Abstract: An MTA scanner for providing a point cloud comprising 1.) a light pulse source for generating a first pulse train with a first repetition rate, such that first ambiguity distance is less than an envisaged measurement range, and a second pulse train with a second repetition rate, such that second repetition rate is a proper fraction of the first repetition rate, 2.) a transmission unit to transmit the first scanning pulses and the second scanning pulses to respective transmission directions, 3.) an acquisition unit to acquire first and second scanning pulses reflected from object points in the environment, and 4.) an evaluation unit to assign the acquisition events to the respective first and second transmission events, using an MTA disambiguation based on the first and second repetition rates.

Abstract: 3D LiDAR scanning for generating a 3D point cloud of an environment, e.g. for surveying a construction side or for building surveying. Data points within the 3D laser scan data originating from multiple reflections within the environment, referred to as reflection points, are automatically identified and removed from the point cloud, by making use of a joined analysis of paired 3D laser scan data and image data captured with a measuring device. Points belonging to objects which appear in the 3D scan data but do not appear in the image data are classified as reflection points. Detection of the reflection points is provided by a reflection point classifier, which is trained to find semantic similarity and dissimilarity of 3D laser scan data and image data.

Abstract: A laser scanner or laser profiler for scanning of an object surface by measuring of distances to surface points comprising a light pulse source, a transmission unit, a receiving unit for receiving measurement light reflected from the object surfaces and for determining the respective distance to a surface point based on the received measurement light according to the principle of time-of-flight and a fiber network with a fiber based optical coupler being designed for transforming a respective light pulse into a series of spaced sub-pulses of different energies. The sub-pulses are digitally sampled, at least one of the sub-pulses having an energy yielding an electrical signal amplitude in the non-saturated range of the receiving unit is selected, and a respective distance is determined based on deducing a time-of-flight of the at least one selected sub-pulse.

Abstract: An electro-optical distance meter and a distance measuring method, wherein a distance to a target is measured based on runtime by means of radiation pulses, which are emitted at a pulse rate. Received radiation pulses are digitized by means of sampling, wherein the sampling rate is set in dependence on the pulse rate, wherein a digitized signal is generated on the basis of sampling over the reception signals of a plurality of received radiation pulses.

Abstract: An optical measuring device having a base for placing the measuring device and a targeting unit that is rotatable with respect to the base and defines a target axis for targeting a target object that is to be measured. The targeting unit has a first beam path for emitting optical measurement radiation in the direction of the target object that is to be measured. The targeting unit furthermore has a diffractive optical element (DOE), which is arranged or arrangeable in the beam path such that the optical measurement radiation is homogenized.

Abstract: A measuring appliance for performing distance measurements to an object, with an optical transmitter channel, an optical reception channel, a reference light path and an evaluation device, wherein the optical transmitter channel comprises a transmitter unit and an optical outlet element and the optical reception channel comprises an optical inlet element and a reception unit. The measuring appliance facilitates distance measurements over a measurement light path to the object and back again and over a reference light path. An attenuation device renders a desired signal attenuation attainable in the reference light path. The reference light path is laid out in such a way that it receives laser measurement radiation prior to the passage through the optical outlet element, guides said laser radiation without contact with the surroundings to the attenuation device and forwards an attenuated portion to the reception unit through the optical inlet element.

Abstract: A surveying instrument and method for accurately determining the distance to a target in the close range for a specific setup of the surveying instrument, where the central part of the received ray bundle is shaded by a component of the optical unit of the surveying instrument. When targeting on the target in an on-target state the accuracy of the distance measurement decreases in the close range due to spatial and temporal inhomogeneities of the beam profile. In some aspects the target is targeted in a misaligned targeting state, such that the reflected measuring beam impinges on a part of the detector surface, which is not shaded, thereby leading to an increased measuring accuracy.

Abstract: A surveying instrument comprising a distance meter, wherein the distance meter is configured for projecting a perceptibility beam onto an object and measuring a distance to the object, wherein the distance meter is configured for running a perceptibility enhancing mode, wherein, when running the perceptibility enhancing mode, the distance meter is directed to emit the perceptibility beam with a modulation, wherein the modulation has a switching frequency of at least 0.25 Hz but lower than 200 Hz.

Abstract: An electro-optical distance meter and a distance measuring method, wherein a distance to a target is measured based on runtime by means of radiation pulses, which are emitted at a pulse rate. Received radiation pulses are digitized by means of sampling, wherein the sampling rate is set in dependence on the pulse rate, wherein a digitized signal is generated on the basis of sampling over the reception signals of a plurality of received radiation pulses.

