Patents by Inventor Christian Graesser

Christian Graesser 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: 20240302166
    Abstract: A target (100) for use in surveying applications is provided. The target comprises a plurality of light sources (106) arranged around a longitudinal axis (A) of a base element (108) of the target. The plurality of light sources is configured to emit light radially. The target further comprises a sensor unit (216) a control unit (214). The control unit is configured to obtain information regarding an orientation (?) of said target relative to a surveying instrument (120) aimed at the target, based on at least a measurement received from the sensor unit. The control unit is further configured to identify, based on the obtained information regarding the orientation of the target relative to the surveying instrument, a first subset (106c-106e) of the plurality of light sources arranged to emit light towards the surveying instrument, and a second subset (106a, 106b, 106f-106h) of the plurality of light sources arranged to emit light away from the surveying instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: Trimble AB
    Inventors: Christian Graesser, Jacques Rondeau
  • Publication number: 20240302167
    Abstract: A target for use in surveying applications is provided. The target comprises a plurality of light sources arranged around a longitudinal axis (A) of a base element of the target. The plurality of light sources is configured to emit light radially. The target further comprises a control unit. The control unit is configured to receive, from a surveying instrument aimed towards the target, an input indicative of a distance (d) between the target and the surveying instrument. The control unit is further configured to control an intensity of the light emitted by the plurality of light sources based on the input indicative of the distance between the target and the surveying instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: Trimble AB
    Inventors: Christian Graesser, Jacques Rondeau
  • Patent number: 9936181
    Abstract: A system for projecting an image, including layout information, on a surface in a building under construction has a projector mounted on a moveable support for supporting a worker at a work position in the building. The projector projects an image on a surface above the moveable support in response to an image signal defining the image to be projected. The image indicates the location of connectors, anchors, and holes to be affixed to, or cut through, the surface. A system determines the two dimensional position of the projector in the building, and a distance measuring system for determines the distance from the projector to said surface. A processor, responsive to a memory having stored building plan images, provides an image signal to the projector adjusted for the two dimensional location of the projector and for the distance from the projector to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wayne Kahle, Jinwei Jiang, Christian Graesser, Andreas Winter, Ulrich Vollath
  • Patent number: 9869549
    Abstract: A robotic laser-pointing apparatus has an instrument center, a first rotation axis, a second rotation axis, and a pointing axis, with the first rotation axis, the second rotation axis and the pointing axis in a known relationship to the instrument center. A laser source provides a pointing-laser beam along the pointing axis. A pointing drive system aims the laser beam by rotating the pointing axis about the instrument center in response to a pointing-direction control. Focusing optics having a focusing-optics drive serve to focus the pointing-laser beam in response to a focusing-optics control. A processor, responsive to target-position information, generates the pointing-direction control and the focusing-optics control. Some embodiments include an electronic-distance-measurement system having a measurement beam. Some embodiments provide for compensation of aiming errors of the pointing-laser beam and the measurement beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble AB
    Inventors: Christian Graesser, Robert Miller, Mikael Nordenfelt
  • Patent number: 9513120
    Abstract: A navigational apparatus includes a visual display, first and second imaging devices, and one or more processors. The first imaging device has an optical axis extending in a first direction and is configured to obtain first image data. The second imaging device has an optical axis extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and is configured to obtain second image data. When the visual display is displaying first image data, the one or more processors are configured to superimpose a first navigational graphic on the visual display overlaid on a portion of the first image data associated with the point of interest. When the visual display is displaying second image data, the one or more processors are configured to superimpose a second navigational graphic on the visual display overlaid on a portion of the second image data associated with the point of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Graham Briggs, Christian Graesser, James M. Janky
  • Patent number: 9322652
