Patents by Inventor Hans-Martin Zogg

Hans-Martin Zogg 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: 20240135641
    Abstract: A survey instrument comprising a single point and a point cloud measuring functionality, a communication interface, and a computing unit. The point cloud measuring functionality configured to emit a scanning beam along a first measuring axis and to advance the first measuring axis along a scanning pattern. The point cloud measuring functionality is configured to generate point cloud data representing a setting. The single point measuring functionality is configured to emit a measuring beam along a second measuring axis. The first measuring axis is referenced to the second measuring axis. The communication interface is configured to receive model data representing at least a part of the setting and comprising referencing data to an external coordinate system. The computing unit is configured to identify cardinal features in the point cloud data as well as in the model data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Norbert KOTZUR, Markus GESER, Bernd MÖLLER, Hans-Martin ZOGG, Richard OSTRIDGE, Hannes MAAR, Shane O'REGAN
  • Patent number: 10215563
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surveying instrument comprising a telescope, at least one camera providing first, second or more image signals and a controller, wherein the controller is adapted to combine the image signal data of the first, second or more image signals in order to simultaneously display at least two of the images corresponding to the first, second or more image signals on display means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Werner Leinhart, Hans-Martin Zogg, Norbert Kotzur, Daniel Nindl
  • Patent number: 9970762
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a target point detection method for an automatic search of at least one target point in a surveying environment in advance of a precise measurement of the at least one target point with a surveying device. In some embodiments, the surveying environment may include a plurality of points of non-interest, where a point of non-interest is a reflective object or surface, or a target comprising at least one retroreflector being positioned at each target point. In some embodiments, a method may include emitting electromagnetic radiation to illuminate retroreflectors emitted in the form of a vertical fan which is movable through a horizontal angular range; receiving signals reflected from retroreflectors within a fan-shaped detection area, determining at least a horizontal angle to the retroreflectors, assigning a time mark and/or a distance to each of the signals, and storing the detected signal in a two-dimensional data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Bernd Möller, David Grimm, Falko Henning, Hans-Martin Zogg
  • Patent number: 9891050
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a measuring device, in particular a video theodolite or video tachymeter. The measuring device may include a base, a support, a telescope optics having a lens, a physical target marking, an eyepiece, and a camera. The measuring device may also include an evaluation and control unit containing stored calibration parameters with respect to an image position indicating the target direction as target image position in the captured image, and a display for displaying a captured image having marking for the target image position. In some embodiments, a function may be included to respect and/or restore. In some embodiments, the function may be in form of an application on the user-device interface that can be called up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Norbert Kotzur, Hans-Martin Zogg, Stefan Martin Benjamin Gächter Toya
  • Publication number: 20170268876
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surveying instrument comprising a telescope, at least one camera providing first, second or more image signals and a controller, wherein the controller is adapted to combine the image signal data of the first, second or more image signals in order to simultaneously display at least two of the images corresponding to the first, second or more image signals on display means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Werner LIENHART, Hans-Martin ZOGG, Norbert KOTZUR, Daniel NINDL
  • Patent number: 9674423
    Abstract: Surveying apparatus such as, for example, a video theodolite or video tachymeter, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the surveying apparatus may include a base, a support pivotable about a first axis relative to the base, a targeting unit pivotable about a second axis relative to the support and comprising a telescope optical unit comprising at least one objective and a motorized-adjustable focusing optical unit and also an eyepiece and/or a camera chip for recording an image through the objective, goniometers for measuring pivoting positions of the support and the targeting unit, an electro-optical distance measuring device, an evaluation and control unit, which provides a calibrated autofocusing functionality for automatically setting the focusing optical unit in a manner dependent on a target distance measured by the distance measuring device and contains for this stored calibration coefficients with regard to focusing optical unit positions to be set in a target-distance-dependent manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Norbert Kotzur, Hans-Martin Zogg
  • Patent number: 9638522
    Abstract: A total station including an electro-optical distance measuring unit and a scanning functionality is disclosed. The total station may include an analysis unit for analysis of the registered measuring signal data and conversion thereof into scanning points for a point cloud, whereby a point cloud having the scanning points can be generated. The distance measuring unit may be configured in such a manner that the distance measurement can be carried out by means of runtime measurement and/or waveform digitizing (WFD). In addition, the total station may have a program storage unit which may provide at least two scanning modes, wherein the at least two scanning modes differ at least in a measuring rate such as, for example, in the number of scanning points per unit of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Hans-Martin Zogg, Patrik Lengweiler, Robert Natau, Reto Stutz
  • Patent number: 9594167
