180°. Then in the second digital image the position of the characteristic image area is determined on the image sensor unit. And offset between the characteristic image area in the first digital image and the characteristic image area in the second digital image is a quantity of the measurement error.

Abstract: A geodetic target 1 for use in geodesy comprises an orienting device 10 with a bearing direction P, a first inclinometer 20 with a first axis of inclination 20A, a reflector 30 reflecting incident measurement beams S, an imaging optics 40 that focuses the incident measurement beams S, a matrix sensor 50, whose receiving surface 51 is situated in an image plane of the imaging optics 40, and an interface 60, which is connected to the first inclinometer 20 and the matrix sensor 50. The spatial arrangement and orientation of the optical axis and/or axis of symmetry 30A of the reflector 30 relative to the bearing direction P of the orienting device 10 is predetermined here. The first axis of inclination 20A makes an angle ? other than zero with an optical axis 40A of the imaging optics 40. The optical axis 40A of the imaging optics 40 coincides with an optical axis 30A and/or axis of symmetry of the reflector 30 or is parallel to it or make an angle with it.

Abstract: A distance-measuring system includes a light source, a light detector, and measuring optics for projecting light emitted by the light source to a target and for guiding light reflected from said target towards the light detector. The distance-measuring system also includes reference optics for guiding light emitted by the light source within the system towards the light detector as internal reference light and a variable attenuator for adjusting intensity of light incident on the light detector. The variable attenuator includes an attenuating filter arranged in a beam path between the measuring optics and the light detector and an actuator coupled to the attenuating filter for moving the attenuating filter. The distance-measuring system further includes an optical selector coupled to at least one of the actuator or the attenuating filter and moved by the actuator together with the attenuating filter.

Abstract: A geodetic device comprises three device components, two axes of rotation, and two angle sensors such that the device components are rotatable with respect to each other and their rotational positions are determinable, and an inclination sensor system. A method for determining a characteristic of the device comprises an alignment of the second device component with respect to the first device component into a plurality of different rotational positions, whereby in each rotational position of the plurality of rotational positions a measurement value is determined from the first angle sensor, a measurement value is determined from the second angle sensor, and a measurement value is determined for the orientation of the inclination sensor system.

Abstract: Assigning measuring points to fixed points includes calculating fixed point distances between fixed points in a fixed point coordinate system; determining coordinates of measuring points in a measuring point coordinate system; calculating measuring point distances between the measuring points; comparing at least two measuring point distances with the fixed point distances and identifying at least two pairs each consisting of a measuring point distance and a fixed point distance; determining a reference point in the measuring point coordinate system or in the fixed point coordinate system; determining first and second reference point parameters of the measuring points or fixed points corresponding to the pairs; determining second reference point parameters of the fixed points corresponding to the pairs in the fixed point coordinate system; identifying correspondences between the first reference point parameters and the second reference point parameters and assigning the corresponding measuring points to the co

Abstract: A distance measuring system comprises a radiation source, a radiation detector, a measuring lens system, a first damping filter, a second damping filter and an actuator. The radiation source is constructed to emit optical radiation and the radiation detector is constructed to detect optical radiation. The measuring lens system is designed to project optical radiation to a target and to conduct optical radiation reflected by the target to the radiation detector. The first damping filter has a constant damping and can be arranged in a beam path between the radiation source and the measuring lens system. The second damping filter has an adjustable damping and can be arranged in a beam path between the measuring lens system and the radiation detector. The actuator is mechanically coupled to the first and also to the second damping filter and is constructed to move the first and the second damping filter in common.

Abstract: An optical plummet for use in geodesy includes an eyepiece, a target mark, and an objective. The target mark is positioned in the beam path between the eyepiece and the objective and the target mark and the eyepiece are supported by a first body and the objective is supported by a second body. Either the first body or second body has two annular recesses spaced apart from each other along the beam path and disposed coaxially with respect to the beam path. Each of the annular recesses accommodates a ring. The other body has at least sectionally a cylindrical outer surface extending coaxially through the two annular recesses and rings along the beam path and is guided by the ring such that the distance between the eyepiece and the objective is adjustable by moving the first body and the second body relative to one other along the beam path.

