Patents by Inventor Fumio Ohtomo
Fumio Ohtomo 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: 7319515Abstract: A rotary laser apparatus includes a light-projection section configured to irradiate at least two fan-shaped beams extending in a fan-shaped form in a direction orthogonal to a rotary axis. The light-projecting section includes a laser beam source for generating a laser beam in a direction of the rotary axis, and a rotation-irradiating section configured for irradiating the laser beam from the laser beam source in directions orthogonal to the rotary axis. The rotation-irradiating section includes a plurality of penta prisms and a beam splitter. The plurality of the penta prisms are arranged in the direction of the rotary axis depending upon the number of the fan-shaped beams such that light-emitting directions of the respective penta prisms differ from each other or one another, and the beam splitter is configured to the laser beam as required the penta prism arranged above.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2005Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TopconInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kunihiro Hayashi
-
Patent number: 7319512Abstract: A surveying instrument for projecting a distance measuring light to an object to be measured and for measuring a distance from a reflected light, comprising at least an image pickup unit for picking up an image of a spreading range of the distance measuring light, and a control unit for performing edge extraction from the image captured by the image pickup unit and for judging whether there is an edge or not within the spreading range.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2005Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCONInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kaoru Kumagai
-
Patent number: 7319511Abstract: The present invention relates to a surveying instrument for measuring the distance to a target to be measured, a horizontal angle, and a vertical angle by use of reflected light. An imager can be connected to the surveying instrument. In addition, an arithmetic processing means can determine a three-dimensional position of a plane part by determining from at least three measuring points an equation that includes the plane part as the target to be measured, and then by associating digital image data to which the plane part belongs with the equation so that the plane part is identified.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2003Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TopconInventors: Shunji Murai, Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani
-
Patent number: 7307699Abstract: A light wave distance measuring method, using a light wave distance measuring system with a focusing function, comprising a step of comparing a reference distance to an object to be measured obtained based on a position of a focusing lens with a measuring distance obtained by light wave distance measurement, and a step of defining the measuring distance approximately equal to the reference distance as a result of measurement.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TopconInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kaoru Kumagai
-
Patent number: 7301617Abstract: A surveying apparatus including an objective lens; an irradiation unit for irradiating illumination light from the objective lens toward a reflector; a ranging unit for irradiating ranging light from the objective lens to measure a distance from the surveying apparatus to the reflector; an image sensor for outputting information on an image in a field of view based on light entering through the objective lens; an image processing circuit connected with the image sensor for processing the image information outputted from the image sensor; and a monitor connected with the image processing circuit for displaying an image, wherein a ranging-possible area and a position at which the reflector is located based on the illumination light reflected from the reflector are displayed in a form of figure on the image displayed on the monitor.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2005Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TopconInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kaoru Kumagai
-
Publication number: 20070263202Abstract: The present invention provides a distance measuring device, which comprises a light projecting unit for projecting a distance measuring light (22) to an object to be measured, a reference reflection unit (55) provided relatively movable and arranged at a known position so as to traverse the projected distance measuring light, a photodetection unit (7) for receiving a reflection light from the object to be measured as a reflected distance measuring light (22?) and a reflection light from said reference reflection unit as an internal reference light (22?), and a control arithmetic unit (15) for calculating a distance to the object to be measured based on a photodetection signal relating to the reflected distance measuring light and based on a photodetection signal relating to the internal reference light.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2006Publication date: November 15, 2007Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Naoto Miki
-
Publication number: 20070167154Abstract: A position data interpolation method, comprising: a step of continuously taking digital images of scenes in the surrounding in a process of moving from a first point, which is a known point, via a second point, which is a known point, to a third point, which is an unknown point; a step of generating tracking points from an image acquired at the first point, and sequentially specifying the tracking points through the pursuit of points generated on continuously acquired images; a step of obtaining 3-dimensional position data of the tracking points based on a result of orientation of the tracking points at the first point and at the second point and based on position data of the first point and the second point; and a step of sequentially obtaining a position of the third point based on a result of orientation of the tracking points acquired at the third point and based on 3-dimensional position data of the tracking points.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2006Publication date: July 19, 2007Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani
-
Publication number: 20070146683Abstract: A distance measuring method for performing distance measurement by projecting a distance measuring light to an object to be measured and by receiving a reflected light, comprising: a step of projecting for scanning the distance measuring light which has at least one luminous flux with a predetermined spreading angle; a step of emitting the light by pulsed light emission at least two times during a period when the luminous flux traverses the object to be measured; a step of measuring a distance by receiving the reflected light at least two times; and a step of averaging the results of the distance measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2006Publication date: June 28, 2007Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Masahiro Ohishi, Ikuo Ishinabe, Kazuhiro Shida
-
Publication number: 20070115354Abstract: A 3-dimensional data preparing method, comprising a first step of continuously taking digital images of scenes in the surrounding when moving from a first point, which is a known point, via a second point, which is a known point, to a third point, which is an unknown point, a second step of generating tracking points from an image acquired at the first point, and sequentially specifying the tracking points by the pursuit of the points generated on the continuously acquired images, a third step of obtaining 3-dimensional data of the tracking points based on the result of orientation of the tracking points at the first point and at the second point and from position data of the first point and the second point, a fourth step of sequentially obtaining a position of the third point, i.e.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2006Publication date: May 24, 2007Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani
-
Patent number: 7214917Abstract: A position measuring instrument according to the present invention comprises a turning unit and a fixed unit, irradiates a target to be measured with measuring light to determine a distance, a direction, and a position on the basis of its reflected light. A light source unit emits measuring light; a light receiving unit receives its reflected light; a radiating means radiates measuring light in a direction which can be set freely, and directs its reflected light to the light receiving unit; an angle detecting means detects a direction in which the radiating means radiates light; the light source unit and the light receiving unit are fixedly provided; the light source unit emits measuring light toward the radiating means; and the light receiving unit receives reflected light from the target to be measured.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2002Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TopconInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Akio Kimura
-
Patent number: 7196302Abstract: A laser measuring method in a laser measuring system, which comprises a rotary laser system for projecting a laser beam by rotary irradiation and at least one photodetection system having at least one photodetector for receiving the laser beam, comprising a step of emitting at least two fan-shaped laser beams by the rotary laser system, at least one of the fan-shaped laser beams being tilted, a step of receiving the laser beams at least at three known points by the photodetection system, a step of obtaining elevation angles with respect to the rotary laser system based on photodetection signals which are formed when the photodetector receives the laser beam, and a step of measuring an installing position of the rotary laser system based on elevation angles and position data at the three known points.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2005Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCONInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kazuki Osaragi, Kunihiro Hayashi, Richard W. Davidson, Clyde C. Goad, Vernon J. Brabec, Eduardo F. Falcon, Richard J. Jackson
-
Patent number: 7196776Abstract: A distance-measuring system, which comprises a light source unit for emitting a distance-measuring light, a photodetection optical system having a photodetection optical axis, a projecting optical system having a projecting light optical axis and for projecting the distance-measuring light from the light source unit to an object to be measured and for guiding the distance-measuring light reflected from the object to be measured toward the photodetection optical system, and an internal reference optical system for guiding the distance-measuring light from the light source unit to the photodetection optical system as an internal reference light, wherein the light source unit can emit two distance-measuring lights with different spreading angles, and one of the light source unit and the projection optical system has a decentering member for decentering the distance-measuring light with respect to the projecting light optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2004Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TopconInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Jun-ichi Kodaira
-
Patent number: 7187434Abstract: A surveying apparatus includes an irradiation portion provided with an objective lens, and for irradiating a ranging light toward a measured object, a ranging portion for measuring a distance per unit time more than once based on a reflection light reflected by the measured object and entered through the objective lens, a collimation optical system portion for collimating the measured object through the objective lens, the collimation optical system portion being provided with an image processing device configured to obtain a collimation image obtained through the objective lens, and a determination device to determine whether or not a moving obstacle has passed a projection optical path of the ranging light during projecting the ranging light based on an image obtained by the image processing device.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TopconInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kaoru Kumagai
-
