Patents by Inventor Albert Markendorf

Albert Markendorf 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).

  • Publication number: 20200309515
    Abstract: A surveying system comprising a global coordinate measuring device (CMD) and a local CMD, wherein the local CMD is configured to coordinatively survey surface survey an object. The surveying system has a coordinate transformation functionality, during the execution of which a first transformation of the local coordinate system of the local CMD into the global coordinate system of the global CMD takes place, whereby at least three reference points, the respective defined position of which is known to either the global or the local CMD, are surveyed by the respective other CMD. A second transformation of the global coordinate system into the object-side coordinate system also takes place, whereby the global CMD surveys at least three support points, the respective defined position of which in the object-side coordinate system is known.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Thomas LÜTHI, Michael LETTAU, Albert MARKENDORF, Marco LÜSCHER, Dennis MOOR
  • Patent number: 10048379
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for continuously tracking a reflective target and for determining the position of the target, comprising a base that defines a vertical axis and a beam-deflecting unit for emitting measurement radiation. The beam-deflecting unit can be pivoted about the vertical axis and a tilt axis in relation to the base in a motorized manner and a measurement axis is defined by an emission direction of the measurement radiation. The laser tracker may have a fine distance measurement unit for precisely determining a distance to the target, an angle measurement functionality for determining an orientation of the beam-deflecting unit in relation to the base, and a target-seeking unit. The target-seeking unit has illuminating means, a camera having a position-sensitive detector for detecting illumination radiation reflected by the target, and a control and evaluating unit having seeking functionality for finding the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Albert Markendorf, Burkhard Böckem
  • Patent number: 9945938
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for determining the position of a target, comprising a beam source for generating measurement radiation; a base; a beam deflection unit which can pivot with respect to the base ?4° C. about two axes in a motorized manner, for the emission and alignment of the measurement radiation and to capture at least one part of the measurement radiation reflected onto the target; a first position-sensitive surface detector and an evaluation and control unit for determining a point of impact of the reflected measurement on the surface detector for generating an output signal in order to determine the position of said target. Said laser tracker also comprises a calibration device for use with a self calibrating function to determine the calibration parameters thereof with respect to a position and/or direction of the measurement radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Albert Markendorf
  • Patent number: 9869757
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for determining the position of a target and in particularly for the continuous tracking of the target. In some embodiments, the laser tracker includes a beam source for generating measurement radiation, an angle measuring function for determining a horizontal pivot angle and a vertical pivot angle, a distance measuring function and a position sensitive surface detector for determining a point of impact of the reflected measurement radiation on the surface detector and for generating an output signal in order to control a target tracking function. The laser tracker may include a self-calibrating function for calibrating a beam offset using a reflecting calibration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Albert Markendorf
  • Patent number: 9720087
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a spatial orientation of an auxiliary measurement object for a laser tracker, said measurement object having reference features which provide points of light. The tracker has a base, a support which can be pivoted in a motorized manner, a pivoting unit which can be rotated about a tilting axis in a motorized manner and which comprises an image capturing unit for capturing an image of the points of light, and a beam source for emitting a laser beam. According to the method, an image is captured in the direction of the auxiliary measurement object with respective capturable points of light, and the spatial orientation of the auxiliary measurement object is derived from image positions in the image for the points of light captured in the image using an image analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Andreas Christen, Konrad Wildi, Albert Markendorf
  • Patent number: 9696140
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for continuously pursuing a reflective target and for determining the position of the target. The method may include a base which defines a vertical axis, a beam guiding unit for emitting a measurement beam, the beam guiding unit being pivotable by motor relative to the base about the vertical axis and an inclination axis, and a measurement axis being defined by an emission direction of the measurement beam. The laser tracker may include a precision distance measurement unit and an angle measurement function. The target search unit may have illumination source for illuminating the target, a first camera with a first position-sensitive detector and at least one part of the illumination beam reflected on the target being determinable as a first target position, and a control and evaluation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Albert Markendorf
  • Publication number: 20160252619
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for continuously tracking a reflective target and for determining the position of the target, comprising a base that defines a vertical axis and a beam-deflecting unit for emitting measurement radiation. The beam-deflecting unit can be pivoted about the vertical axis and a tilt axis in relation to the base in a motorized manner and a measurement axis is defined by an emission direction of the measurement radiation. The laser tracker may have a fine distance measurement unit for precisely determining a distance to the target, an angle measurement functionality for determining an orientation of the beam-deflecting unit in relation to the base, and a target-seeking unit. The target-seeking unit has illuminating means, a camera having a position-sensitive detector for detecting illumination radiation reflected by the target, and a control and evaluating unit having seeking functionality for finding the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Albert MARKENDORF, Burkhard BÖCKEM
  • Publication number: 20160209500
