Patents by Inventor Bernhard Braunecker

Bernhard Braunecker 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: 9933512
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for surveying at least one target using a geodetic device. According to said method, a camera of the device captures a visual image and surveys an angle and/or a distance to the target with geodetic precision, the angle and/or distance surveillance being supported or controlled by the visual image. At the same time of capture of the visual image at least two distance points of a distance image are captured as the spatial distribution of discrete distance points in the area of detection. When the visual image and the distance image are correlated with each other, the target is recognized or the measuring process is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Braunecker, Marcel Rohner
  • Patent number: 8908191
    Abstract: A method for zero-contact measurement of the topography of a spherically or aspherically curved air-glass surface of an optical lens or lens combination, distinguished in that the surface (S1) to be measured is sampled on its glass rear side with an optical measurement beam through the air-glass surface (S2) lying before it in the measurement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Theo Tschudi, Bernhard Braunecker
  • Patent number: 8462979
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optoelectronic angle sensor (1a) for determining a rotational angle about an axis (6), comprising a circular disk (2a) that can be rotated about the axis. Said circular disk comprises a coding, essentially over the entire surface, a flat photosensitive detector (3a), a device for producing an evaluable image of the coding on the detector and a memory and evaluation component (4a) for determining the rotational angle. A largely complete, or in particular an entire image of the coding is produced on the detector. The rotational angle is determined using a parameter-varying stochastic comparison method, from the image and a parameterised electronic reference pattern that is provided by means of the memory and evaluation component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Braunecker, Peter Kipfer, Heinz Lippuner
  • Patent number: 8379191
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for registering surfaces, using a scanner system comprising a radiation source for emitting electromagnetic radiation (ES), a scanning device for guiding the radiation over the surface in order to scan the latter and a receiver for receiving the radiation (RS) that is reflected by the surface. According to the invention, the radiation is spectrally separated to analyze the surface characteristics and a distance measuring unit is used to derive distance information in parallel from the received radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Braunecker, Peter Stegmaier, Peter Kipfer
  • Patent number: 8331624
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for surveying at least one target using a geodetic device. According to said method, a camera of the device captures a visual image and surveys an angle and/or a distance to the target with geodetic precision, the angle and/or distance surveillance being supported or controlled by the visual image. At the same time of capture of the visual image at least two distance points of a distance image are captured as the spatial distribution of discrete distance points in the area of detection. When the visual image and the distance image are correlated with each other, the target is recognized or the measuring process is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Braunecker, Marcel Rohner
  • Publication number: 20120033228
    Abstract: A method for zero-contact measurement of the topography of a spherically or aspherically curved air-glass surface of an optical lens or lens combination, distinguished in that the surface (S1) to be measured is sampled on its glass rear side with an optical measurement beam through the air-glass surface (S2) lying before it in the measurement direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: JOS. SCHNEIDER OPTISCHE WERKE GMBH
    Inventors: Theo Tschudi, Bernhard Braunecker
  • Patent number: 8031331
    Abstract: A coordinate measurement instrument includes an optical distance measurement device (200, 300) for measuring the distance from an auxiliary measurement means (5) which can move in space, a zoom camera (106), which can rotate with respect to at least two axes, with a zoom lens, and an overview camera (104) for coarse localization of the auxiliary measurement means (5). A light exit and light receiving optical system (101, 102) of the distance measurement device (200, 300), the zoom camera (106) and the overview camera (104) are arranged on a shared carrier (1) which can rotate with respect to at least two axes (A, Z). The optical axis (111) of the distance measurement device (200, 300) and the optical axis of the overview camera (104), preferably extend coaxially outside the coordinate measurement instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Dietrich Meier, Roland Zumbrunn, Thomas Jensen, Bernhard Braunecker
  • Patent number: 7990550
    Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning method for determining the position and orientation of a mobile unit having a receiver (3?), whereby the receiver (3?) is detected by a scanner (2?), said scanner (2?) determining at least the distance and a direction in relation to the receiver (3?). The radiation emitted by the sensor is detected by the receiver (3?) and the direction of incidence of radiation and the direction of incidence of radiation in relation to an axis of reception are derived while an offset of the incident radiation in relation to the axis of reception (EA) is determined. Position and orientation of the unit are derived from at least the distance, the direction in relation to the receiver (3?), the offset and the direction of incidence as the position information and the unit is optionally controlled via the optical connection (OV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Beat Aebischer, Bernhard Braunecker, Peter Kipfer
  • Publication number: 20110044561
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optoelectronic angle sensor (1a) for determining a rotational angle about an axis (6), comprising a circular disk (2a) that can be rotated about the axis. Said circular disk comprises a coding, essentially over the entire surface, a flat photosensitive detector (3a), a device for producing an evaluable image of the coding on the detector and a memory and evaluation component (4a) for determining the rotational angle. A largely complete, or in particular an entire image of the coding is produced on the detector. The rotational angle is determined using a parameter-varying stochastic comparison method, from the image and a parameterised electronic reference pattern that is provided by means of the memory and evaluation component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Braunecker, Peter Kipfer, Heinz Lippuner
  • Publication number: 20110032507
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for registering surfaces, using a scanner system comprising a radiation source for emitting electromagnetic radiation (ES), a scanning device for guiding the radiation over the surface in order to scan the latter and a receiver for receiving the radiation (RS) that is reflected by the surface. According to the invention, the radiation is spectrally separated to analyse the surface characteristics and a distance measuring unit is used to derive distance information in parallel from the received radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Braunecker, Peter Stegmaier, Peter Kipfer
  • Patent number: 7830500
    Abstract: An optoelectric angle-measuring device has a code carrier having a position code which can be detected optically as well as a scanning device in the form of a light-sensitive row or area for detecting the position code and generating a position-dependent scanning signal. The scanning device which is in the form of a scanning film, in particular, surrounds the code carrier or the code carrier essentially completely surrounds the scanning device along a circumference. This provides an extremely accurate angle-measuring device by virtue of the fact that a large part of the position code, in particular even the entire position code, can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Beat Aebischer, Heinz Lippuner, Bernhard Braunecker
  • Publication number: 20100253931
    Abstract: A coordinate measurement instrument includes an optical distance measurement device (200, 300) for measuring the distance from an auxiliary measurement means (5) which can move in space, a zoom camera (106), which can rotate with respect to at least two axes, with a zoom lens, and an overview camera (104) for coarse localization of the auxiliary measurement means (5). A light exit and light receiving optical system (101, 102) of the distance measurement device (200, 300), the zoom camera (106) and the overview camera (104) are arranged on a shared carrier (1) which can rotate with respect to at least two axes (A, Z). The optical axis (111) of the distance measurement device (200, 300) and the optical axis of the overview camera (104), preferably extend coaxially outside the coordinate measurement instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Dietrich Meier, Roland Zumbrunn, Thomas Jensen, Bernhard Braunecker
  • Patent number: 7742176
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to determine the actual position and/or actual orientation of a measuring appliance (4b). To this end, at least two reference points (2b?) lying in a spatial segment (5?) scanned by a laser beam are detected and measured in terms of the distance thereinbetween and the inclination angle thereof. The actual position of the measuring appliance (4b) can be deduced from the known positions of said reference points (2b?) arranged in a detectable manner and the associated distances and inclination angle thereof. The detection, monitoring and measuring of the reference points is carried out by the measuring appliance (4b) in an automated manner, the measuring appliance (4b) and specifically embodied elements associated with the reference points (2b?) forming a local positioning and/or orientation measuring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Braunecker, Bernhard Gächter, Beat Aebischer
  • Patent number: 7669354
    Abstract: For determining the load of an excavator bucket, or optionally of another holding region, a measurement step and an evaluation step are carried out. In the measurement step, the position of a load surface is determined by a noncontact distance-measuring device and, in the evaluation step, a load volume is determined from the position of the load surface and the position and shape of the excavator bucket or of the holding region. For determining the position of the load surface, at least one two-dimensional matrix with distance values is created by means of a distance-measuring camera. For determining the position of the excavator bucket, the distances to at least three points of the excavator bucket, in particular to points on the upper bucket edge, optionally to marked points are determined using the distance-measuring apparatus for determining the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Beat Aebischer, Bernhard Braunecker, Kevin Greenwood, Peter Stegmaier