    Abstract: A geodetic surveying method includes deriving surface information for an object and geodetically accurate individual point measuring to at least one reference point. A position reference to an external coordinate system may also be provided by the at least one reference point. The method may also include aligning measurement radiation on the at least one reference point. The method may also include determining at least one direction to the reference point in an internal coordinate system. A method for reference point-independent scanning is also disclosed for deriving the surface information, the method may comprise scanning by continuously changing the alignment of the measurement radiation, determining a respective distance and a respective alignment of the measurement radiation emitted for a distance measurement for scanning points lying within the specified scanning region, and producing a point cloud representing the surface information and having the scanning points, in the internal coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Hans-Martin Zogg, Norbert Kotzur
  • Publication number: 20160349049
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a target point detection method for an automatic search of at least one target point in a surveying environment in advance of a precise measurement of the at least one target point with a surveying device. In some embodiments, the surveying environment may include a plurality of points of non-interest, where a point of non-interest is a reflective object or surface, or a target comprising at least one retroreflector being positioned at each target point. In some embodiments, a method may include emitting electromagnetic radiation to illuminate retroreflectors emitted in the form of a vertical fan which is movable through a horizontal angular range; receiving signals reflected from retroreflectors within a fan-shaped detection area, determining at least a horizontal angle to the retroreflectors, assigning a time mark and/or a distance to each of the signals, and storing the detected signal in a two-dimensional data structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Bernd MÖLLER, David GRIMM, Falko HENNING, Hans-Martin ZOGG
  • Patent number: 9377298
    Abstract: A method for surveying an object for and/or using a geodetic surveying device that include a derivation of an item of surface information at least for one object region, at least one geodetically precise single point determination for the object region, wherein a position of at least one object point is determined geodetically precisely, and an update of the item of surface information based on the determined position of the at least one object point. In some embodiments a scan to derive the item of surface information may be performed using object-point-independent scanning of the object region by progressive alignment changes of the measuring radiation, with a determination of a respective distance and of a respective alignment of the measuring radiation emitted for the distance measurement for scanning points lying within the object region, and having a generation of a point cloud which represents the item of surface information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Hans-Martin Zogg, Norbert Kotzur
  • Patent number: 9341473
    Abstract: A survey system including a target unit that has a survey stick having a high-precision localizable target and a hand-held remote control unit. The remote control unit has an electronic graphical display and can be mounted on a holder on the survey stick such that the remote control unit is in a fixed position relative to the target fitted to the survey stick. The remote control comprises a camera for taking a camera image in a defined shooting direction. In addition, an image processing and evaluation unit with a data link to the position-finding unit and to the camera is provided which, from knowledge of the fixed relative position and of a defined shooting direction and also on the basis of the determined target position, can spatially relate image data from the camera to the targets in the coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Hans-Martin Zogg, Werner Lienhart, Daniel Nindl, Norbert Kotzur
  • Publication number: 20160080638
    Abstract: Surveying apparatus such as, for example, a video theodolite or video tachymeter, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the surveying apparatus may include a base, a support pivotable about a first axis relative to the base, a targeting unit pivotable about a second axis relative to the support and comprising a telescope optical unit comprising at least one objective and a motorized-adjustable focusing optical unit and also an eyepiece and/or a camera chip for recording an image through the objective, goniometers for measuring pivoting positions of the support and the targeting unit, an electro-optical distance measuring device, an evaluation and control unit, which provides a calibrated autofocusing functionality for automatically setting the focusing optical unit in a manner dependent on a target distance measured by the distance measuring device and contains for this stored calibration coefficients with regard to focusing optical unit positions to be set in a target-distance-dependent manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Norbert KOTZUR, Hans-Martin ZOGG
  • Publication number: 20160025491
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a measuring device, in particular a video theodolite or video tachymeter. The measuring device may include a base, a support, a telescope optics having a lens, a physical target marking, an eyepiece, and a camera. The measuring device may also include an evaluation and control unit containing stored calibration parameters with respect to an image position indicating the target direction as target image position in the captured image, and a display for displaying a captured image having marking for the target image position. In some embodiments, a function may be included to respect and/or restore. In some embodiments, the function may be in form of an application on the user-device interface that can be called up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Norbert KOTZUR, Hans-Martin ZOGG, Stefan Martin Benjamin GÄCHTER TOYA
  • Patent number: 9046361
