Patents Assigned to Vectronix AG
  • Publication number: 20130235366
    Abstract: An optoelectronic distance measuring device is disclosed. The device has a transmitting unit with a driver stage for emitting optical pulses, a receiving unit for receiving a portion of the optical pulses, said portion being reflected from a target object, and converting it into an electrical reception signal, via a photosensitive electrical component. It also has an analogue-digital converter for digitizing the reception signal, and an electronic evaluation unit to ascertain a distance from the target object on the basis of a signal propagation time using the digitized reception signal. The driver stage can be designed so that at least two pulse durations of different length for the optical pulses can be set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Vectronix AG
    Inventors: Luca GIACOTTO, Riccardo Tinivella
  • Publication number: 20130192072
    Abstract: A north-referenceable goniometer for azimuthal orientation determination of a sighting device has a base, a rotary part, a rotation angle encoder for determining a rotational position of the rotary part about an upright axis, a gyroscope fixed on the rotary part and having a measuring device oriented orthogonally to the upright axis for determining a component of the Earth rotation vector, and an evaluation unit for determining the azimuthal angle of the geographical north pole. The goniometer also includes an acceleration sensor, and the evaluation unit is formed such that, using the evaluation unit, the determined component of the Earth rotation vector is corrected by a sink rate of the goniometer, determined with the aid of the acceleration sensor, and a systematic measurement error of the gyroscope is corrected by determining measurement values of the component of the Earth rotation vector in at least three different rotational positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Vectronix AG
    Inventor: Vectronix AG
  • Publication number: 20130135606
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-optical distance measuring device comprising a transmitting unit comprising a light source for emitting intensity-modulated optical radiation, a receiving unit for receiving a portion of the optical radiation, said portion being reflected from a target object, by means of a photosensitive electrical component and for converting it into an electrical reception signal. Furthermore comprising a conditioning unit for conditioning the reception signal comprising at least one amplifier stage, an analogue-to-digital converter fox digitizing the conditioned reception signal, and an electronic evaluation unit, which is designed in such a way that a distance from the distance measuring device to the target object, can be determined on the basis of a signal propagation time with the aid of the digitized reception signal. According to the invention, in this case the amplifier stage is designed in such a way that it has a non-linear input-output characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: Vectronix AG
    Inventor: Vectronix AG
  • Publication number: 20130091719
    Abstract: A goniometer has a base defining a standing axis, a structure rotatable around the standing axis relative to the base, an angle encoder, and a control and processing unit. The structure has a graphic electronic information display arrangement having at least two display zones for displaying user guidance information and/or measuring information, a first of the at least two display zones being arranged in a first radial alignment relative to the standing axis on the structure. A second of the at least two display zones of the information display means is arranged in a second radial alignment relative to the standing axis on the structure, the first radial alignment and the second radial alignment enclosing an angle of at least 90°. The at least two display zones are automatically individually activated by the control and processing unit as a function of a fulfillment of a stored angular position criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Vectronix AG
    Inventor: Vectronix AG
  • Patent number: 7978415
    Abstract: An observation device includes at least one day vision channel, an information channel with a graphic electronic display for producing a display image and a combination optical system for combining the day vision channel and the information channel, so that a combined overall image forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Vectronix AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Schoenenberger, Richard A. Leblanc, Felix Waelti, Patrick Drach, Marcel Zeller
  • Patent number: 7957431
    Abstract: A laser system has an output/input coupler unit (49) with a circulator (37). An output of the circulator (37) is operationally connected to a detector unit (43). The input/output (EA37) of the circulator is operationally connected to a transmitter and a receiver optics 41. Laser light is input to the circulator (E37). The input (E37), output (A37) and output/input (EA37) of the circulator are optical fibers. The pulsed diode (3) is not temperature stabilized. To reduce amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) generated in the optical fiber amplifier (9), a narrow band-pass filter unit (29) is used. Filter unit (29) has a central wavelength with a temperature dependence which is matched to the temperature dependent wavelength shift of the pulsed diode (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Vectronix AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Drodofsky, Marcel Zeller