Abstract: A measuring appliance for performing distance measurements to an object, with an optical transmitter channel, an optical reception channel, a reference light path and an evaluation device, wherein the optical transmitter channel comprises a transmitter unit and an optical outlet element and the optical reception channel comprises an optical inlet element and a reception unit. The measuring appliance facilitates distance measurements over a measurement light path to the object and back again and over a reference light path. An attenuation device renders a desired signal attenuation attainable in the reference light path. The reference light path is laid out in such a way that it receives laser measurement radiation prior to the passage through the optical outlet element, guides said laser radiation without contact with the surroundings to the attenuation device and forwards an attenuated portion to the reception unit through the optical inlet element.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention may include an electro-optical distance measurement method having at least one emission of a light signal, in particular of laser light, from at least one light source onto a target object, detection of a fraction of the light signal returning from the target object using a detector and a signal processing electronics system connected downstream from the detector, and/or determination of a distance to the target object. In some embodiments, the emitted light signal comprises in this case a sequence of sequential elements of, in each case at least one light pulse and one light signal train. In some embodiments, the light pulses each have a higher intensity amplitude than the light signal trains. Some embodiments may also an electro-optical distance meter having the features analogous to The distance measurement method according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distance measurement apparatus for measuring the time of flight of electromagnetic signals, having at least: a transmitter for transmitting coded transmission signals according to a pattern specified by a coder, a receiver for detecting the signals reflected by at least one object as receive signals, a counter unit having a time counter for writing time counter values, which are generated in each case with the transmission of the transmission signals and the receipt of the receive signals, into at least one register, and a control and evaluation unit for calculating the time of flight on the basis of decoding the receive signals and reading the register of the counter unit.

Abstract: An optical measuring device having a base for placing the measuring device and a targeting unit that is rotatable with respect to the base and defines a target axis for targeting a target object that is to be measured. The targeting unit has a first beam path for emitting optical measurement radiation in the direction of the target object that is to be measured. The targeting unit furthermore has a diffractive optical element (DOE), which is arranged or arrangeable in the beam path such that the optical measurement radiation is homogenized.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a time measurement circuit for an incoming signal. In some embodiments, the time measurement circuit has a comparator stage, for generating a comparator output signal depending on a fulfillment of a criterion by the incoming signal, wherein exceeding or falling below a threshold value is defined as the criterion. Furthermore, a digitization stage is provided, for sampling, which is performed at a defined sampling rate, of an input signal fed to the digitization stage and converting it into digital data containing sampled values for the input signal, and an evaluation unit for determining a chronological location for the incoming signal by evaluating the digital data.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention may relate to a rangefinder, in particular for a laser scanner, laser tracker, profiler, theodolite, or a total station. In a special embodiment of the invention, the light source of the rangefinder—provided for the emission of pulsed light signals—is configured here as an optical fiber amplifier (e.g. an EDFA, i.e. erbium-doped fiber amplifier) which is optically pumped by a superluminescent diode (SLD) operated in a pulsed manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distance measuring method comprising at least the step of emitting at least one measurement signal to a target object, in which at least one start signal is produced, and the measurement signal is back scattered from the target object as a target signal. Said target signal is sampled at a sampling frequency and the relative position of the start signal and the target signal is determined for deriving a distance to the target object from the relative position from the start signal and the target signal. The sampling frequency can be adjusted and is set in accordance with a large distance to the target object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distance measuring method comprising at least the step of emitting at least one measurement signal to a target object, in which at least one start signal is produced, and the measurement signal is back scattered from the target object as a target signal. Said target signal and optionally also the start signal is sampled in a first and a second sampling at various sampling rates and determines the distance to the target object from the relative position from the start signal and the target signal.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distance measurement apparatus for measuring the time of flight of electromagnetic signals, having at least: a transmitter for transmitting coded transmission signals according to a pattern specified by a coder, a receiver for detecting the signals reflected by at least one object as receive signals, a counter unit having a time counter for writing time counter values, which are generated in each case with the transmission of the transmission signals and the receipt of the receive signals, into at least one register, and a control and evaluation unit for calculating the time of flight on the basis of decoding the receive signals and reading the register of the counter unit.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method for measuring spatial points with a laser scanner. The method may include: scanning multiple spatial points on an object; determining coordinates of the respective spatial point, determining a close range about a central spatial point with at least two spatial points whose angle coordinates are in a defined angular space adjacent to those of the central spatial point; aggregating coordinates of the spatial points in the specific close range; and replacing coordinates of the central spatial point by aggregating coordinates of the spatial points in the specific close range. In some embodiments, the laser scanner forms the origin of the coordinates, and the coordinates comprise a distance and at least one angle.