    Abstract: Target point recognition method including emitting electromagnetic radiation to illuminate targets, moving the scanning beam within a predetermined angular range in order to scan the surveying environment, detecting reflections of the electromagnetic radiation on the targets, wherein the targets are defining the target points, and determining the angle to the target points. The method further including a capturing procedure with capturing an overall image of the surveying environment, wherein the overall image comprises at least one single image taken by the camera, and determining target points and their angle on the overall image by image processing by matching targets with one or more predetermined search criteria, storing the target points together with their angle a data base, and displaying the overall image together with marks for indicating a position of the target points detected within the scanning procedure and the capturing procedure in the overall image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYTEMS AG
    Inventors: Daniel Nindl, Hans-Martin Zogg, Werner Lienhart, Norbert Kotzur
  • Publication number: 20140300892
    Abstract: A total station including an electro-optical distance measuring unit and a scanning functionality is disclosed. The total station may include an analysis unit for analysis of the registered measuring signal data and conversion thereof into scanning points for a point cloud, whereby a point cloud having the scanning points can be generated. The distance measuring unit may be configured in such a manner that the distance measurement can be carried out by means of runtime measurement and/or waveform digitizing (WFD). In addition, the total station may have a program storage unit which may provide at least two scanning modes, wherein the at least two scanning modes differ at least in a measuring rate such as, for example, in the number of scanning points per unit of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Hans-Martin ZOGG, Patrik LENGWEILER, Robert NATAU, Reto STUTZ
  • Publication number: 20140300886
    Abstract: A geodetic surveying method includes deriving surface information for an object and geodetically accurate individual point measuring to at least one reference point. A position reference to an external coordinate system may also be provided by the at least one reference point. The method may also include aligning measurement radiation on the at least one reference point. The method may also include determining at least one direction to the reference point in an internal coordinate system. A method for reference point-independent scanning is also disclosed for deriving the surface information, the method may comprise scanning by continuously changing the alignment of the measurement radiation, determining a respective distance and a respective alignment of the measurement radiation emitted for a distance measurement for scanning points lying within the specified scanning region, and producing a point cloud representing the surface information and having the scanning points, in the internal coordinate system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Hans-Martin ZOGG, Norbert KOTZUR
  • Publication number: 20140298666
    Abstract: A method for surveying an object for and/or using a geodetic surveying device that include a derivation of an item of surface information at least for one object region, at least one geodetically precise single point determination for the object region, wherein a position of at least one object point is determined geodetically precisely, and an update of the item of surface information based on the determined position of the at least one object point. In some embodiments a scan to derive the item of surface information may be performed using object-point-independent scanning of the object region by progressive alignment changes of the measuring radiation, with a determination of a respective distance and of a respective alignment of the measuring radiation emitted for the distance measurement for scanning points lying within the object region, and having a generation of a point cloud which represents the item of surface information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Hans-Martin ZOGG, Norbert KOTZUR
  • Publication number: 20140226002
    Abstract: A geodetic measuring instrument for determining the position of a target point includes a sighting apparatus that can be pivoted with respect to a base of the measuring instrument to change the orientation of the sighting apparatus. The geodetic measuring instrument has at least one objective unit defining an optical target axis and has angle measurement functionality for precisely detecting the orientation of the target axis. Evaluating means store to and control the orientation of the sighting apparatus. An eye image recording unit records eye images of an eye of a user. The evaluating means perform automatic sighting functionality regardless of viewing direction in such a way that the following occurs automatically after the function has started: at least one eye image is recorded, a viewing direction of the user eye is determined, or eye information suitable for deriving a viewing direction of the user eye is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Metzler, Stefan Sieber, Werner Lienhart, Hans-Martin Zogg
  • Publication number: 20130162469
    Abstract: A survey system including a target unit that has a survey stick having a high-precision localizable target and a hand-held remote control unit. The remote control unit has an electronic graphical display and can be mounted on a holder on the survey stick such that the remote control unit is in a fixed position relative to the target fitted to the survey stick. The remote control comprises a camera for taking a camera image in a defined shooting direction. In addition, an image processing and evaluation unit with a data link to the position-finding unit and to the camera is provided which, from knowledge of the fixed relative position and of a defined shooting direction and also on the basis of the determined target position, can spatially relate image data from the camera to the targets in the coordinate system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Hans-Martin Zogg, Werner Lienhart, Daniel Nindl, Norbert Kotzur
  • Publication number: 20120320193
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surveying instrument comprising a telescope, at least one camera providing first, second or more image signals and a controller, wherein the controller is adapted to combine the image signal data of the first, second or more image signals in order to simultaneously display at least two of the images corresponding to the first, second or more image signals on display means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Werner Lienhart, Hans-Martin Zogg, Norbert Kotzur, Daniel Nindl