    Abstract: A method for determining, in relation to a surveying instrument, target coordinates of a point of interest, or target, identified in two images captured by a camera in the surveying instrument. The method comprises determining coordinates of the surveying instrument, capturing a first image using the camera in the first camera position; identifying, in the first image, an object point associated with the target; measuring first image coordinates of the object point in the first image; rotating the surveying instrument around the horizontal axis and the vertical axis in order to position the camera in a second camera position; capturing a second image using the camera in the second camera position; identifying, in the second image, the object point identified in the first image; measuring second image coordinates of the object point in the second image; and determining the coordinates of the target in relation to the surveying instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble AB
    Inventors: Nick Mein, Set Svanholm, Christian Graesser, Michael Vogel
  • Publication number: 20150334362
    Abstract: A system for projecting an image, including layout information, on a surface in a building under construction has a projector mounted on a moveable support for supporting a worker at a work position in the building. The projector projects an image on a surface above the moveable support in response to an image signal defining the image to be projected. The image indicates the location of connectors, anchors, and holes to be affixed to, or cut through, the surface. A system determines the two dimensional position of the projector in the building, and a distance measuring system for determines the distance from the projector to said surface. A processor, responsive to a memory having stored building plan images, provides an image signal to the projector adjusted for the two dimensional location of the projector and for the distance from the projector to the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Kent Wayne Kahle, Jinwei Jiang, Christian Graesser, Andreas Winter, Ulrich Vollath
  • Publication number: 20150276401
    Abstract: A robotic laser-pointing apparatus has an instrument center, a first rotation axis, a second rotation axis, and a pointing axis, with the first rotation axis, the second rotation axis and the pointing axis in a known relationship to the instrument center. A laser source provides a pointing-laser beam along the pointing axis. A pointing drive system aims the laser beam by rotating the pointing axis about the instrument center in response to a pointing-direction control. Focusing optics having a focusing-optics drive serve to focus the pointing-laser beam in response to a focusing-optics control. A processor, responsive to target-position information, generates the pointing-direction control and the focusing-optics control. Some embodiments include an electronic-distance-measurement system having a measurement beam. Some embodiments provide for compensation of aiming errors of the pointing-laser beam and the measurement beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Graesser, Robert Miller, Mikael Nordenfelt
  • Patent number: 9134127
    Abstract: A method of determining a tilt angle and a tilt direction of a survey instrument. The survey instrument has an imaging device that captures first images at a first location. The first images include features from an environment around the survey instrument. The imaging device also captures second images at a second location. The second images include a portion of the features. A pose of the imaging device is determined at the second location using observed changes in location of a common portion of the features between the first images and the second images. The tilt angle and the tilt direction of the survey instrument at the second location are determined using the pose of the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Omar Pierre Soubra, James M. Janky, Christian Graesser, Shawn D. Weisenburger
  • Patent number: 9121692
    Abstract: A system for projecting an image, including layout information, on a surface in a building under construction has a projector mounted on a moveable support for supporting a worker at a work position in the building. The projector projects an image on a surface above the moveable support in response to an image signal defining the image to be projected. The image indicates the location of connectors, anchors, and holes to be affixed to, or cut through, the surface. A system determines the two dimensional position of the projector in the building, and a distance measuring system for determines the distance from the projector to said surface. A processor, responsive to a memory having stored building plan images, provides an image signal to the projector adjusted for the two dimensional location of the projector and for the distance from the projector to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kent Wayne Kahle, Jinwei Jiang, Christian Graesser, Andreas Winter, Ulrich Vollath
  • Patent number: 9057610
    Abstract: A robotic laser-pointing apparatus has an instrument center, a first rotation axis, a second rotation axis, and a pointing axis, with the first rotation axis, the second rotation axis and the pointing axis in a known relationship to the instrument center. A laser source provides a pointing-laser beam along the pointing axis. A pointing drive system aims the laser beam by rotating the pointing axis about the instrument center in response to a pointing-direction control. Focusing optics having a focusing-optics drive serve to focus the pointing-laser beam in response to a focusing-optics control. A processor, responsive to target-position information, generates the pointing-direction control and the focusing-optics control. Some embodiments include an electronic-distance-measurement system having a measurement beam. Some embodiments provide for compensation of aiming errors of the pointing-laser beam and the measurement beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble A.B.