  • Patent number: 7813037
    Abstract: In a day/night-vision device, provision is made to view observations made via a day- or night-vision channel in a shared receiving channel or via an eyepiece unit as day image or night image by designing and arranging a deflector such that the same deflector is used to transfer radiation from the day- or night-vision channel into the shared receiving channel. In particular, it is also provided that further images, such as thermal images, can be transferred to the observer and can be overlaid by the day image or night image, in particular fused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Vectronix AG
    Inventors: Dusan Zadravec, Felix Wälti
  • Patent number: 7747409
    Abstract: The motion of a pedestrian is evaluated by determining at least one position of at least one identified portion of the pedestrian, projecting the positions(s) on at least one plane, and deriving the motion from the position(s) projected on the at least one plane. Typically the position(s) are determined in three-dimensions, e.g. of the feet. It is possible to project on two different planes to provide three-dimensional navigation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Vectronix AG
    Inventors: Quentin Ladetto, Koen Verhaert
  • Patent number: 7724354
    Abstract: A laser-system comprises master-oscillator/power-amplifier (51) whereby the master-oscillator comprises a pulsed diode (3) and a pumped active optical fiber power-amplifier (9). Substantially all guides of laser light (5, 9, 31, 29, 33, 25, 35, 39, 45) are optical fibers. The pulsed diode (3) is not temperature stabilized. To reduce nevertheless amplified spontaneous emission generated in the optical fiber amplifier (9), a narrow band-pass filter unit (29) is used. Filter unit (29) has a central wavelength with a temperature dependence which is matched to the temperature dependent wavelength shift of the pulsed diode (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Vectronix AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Drodofsky, Marcel Zeller
  • Patent number: 7706064
    Abstract: A device for the magnified viewing of an object, from which object rays originate, includes a lens system (1) for collecting object rays. In one embodiment of the invention, the device includes: a display (2) from which display rays (14) originate, and; a left eyepiece (3) and a right eyepiece (3), via which a left-eye and right-eye beam (5 and 6) of visual field rays are projected into the left and right eye of a user of the device. According to this inventive embodiment, an optical component (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) is provided with a physical ray distributing surface (12) on which a beam of collected object rays (13) and a beam of display rays (14) can be superimposed and can be divided up into the left-eye beam and right-eye beam (5, 6) of the visual field rays. This enables a reduction in losses of display rays and object rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Vectronix AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Drodofsky, Gerd Gstoehl, Dusan Zadravec
  • Patent number: 7680159
    Abstract: Laser light (?L) within a spectrum range is generated (51g) and filtered (29g). Thereby the spectral location of the filter characteristic (?F) is shifted in a controlled manner (60) to establish a desired characteristic of output laser light as for considering a temperature depended shift (?Ñ) of the spectrum range generated by the laser source (51g).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Vectronix AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Drodofsky, Marcel Zeller
  • Publication number: 20100014166
    Abstract: An observation device includes at least one day vision channel, an information channel with a graphic electronic display for producing a display image and a combination optical system for combining the day vision channel and the information channel, so that a combined overall image forms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Vectronix AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Schoenenberger, Richard A. Leblanc, Felix Waelti, Patrick Drach, Marcel Zeller
  • Publication number: 20090323734
    Abstract: So as to establish laser light with a desired characteristic downstream a laser light source (151), the light is amplified by an amplifier (107) which is gain modulated (E107G).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: VECTRONIX AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Drodofsky, Marcel Zeller
  • Patent number: 7483208
    Abstract: In an observation device according to the invention, it is possible to coordinate a multiplicity of functions with the device by using and exchanging optical modules. By means of existing optical components in the observation device, transmitted and/or received beams of the modules can be reflected in and/or reflected out. For example, field glasses, binoculars and measuring glassed can be equipped according to the invention with modules. The modules can be produced for special purposes, can be carried in particular as convenient units and can be inserted into the device and removed therefrom an can be exchanged. An optical module may be, for example, in the form of a camera, graphic display or IR laser. The modular multifunctional observation device according to the invention can be designed as a compact and light device by using optical components already present in the “basic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Vectronix AG