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for determining the position of a target, comprising a beam source for generating measurement radiation; a base; a beam deflection unit which can pivot with respect to the base ?4° C. about two axes in a motorized manner, for the emission and alignment of the measurement radiation and to capture at least one part of the measurement radiation reflected onto the target; a first position-sensitive surface detector and an evaluation and control unit for determining a point of impact of the reflected measurement on the surface detector for generating an output signal in order to determine the position of said target. Said laser tracker also comprises a calibration device for use with a self calibrating function to determine the calibration parameters thereof with respect to a position and/or direction of the measurement radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Albert MARKENDORF
  • Publication number: 20150346330
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for determining the position of a target and in particularly for the continuous tracking of the target. In some embodiments, the laser tracker includes a beam source for generating measurement radiation, an angle measuring function for determining a horizontal pivot angle and a vertical pivot angle, a distance measuring function and a position sensitive surface detector for determining a point of impact of the reflected measurement radiation on the surface detector and for generating an output signal in order to control a target tracking function. The laser tracker may include a self-calibrating function for calibrating a beam offset using a reflecting calibration device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventor: Albert MARKENDORF
  • Publication number: 20150301179
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a spatial orientation of an auxiliary measurement object for a laser tracker, said measurement object having reference features which provide points of light. The tracker has a base, a support which can be pivoted in a motorized manner, a pivoting unit which can be rotated about a tilting axis in a motorized manner and which comprises an image capturing unit for capturing an image of the points of light, and a beam source for emitting a laser beam. According to the method, an image is captured in the direction of the auxiliary measurement object with respective capturable points of light, and the spatial orientation of the auxiliary measurement object is derived from image positions in the image for the points of light captured in the image using an image analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Andreas CHRISTEN, Konrad WILDI, Albert MARKENDORF
  • Publication number: 20140320643
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for continuously pursuing a reflective target and for determining the position of the target. The method may include a base which defines a vertical axis, a beam guiding unit for emitting a measurement beam, the beam guiding unit being pivotable by motor relative to the base about the vertical axis and an inclination axis, and a measurement axis being defined by an emission direction of the measurement beam. The laser tracker may include a precision distance measurement unit and an angle measurement function. The target search unit may have illumination source for illuminating the target, a first camera with a first position-sensitive detector and at least one part of the illumination beam reflected on the target being determinable as a first target position, and a control and evaluation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Albert Markendorf
  • Patent number: 7312862
    Abstract: A measurement system for determining six degrees of freedom (?, ?, d, ?, ?, ?) of a reflector (2) or of an object (3) on which the reflector is arranged, comprises an angle- and distance measurement apparatus (1), e.g. a laser tracker, operating with a laser beam as a measurement beam (4). The reflector (2) is designed for a parallel reflection of the measurement beam (4) and has an apical opening or surface (6), in a manner such that a part of the measurement beam (4) directed onto the reflector (2), passes through the apical opening or surface (6), and is incident on a light-sensitive surface (7) arranged behind the reflector apex. Five degrees of freedom (?, ?, d, ?, ?) of the reflector (2) or the object (3) are computed from measurement data produced by the angle- and distance measurement apparatus (1) and by the light-sensitive surface (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Roland Zumbrunn, Albert Markendorf, Raimund Loser, Jürgen Dold
  • Publication number: 20060222314
    Abstract: A measurement system for determining six degrees of freedom (?, ?, d, ?, ?, ?) of a reflector (2) or of an object (3) on which the reflector is arranged, comprises an angle- and distance measurement apparatus (1), e.g. a laser tracker, operating with a laser beam as a measurement beam (4). The reflector (2) is designed for a parallel reflection of the measurement beam (4) and has an apical opening or surface (6), in a manner such that a part of the measurement beam (4) directed onto the reflector (2), passes through the apical opening or surface (6), and is incident on a light-sensitive surface (7) arranged behind the reflector apex. Five degrees of freedom (?, ?, d, ?, ?) of the reflector (2) or the object (3) are computed from measurement data produced by the angle- and distance measurement apparatus (1) and by the light-sensitive surface (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Roland Zumbrunn, Albert Markendorf, Raimund Loser, Jurgen Dold
  • Patent number: 6675122
    Abstract: For indirect determination of point positions and/or of surface orientations in point positions a laser tracker (1) adapted for relative and absolute distance measurement is used. A measuring device is utilised, the device including a target point (retro-reflector 3) for the laser beam of the tracker, the target point being movable along a trajectory path (A). The position and orientation of the trajectory path (A) of the target point is precisely defined relative to a reference point (R) of the device (2) and the device (2) is positionable in the region of a point position (P) to be determined such that the position of the reference point (R) relative to the point position (P) to be determined is precisely defined. For determining the point position (P), the device (2) is positioned in the region of the point position (P) to be determined, the target point is positioned in a starting position (3.1) and is detected by the tracker (1) by direction determination and absolute distance measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Albert Markendorf, Raimund Loser, Bernhard Hauri
  • Patent number: 6667798
    Abstract: Using a laser-tracker (1) with an interferometer together with a retroreflector (3) in the form of a triple prism or a triple mirror arranged on an object and designed for parallel reflection of the laser beam (5) directed to the reflector (3), the position of the object is computed by way of measurement data with respect to the direction of the laser beam (5) and its path length. Additionally the spacial orientation of the object (2) is determined by producing additional measurement data with respect to the angle of incidence (&agr;) of the laser beam into the reflector (3) and/or with respect to an adjustable orientation of the reflector (3) relative to the object (2) and by computing the position and spacial orientation of the object (2) by way of measurement data with respect to the direction and the path length of the laser beam (5) and by way of this additional measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Albert Markendorf, Raimund Loser