Patent number: 7177016Abstract: An electronically surveying apparatus of the present invention includes a storing portion for storing positional information of a surveying apparatus body and design data; an angle-measuring portion for electronically measuring an angle between a reference direction and an aimed direction; an arithmetic processing portion for obtaining a model of an expected arrangement at completion of an object which is expected to be seen from the surveying apparatus body in the aimed direction by calculation, based on the angle measured by the angle-measuring portion and the design data; and a displaying portion for displaying the model of the expected arrangement at completion of the object.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2004Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TopconInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Ritsuo Sakimura
-
Patent number: 7177015Abstract: A distance-measuring device, comprising a light source unit for emitting a distance-measuring light, a photodetection optical system, a projecting optical system for projecting the distance-measuring light from the light source unit to an object to be measured and for guiding the distance-measuring light reflected by the object to be measured to the photodetection optical system, and an internal reference optical system for guiding the distance-measuring light from the light source unit toward the photodetection optical system, wherein the light source unit can emit two distance-measuring lights having different spreading angles and having the same or almost the same wavelengths, and the photodetection optical system has an optical filter which transmits light components of narrower wavelength range of the distance-measuring light.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2003Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TopconInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kaoru Kumagai, Jun-ichi Kodaira
-
Patent number: 7148958Abstract: A pair of rotary laser devices are vertically arranged while aligning their respective axes into a single axis and keeping said rotary laser devices away from each other in an axial direction thereof by a predetermined interval, and a light-receiving sensor is kept radially away from the single axis. A plurality of fan-shaped laser beams are emitted from each of the rotary laser devices, while rotating the laser beams. The laser beams include at least one fan-shaped laser beam in a plane inclined to a plane containing said single axis. The laser beams are received and detected with the light-receiving sensor. Inclinations of the rotary laser devices are determined relative to the light-receiving sensor, respectively, based on time intervals of said detection of the laser beams, and the position of the sensor are determined relative to said pair of the rotary laser devices in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TopconInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kunihiro Hayashi, Makoto Ohmori
-
Patent number: 7130035Abstract: A target for a surveying instrument, which receives from the surveying instrument a laser point light indicating a position and a distance measuring light to measure a distance, comprising a reflection diffusion layer for reflecting and diffusing the distance measuring light, a wavelength filter layer for selectively transmitting the laser point light passing through the reflection diffusion layer, and a transmission diffusion layer for spreading in a given direction and for transmitting the laser point light passing through the wavelength filter layer, wherein a projecting position of the laser point light can be confirmed.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2005Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCONInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Jun-ichi Kodaira
-
Patent number: 7127822Abstract: The present invention provides a surveying instrument (20), comprising a surveying instrument main unit (21) which projects a measuring light to an object to be measured and measures a position based on a reflection light from the object to be measured and an operation device (67) which is removably attached on the surveying instrument main unit, wherein the surveying instrument main unit comprises a distance measuring unit (54) and (55) for emitting the measuring light and for measuring a distance, an image pickup unit (51) and (53) for acquiring an image, a reflection mirror (45) rotatably mounted and used for directing the measuring light toward the object to be measured, for directing the reflected light from the object to be measured toward a light receiving unit, and for directing the image in a projecting direction toward the image pickup unit, a detecting means (31) for detecting a rotating position of the reflection mirror, and a control unit (74) for controlling at least the distance measuring unit,Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2003Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCONInventors: Kaoru Kumagai, Fumio Ohtomo
-
Patent number: 7115852Abstract: A photodetection device for a rotary laser system for projecting at least two fan-shaped beams tilted at a known angle with respect to a horizontal plane and having a known spreading angle, comprising at least three photodetectors arranged in a known relationship.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCONInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kazuki Osaragi, Kunihiro Hayashi
-
Patent number: 7110102Abstract: A working position measuring system, comprising a rotary laser device for irradiating and rotating a laser beam and a photodetection sensor device for receiving the laser beam and for detecting a working position, wherein the rotary laser device comprises a laser projector for projecting at least two fan-shaped beams with at least one beam tilted, and the photodetection sensor device comprises at least one photodetection unit for receiving the fan-shaped beams and an arithmetic unit for calculating an elevation angle relative to the rotary laser device based on photodetection signals produced when the photodetection unit receives the light beam.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2003Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCONInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kazuki Osaragi, Kunihiro Hayashi