Patents by Inventor Ian T. Viney

Ian T. Viney 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).

  • Remote control and viewing for a total station
    Patent number: 6034722
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing remote control and viewing with a total station. The total station is operated remotely from a remote control and viewing unit (RCVU) by a single user. The total station has a measurement unit, a video camera aligned with the measurement unit for acquiring real-time images of a target, and a transceiver for transmitting video images to the RCVU and for receiving control data from the RCVU. The RCVU includes a transceiver for transmitting the control data to the total station and for receiving the video images from the total station. The RCVU also includes a display device for displaying real-time video images from the camera and includes controls for allowing the user to remotely align the total station with the target using the displayed video images. A fine-tuning focus control on the RCVU allows the user to remotely focus the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Ian T. Viney, Geoffrey R. Kirk