    Inventors: Christian Graesser, Robert Miller, Mikael Nordenfelt
  • Publication number: 20150062309
    Abstract: A method for determining, in relation to a surveying instrument, target coordinates of a point of interest, or target, identified in two images captured by a camera in the surveying instrument. The method comprises determining coordinates of the surveying instrument, capturing a first image using the camera in the first camera position; identifying, in the first image, an object point associated with the target; measuring first image coordinates of the object point in the first image; rotating the surveying instrument around the horizontal axis and the vertical axis in order to position the camera in a second camera position; capturing a second image using the camera in the second camera position; identifying, in the second image, the object point identified in the first image; measuring second image coordinates of the object point in the second image; and determining the coordinates of the target in relation to the surveying instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Nick Mein, Set Svanholm, Christian Graesser, Michael Vogel
  • Patent number: 8897482
    Abstract: A method for determining, in relation to a surveying instrument, target coordinates of a point of interest, or target, identified in two images captured by a camera in the surveying instrument. The method comprises determining coordinates of the surveying instrument, capturing a first image using the camera in the first camera position; identifying, in the first image, an object point associated with the target; measuring first image coordinates of the object point in the first image; rotating the surveying instrument around the horizontal axis and the vertical axis in order to position the camera in a second camera position; capturing a second image using the camera in the second camera position; identifying, in the second image, the object point identified in the first image; measuring second image coordinates of the object point in the second image; and determining the coordinates of the target in relation to the surveying instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble AB
    Inventors: Nick Mein, Set Svanholm, Christian Graesser, Michael Vogel
  • Publication number: 20140156219
    Abstract: A method of determining a tilt angle and a tilt direction of a survey instrument includes capturing first images at a first location that include features from an environment around the survey instrument and capturing second images at a second location that include a portion of the features. A pose of the imaging device is determined at the second location using observed changes in location of a common portion of the features between the first images and the second images. The tilt angle and the tilt direction of the survey instrument at the second location are determined using the pose of the imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Omar Pierre Soubra, James M. Janky, Christian Graesser, Shawn D. Weisenburger
  • Publication number: 20140123508
    Abstract: A robotic laser-pointing apparatus has an instrument center, a first rotation axis, a second rotation axis, and a pointing axis, with the first rotation axis, the second rotation axis and the pointing axis in a known relationship to the instrument center. A laser source provides a pointing-laser beam along the pointing axis. A pointing drive system aims the laser beam by rotating the pointing axis about the instrument center in response to a pointing-direction control. Focusing optics having a focusing-optics drive serve to focus the pointing-laser beam in response to a focusing-optics control. A processor, responsive to target-position information, generates the pointing-direction control and the focusing-optics control. Some embodiments include an electronic-distance-measurement system having a measurement beam. Some embodiments provide for compensation of aiming errors of the pointing-laser beam and the measurement beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Trimble A.B.
    Inventors: Christian Graesser, Robert Miller, Mikael Nordenfelt
  • Publication number: 20140081571
    Abstract: A navigational apparatus includes a visual display, first and second imaging devices, and one or more processors. The first imaging device has an optical axis extending in a first direction and is configured to obtain first image data. The second imaging device has an optical axis extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and is configured to obtain second image data. When the visual display is displaying first image data, the one or more processors are configured to superimpose a first navigational graphic on the visual display overlaid on a portion of the first image data associated with the point of interest. When the visual display is displaying second image data, the one or more processors are configured to superimpose a second navigational graphic on the visual display overlaid on a portion of the second image data associated with the point of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Graham Briggs, Christian Graesser, James M. Janky
  • Patent number: 8567076
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Trimble Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Ortleb, Christian Graesser, Anneli Utterbaeck
  • Patent number: 8351686
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining an azimuth of a target point is provided. The apparatus includes a support structure and an imaging device coupled to the support structure and configured to provide image data. The apparatus also includes a position measuring device coupled to the support structure and configured to determine position information and a processor in electrical communication with the imaging device and the position measuring device. The processor is configured to receive the image data from the imaging device, receive the position information from the position measuring device, determine a baseline between a first position and a second position, determine an orientation between overlapping images, and compute the azimuth of the target point relative to the baseline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Christian Graesser
  • Publication number: 20120124850
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Trimble Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Ortleb, Christian Graesser, Anneli Utterbaeck
  • Publication number: 20120013736
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining an azimuth of a target point is provided. The apparatus includes a support structure and an imaging device coupled to the support structure and configured to provide image data. The apparatus also includes a position measuring device coupled to the support structure and configured to determine position information and a processor in electrical communication with the imaging device and the position measuring device. The processor is configured to receive the image data from the imaging device, receive the position information from the position measuring device, determine a baseline between a first position and a second position, determine an orientation between overlapping images, and compute the azimuth of the target point relative to the baseline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Christian Graesser