Abstract: A feature detection apparatus and method for obtaining in a defined area of interest a parametric shape based on a selected combination of parameter values, constituting an approximation to an object feature. The feature detection apparatus includes an input unit for receiving at least two area indicator lines for defining in a digital image an area of interest, a parameter range defining unit for defining ranges of at least two parameters of a parametric shape, for which the parametric shape intersects at least one of the area indicator lines; a parameter selection unit for selecting a combination of parameter values from the parameter ranges, for which the parametric shape constitutes an approximation to an object feature of the object in the area of interest; and an output unit for providing the parametric shape based on said combination of parameter values for a display in the digital image.

Abstract: A geodetic apparatus for performing measurements using a target and a method for controlling the geodetic apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a detector for measuring a position of the target relative to a sighting axis of the apparatus, a light emitter for outputting to an outside of the geodetic apparatus a first cone of light having a first wavelength and a second cone of light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and a controller connected to both the detector and the light emitter. The first cone of light overlaps with the second cone of light at the distance of one meter from the apparatus by at least 30%. The controller is configured to control the light emitter based on the detected position of the target to output at least one of the first cone of light and the second cone of light.

Abstract: A geodetic target for use in geodesy includes a support, a measuring target supported by the support, an identifier supported by the support, and a controller. The identifier includes at least one identification element that is configured to be switchable between at least two optical states and has a first predetermined optical property in one optical state and does not have the first predetermined optical property in a further optical state. The controller is configured to change the state of the at least one identification element. A geodetic measurement instrument includes an identifier detection unit, a measuring unit, and a transmitter configured to address a receiver of the geodetic target and to transmit control commands to the same which effect the change of the optical state of the at least one identification element of the identifier of the geodetic target. A system includes the geodetic measurement instrument and geodetic target.

Abstract: A leveling apparatus for optically detecting a height difference relative to a leveling staff includes an objective, a two-dimensional detector, a mount for rotating both the objective and the detector about a fixed vertical axis of the apparatus, and a processor. The detector is arranged such that its rows are inclined to an image of a vertical axis of the object by an acute angle. A method of detecting a height difference of an apparatus relative to a leveling staff includes imaging the leveling staff onto an array of detectors such that the image of a vertical axis of the staff is inclined to detector rows at an acute angle.

Abstract: A distance-measuring system includes a light source, a light detector, and measuring optics for projecting light emitted by the light source to a target and for guiding light reflected from said target towards the light detector. The distance-measuring system also includes reference optics for guiding light emitted by the light source within the system towards the light detector as internal reference light and a variable attenuator for adjusting intensity of light incident on the light detector. The variable attenuator includes an attenuating filter arranged in a beam path between the measuring optics and the light detector and an actuator coupled to the attenuating filter for moving the attenuating filter. The distance-measuring system further includes an optical selector coupled to at least one of the actuator or the attenuating filter and moved by the actuator together with the attenuating filter.

Abstract: A geodetic surveying system, comprising: a first measurement unit and a second measurement unit. Each of the first and the second measurement unit is configured to perform a measurement for acquiring positioning data of the respective measurement unit. The system further comprises a first inclinometer for acquiring inclination data of the first inclinometer which represent a vertical inclination measured at the first measurement unit; and a second inclinometer for acquiring inclination data of the second inclinometer, which represent a vertical inclination measured at the second measuring unit. The geodetic surveying system is configured to determine a relative orientation angle between the first inclinometer and the second inclinometer in a horizontal plane relative to a vertical adjustment of the geodetic surveying system, depending on the inclination data of the first inclinometer and the second inclinometer.

Abstract: An optical instrument and a method for obtaining distance and image information of an object is disclosed to improve the speed and accuracy of data acquisition. The instrument comprises a camera, positioning unit, distance measuring unit, lens arrangement and control unit. The camera acquires images of an object and the control unit defines an area to be scanned and measurement pixels of an object in the image, wherein the measurement pixels are converted into an approximation of coordinates of positions to be measured assuming a default distance to the positions, and the optical axis of the lens arrangement is adjusted sequentially onto the positions to be measured. After measuring the distances to the positions, the coordinates are recalculated increasing the accuracy of the coordinates.

Abstract: A motor drive apparatus for a surveying instrument and a control method for controlling a surveying instrument enables a fast rotation of an instrument axis with high angular resolution. The motor drive apparatus for a surveying instrument includes a first motor for rotating an instrument axis. The first motor includes a stator and a rotor having a rotation axis and a plurality of step positions relative to the stator. The motor drive apparatus also includes a mounting unit for mounting the first motor so as to be pivotable around the rotation axis and an adjusting unit for rotating the stator of the first motor around the rotation axis.