Patents by Inventor Alastair Green

Alastair Green has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10337865
    Abstract: A surveying system can have a position determination unit for determining a target position in a defined coordinate system and have a mobile measurement unit for definition and/or position determination of measurement points in the coordinate system. The surveying system may include a control unit for allowing a user to control a surveying task of the surveying system in a surveying environment in order to acquire surveying task data that comprises spatial coordinates of at least one measurement point, the surveying system being adapted to capture and/or receive environment data of the surveying environment, the control unit comprising a processor unit, a data storage unit and an electronic graphical display for displaying a visualization of the surveying task data to the user, wherein the control unit is adapted to provide a virtual walkthrough functionality in a three-dimensional representation of the surveying environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Alastair Green, Andreas Daubner, Paul Dainty
  • Patent number: 9939263
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a surveying system having a position determination unit such as, for example, a total station or a GNSS module, for determining a target position in a defined coordinate system, and having a mobile target unit for definition and/or position determination of target points in the coordinate system. In some embodiments, the surveying system may be adapted to capture and/or receive image data that is related to a task image. In some embodiments, the surveying system may include a control unit for allowing a user to control surveying tasks of the surveying system in order to acquire surveying task data that is related to the surveying tasks and comprises spatial coordinates of at least one target point, a data storage unit for storing the surveying task data, and an electronic graphical display for displaying a visualization of the surveying task data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Alastair Green, Andreas Daubner, Paul Dainty
  • Publication number: 20160138919
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a surveying system having a position determination unit for determining a target position in a defined coordinate system and having a mobile measurement unit for definition and/or position determination of measurement points in the coordinate system. In some embodiments, the surveying system may include a control unit for allowing a user to control a surveying task of the surveying system in a surveying environment in order to acquire surveying task data that comprises spatial coordinates of at least one measurement point, the surveying system being adapted to capture and/or receive environment data of the surveying environment, the control unit comprising a processor unit, a data storage unit and an electronic graphical display for displaying a visualization of the surveying task data to the user, wherein the control unit is adapted to provide a virtual walkthrough functionality in a three-dimensional representation of the surveying environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Alastair GREEN, Andreas DAUBNER, Paul DAINTY
  • Publication number: 20160138915
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a surveying system having a position determination unit such as, for example, a total station or a GNSS module, for determining a target position in a defined coordinate system, and having a mobile target unit for definition and/or position determination of target points in the coordinate system. In some embodiments, the surveying system may be adapted to capture and/or receive image data that is related to a task image. In some embodiments, the surveying system may include a control unit for allowing a user to control surveying tasks of the surveying system in order to acquire surveying task data that is related to the surveying tasks and comprises spatial coordinates of at least one target point, a data storage unit for storing the surveying task data, and an electronic graphical display for displaying a visualization of the surveying task data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Alastair GREEN, Andreas DAUBNER, Paul DAINTY
  • Patent number: 9316496
    Abstract: Position determination method for a target point, using a geodetic measuring device, such as a total station or a theodolite, having a distance and angle measurement functionality, a sighting device, and a first radio module, and using a hand-held data processing device, such as a data logger for the measuring device, having a second radio module. The data processing device is positioned within a specified radius of the target point. As part of the method, a radio connection is established between the first and the second radio modules, and the position of the target point is determined. A rough distance between the first and the second radio modules is determined based on a propagation time of interrogation and/or response signals of the radio connection and is used to locate the target—as displaying, detecting, identifying, and/or sighting the target point—or to exclude further possible target point candidates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Alastair Green, Daniel Nindl
  • Publication number: 20110285592
    Abstract: Position determination method for a target point, using a geodetic measuring device, such as a total station or a theodolite, having a distance and angle measurement functionality, a sighting device, and a first radio module, and using a hand-held data processing device, such as a data logger for the measuring device, having a second radio module. The data processing device is positioned within a specified radius of the target point. As part of the method, a radio connection is established between the first and the second radio modules, and the position of the target point is determined. A rough distance between the first and the second radio modules is determined based on a propagation time of interrogation and/or response signals of the radio connection and is used to locate the target—as displaying, detecting, identifying, and/or sighting the target point—or to exclude further possible target point candidates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Alastair Green, Daniel Nindl
  • Patent number: 7646339
    Abstract: A geodesic positioning system determines the position of a target point. The system includes a range pole that can be oriented toward the target point. A tilt sensor is arranged on the range pole, detachably where applicable, for generating a tilt angle signal related to the tilt angle of the range pole. A positioning element, more particularly a reflector or a satellite signal antenna, is arranged on the range pole. Positioning means is able to capture the position of the positioning element as a function of the tilt angle signal. Triggering means is in signal communication with the tilt sensor and with the positioning means, and adapted so that a trigger signal issued to capture the current position of the positioning element is transmitted to the positioning means as soon as the tilt angle signal corresponds to a tilt angle situated within a given tilt angle range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Alastair Green, Jürgen Ruckdeschel, Josef Streule, Ralph Braun, Stefan Sieber
  • Patent number: 7647199
    Abstract: A position determination method for a set of new points to be surveyed, using a geodetic device and reference points whose positions in an absolute coordinate system are known. The position determination is effected by referencing the new points relative to a set of reference points and measurement of the reference points and of the new points in a relative coordinate system for referencing by the geodetic device—relative measured quantities being registered. Furthermore, the new points and the reference points are updated by successive addition in each case of the measured new points and reference points to the set of new points and set of reference points, respectively, and updating the position determination of the new points taking into account all of the respective actual reference points is effected if a specified minimum coefficient of determination for the referencing is ensured by the actual set of reference points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Alastair Green, Jürgen Mayer, Matthew Gerard Desmond
  • Publication number: 20090082992
    Abstract: A position determination method for a set of new points to be surveyed, using a geodetic device and reference points whose positions in an absolute coordinate system are known. The position determination is effected by referencing the new points relative to a set of reference points and measurement of the reference points and of the new points in a relative coordinate system for referencing by the geodetic device—relative measured quantities being registered. Furthermore, the new points and the reference points are updated by successive addition in each case of the measured new points and reference points to the set of new points and set of reference points, respectively, and updating the position determination of the new points taking into account all of the respective actual reference points is effected if a specified minimum coefficient of determination for the referencing is ensured by the actual set of reference points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Alastair GREEN, Jurgen MAYER, Matthew Gerard DESMOND
  • Publication number: 20080036646
    Abstract: A geodesic positioning system determines the position of a target point. The system includes a range pole that can be oriented toward the target point. A tilt sensor is arranged on the range pole, detachably where applicable, for generating a tilt angle signal related to the tilt angle of the range pole. A positioning element, more particularly a reflector or a satellite signal antenna, is arranged on the range pole. Positioning means is able to capture the position of the positioning element as a function of the tilt angle signal. Triggering means is in signal communication with the tilt sensor and with the positioning means, and adapted so that a trigger signal issued to capture the current position of the positioning element is transmitted to the positioning means as soon as the tilt angle signal corresponds to a tilt angle situated within a given tilt angle range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Alastair Green, Jurgen Ruckdeschel, Josef Streule, Ralph Braun, Stefan Sieber