    Inventor: Dusan Zadravec
  • Publication number: 20080231947
    Abstract: In a day/night-vision device according to the invention, provision is made to view observations made via a day- or night-vision channel (T, N) in a shared receiving channel (E) or via an eyepiece unit (4) as day image or night image by designing and arranging a deflecting means such that the same deflection means is used to transfer radiation from the day- or night-vision channel (T, N) into the shared receiving channel (E). In particular, it is also provided that further images, such as thermal images, can be transferred to the observer and can be overlaid by the day image or night image, in particular fused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: VECTRONIX AG
    Inventors: Dusan Zadravec, Felix Walti
  • Patent number: 7421340
    Abstract: For an observer equipped with a first azimuth data source responsive to a magnetic field to deliver first azimuth data, such as a compass, and with a second azimuth data source delivering second azimuth data and which is independent of magnetic fields, such as a gyroscope. The azimuth is determined by: analyzing the first and second azimuth data to determine whether a magnetic disturbance is present, and determining azimuth selectively on the basis of: the first azimuth data, the second azimuth data, or a combination of the first and second azimuth data, as a function of the result of the comparing step. In an embodiment, the choices of azimuth data source and events such as magnetic disturbances, sensor updates, types of trajectory deduced, are stored as a history sequence over successive time windows, by analogy with a DNA sequence, and is exploited for optimizing azimuth or navigation results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Vectronix AG
    Inventors: Quentin Ladetto, Celine Vanderstraeten
  • Patent number: 7325320
    Abstract: In a method according to the invention for estimating the accuracy of azimuthal orientations (a) of a measuring device (1) having an electronic magnetic compass (2), a plurality of determinations of an azimuthal orientation (a, a?, a?, a??, a??) are carried out, in which the measuring device is aligned with one and the same measuring points at different measuring locations (P, P?, P?, P??, P??) adjacent to one another. On the basis of these determined azimuthal orientations (a, a?, a?, a??, a??), the value of the accuracy is automatically estimated by the measuring device (1) by means of a computational method. The adjacent measuring locations (P, P?, P?, P??) are advantageously located one above the other or along a straight line to the measuring point. By means of this method, stationary stray fields of local scale can be detected and the effects thereof on the accuracy can be estimated. Further methods according to the invention are designed in each case specifically for further types of stray fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Vectronix AG
    Inventors: Silvio Gnepf, Jürg Gees
  • Publication number: 20070273968
    Abstract: A device for the magnified viewing of an object, from which object rays originate, includes a lens system (1) for collecting object rays. In one embodiment of the invention, the device includes: a display (2) from which display rays (14) originate, and; a left eyepiece (3) and a right eyepiece (3), via which a left-eye and right-eye beam (5 and 6) of visual field rays are projected into the left and right eye of a user of the device. According to this inventive embodiment, an optical component (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) is provided with a physical ray distributing surface (12) on which a beam of collected object rays (13) and a beam of display rays (14) can be superimposed and can be divided up into the left-eye beam and right-eye beam (5, 6) of the visual field rays. This enables a reduction in losses of display rays and object rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: VECTRONIX AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Drodofsky, Gerd Gstoehl, Dusan Zadravec
  • Publication number: 20070260418
    Abstract: The motion of a pedestrian is evaluated by determining at least one position of at least one identified portion of the pedestrian, projecting the positions(s) on at least one plane, and deriving the motion from the position(s) projected on the at least one plane. Typically the position(s) are determined in three-dimensions, e.g. of the feet. It is possible to project on two different planes to provide three-dimensional navigation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: Vectronix AG
    Inventors: Quentin Ladetto, Koen Verhaert
  • Publication number: 20070013997
    Abstract: In a day-night vision device according to the invention, it is intended that observations made via a day or night vision channel will be observed in a common receiving channel or via an eyepiece unit as a day or night image, by forming and arranging a deflection means in such a way that radiation from the day or night vision channel can be deflected by the same deflection means into the common receiving channel. In particular, it is also intended that further images, such as thermal images, can be guided to the observer and can be superposed, in particular fused, with the day or night image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: VECTRONIX AG
    Inventors: Dusan Zadravec, Felix Waelti