  • Patent number: 7649621
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical inclinometer. According to the invention, an incline-dependent medium, e.g. a liquid surface, is positioned in the pupil of an optical subsystem and a detectable wave front is imaged onto a detector by means of said medium. A phase displacement of radiation emitted from a radiation source is caused by said medium; the interaction of the radiation and the medium can take place during reflection or transmission. An aberration of the wave front caused by the medium can be analyzed by means of a wave front sensor and compensated by an evaluation unit or the detector. A wave front sensor having a diffractive structure formed upstream of each subaperture is compact and increases the resolution and the detectable angular region of the inclinometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Braunecker, Peter Kipfer
  • Publication number: 20090231582
    Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning method for determining the position and orientation of a mobile unit having a receiver (3?, whereby the receiver (3) is detected by a scanner (2), said scanner (2? determining at least the distance and a direction in relation to the receiver (3). The radiation emitted by the sensor is detected by the receiver (3? and the direction of incidence of radiation and the direction of incidence of radiation in relation to an axis of reception are derived while an offset of the incident radiation in relation to the axis of reception (EA) is determined. Position and orientation of the unit are derived from at least the distance, the direction in relation to the receiver (3?), the offset and the direction of incidence as the position information and the unit is optionally controlled via the optical connection (OV).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Beat Aebischer, Bernhard Braunecker, Peter Kipfer
  • Patent number: 7480316
    Abstract: A laser source is used in a geodesic device to improve the emission of laser light, in which the laser diodes emitting multimodal radiation are influenced by a mode-selective component such that the laser radiation emitted by the laser source has monomodal character. An edge emitter or a vertical semiconductor emitter with an external cavity, is hence used, in which a mode selective component is arranged, for example, a monomode fibre or resonator mirror, which has the effect of a mode-selective resonator construction. Components with negative dispersion can be used for pulse compression to compensate for the greater pulse duration generated by the lengthened cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Gächter, Bernhard Braunecker
  • Publication number: 20080291434
    Abstract: An optoelectric angle-measuring device according to the invention has a code carrier having a position code (C1) which can be detected optically as well as a scanning device in the form of a light-sensitive row or area for detecting the position code (C1) and generating a position-dependent scanning signal. The scanning device which is in the form of a scanning film (F1), in particular, surrounds the code carrier or the code carrier essentially completely surrounds the scanning device along a circumference. This provides an extremely accurate angle-measuring device by virtue of the fact that a large part of the position code (C1), in particular even the entire position code (C1), can be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2006
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Beat Aebischer, Heinz Lippuner, Bernhard Braunecker
  • Patent number: 7434322
    Abstract: A reference beam generator (1) for guiding a field marker for ground markings has a support element (11) which can be positioned in a defined manner relative to the Earth's surface, a laser diode and beam guidance means for the emission of the radiation (LS) to at least one reference target (4), the radiation (LS) being emitted with an asymmetrical beam cross-section (5), in particular in the form of a fan, and the beam guidance means being adjustable in a defined manner relative to the support element (11). The radiation (LS) can be aligned with the reference target (4) by an optical detection component for detecting and providing the radiation reflected by the reference target, in particular a telescope (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Bernd Walser, Bernhard Braunecker, Peter Kipfer, Christian Betschon
  • Patent number: 7436492
    Abstract: Disclosed is a distance meter, particularly for telescope arrays in ground-based or space-based applications for detecting surfaces. Said distance meter comprises at least one radiation source for emitting electromagnetic radiation on to a target that is to be measured, a receiver unit with a sensor for receiving the radiation reflected by the target and deriving distance data, and a first spectral filter component. According to the invention, the angular spread of reception of the reflected radiation is limited by means of at least one spatial filter component, especially a fiber laser as a radiation source and receiver component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Braunecker, Peter Kipfer