Abstract: A hand layout tool, apparatus, and method directed toward skilled and industrial trades, or for use within other similar mechanical layout and user applications, is presented. The current invention allows the trades technician or user to quickly and accurately determine or otherwise identify the outer or inner centerline of a radial or cylindrical surface feature at a selected or desired angle. Alternately, the current invention can allow the user to quickly, easily, and accurately measure or otherwise determine the included angle between two imaginary planes: a first plane defined as being coincident with the central axis of the cylindrical or radial surface and a first point on an outer or inner cylindrical or radial surface and a second plane defined as being coincident with the central axis of the cylindrical or radial surface and a second point on an outer or inner cylindrical or radial surface.

Abstract: An electronic device, comprising: a memory; at least one processor operatively coupled to the memory, configured to: receive a first image or metadata corresponding to the first image from an external electronic device; capture a second image by using a camera; detect a change of a first region of interest of the first image; change a second region of interest of the second image based on the change of the first region of interest; and display the second region of interest on a display, wherein displaying the second region of interest includes a displaying at least a portion of the second image that corresponds to the second region of interest.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method and system for capturing the condition of a structure, the structure is scanned with a three-dimensional (3D) scanner. The 3D scanner generates 3D data. A point cloud or 3D model is constructed from the 3D data. The point cloud or 3D model is then analyzed to determine the condition of the structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a surveying system, which comprises an electronic level and staff devices belonging to either one of two or more groups, wherein the staff device has staffs with bar codes corresponding to groups, to which a staff belongs, and mobile station devices installed on the staffs, wherein the mobile station device has a mobile station display unit to display working data and a mobile station communication unit for performing wireless communication to and from the electronic level, wherein the electronic level has an image pickup unit for acquiring images within a range of working, a control device for extracting staff images from the images, for identifying as to which group the bar code pattern of the extracted staff image belongs and for determining three-dimensional position of the staff based on the staff image, and a main communication unit for transmitting the three-dimensional position obtained to the mobile station device, and wherein the mobile station device displays the relation bet

Abstract: A system of independently oriented sighting devices includes a first sighting device (120) and a second sighting device (110). Upon aligning a line of sight of the first sighting device (12) with a target object (130), the first sighting device transmits a reference signal over a communications link (140). The second sighting device (110) determines its orientation in space relative to the orientation of the first sighting device (120) from characteristics of the reference signal. Thus, absolute coordinates of the target object (130) need not be known by the second sighting device (110) nor is it required that they be transmitted by the first sighting device (120). The user (115) of the second sighting device is directed to rotate the second sighting device (110) towards the target object (130) via feedback through guidance indicators located in a viewing port (250) thereof.

Abstract: A hand-held electronic celestial object-locating device assists in identifying a celestial object or directing a user to a desired celestial object. The device is useful for locating or identifying any celestial object including stars, constellations, planets, comets, asteroids, artificial satellites, and deep sky objects to name a few. The device utilizes sensors for 3-axis magnetic field and 3-axis gravitational field detection. The device utilizes a processor and an electronic database to perform the required calculations. The device's database may be updated through access to the Internet through which the updates may be purchased.

Abstract: An archery sight for bows having a mounting bracket to be affixed a riser of a bow. The mounting bracket supports an adjustment bracket, which in turns supports the sight mechanism. The adjustment bracket provides for gross adjustment of the sight mechanism vertically and laterally with respect to the riser. The sight mechanism includes a slide plate extending forward of the riser and mounting a pin carriage which may slide forward an rearward along the slide plate. The pin carriage mounts a plurality of pins or indicators which extend laterally and include free ends which act as sight locations in use. The pins may individually slide vertically within the pin carriage, and extend through respective slots in the slide plate. The slots have increasing, yet proportionally constant spacing therebetween such that movement of the carriage with respect to the plate will cause the pins to move along the various slots to expand or contract their relative positioning.

Abstract: A sextant for indicating the angular separation between two objects, including two members interconnected at a pivot point, means for adjusting the angle between the members to be indicative of the angular separation between the objects, the means for adjusting including coarse and fine adjustment means, and a pair of encoders for converting the respective positions of the coarse and fine adjustment means to signals which are together indicative of the angular separation. In other aspects, there is a single encoder having a track on the sextant arc and a sensor on the tangent arm; and an indicator tells the user when the sextant has been set to the prestored altitudes of reference celestial bodies.

Abstract: To attain accuracy in the sport of archery, reference points are used. These reference points are constant and do not vary. The Inline sight gives the archer an added point of reference that increases accuracy in the horizontal dimension. This invention is unique in that the archer can be any distance from the target and always have an added reference point. The Inline sight uses a vertical line positioned between the archer's eye and the standard pin sight that is attached to the front of the bow to attain this added reference point.

Abstract: A mobile vehicle capable of stabilized observation of topographic features for land surveying is provided. The vehicle is adapted to convert to a stabilized observation platform by the use of stabilizing means, such as swing and lift apparatus mounted on the rear of the vehicle. Observation of topographic features is provided by mounting surveying apparatus, such as a digital theodolites, on gimbaled apparatus employing two axles which in turn is supported by extensible means to elevate the surveying apparatus above the roof of the vehicle. Means for raising a portion of the vehicle's roof to accommodate the elevated surveying apparatus is also provided. Computation may be accomplished in the field using a suitable computer powered by a suitable power supply. The computer may also be used to control the various stabilizing, gimbaled and extensible means.

Abstract: An angle measuring device includes a mechanism rotatable to define an angle to be measured and a rotating scanner for producing a first number of pulses corresponding to the angle to be measured. The first number of pulses is frequency multiplied to a second, higher number of pulses to decrease the magnitude of measured angle per pulse and thereby increase the accuracy of the resulting measurement. The second number of pulses are counted, converted to an angle value and held in a display for convenient reading. Preferably, the rotatable mechanism is a gun-like member with sights for aiming it at a target the angle to which is to be measured and a trigger for actuating the measuring, and at least the gun-like member is gimbal mounted to adapt the device for use as a pelorus on a ship.

Abstract: A miniature automatically self-aligning azimuth reference employs a floated pendulous gyrocompass device for the rapid determination of geographic north as required for surveying purposes. Fast alignment with north from an initially misaligned condition is effected in an iterative manner through the action of a unitary vertical-axis magnetic centering-torquer-pick off system employing eddy current forces.

Abstract: An improved sextant which provides a very accurate angular measurement of the position of a celestial body relative to the horizon. The sextant is a typical prior art sextant having a horizon glass and an index mirror, and wherein the sextant is sighted by adjusting the angular position of the index mirror to align an image of the celestial body with a sighting of the horizon. An angular position encoder is coupled to the index mirror to provide a digital electrical output signal indicative of the exact angular position of the index mirror. The sextant includes an electrical clock for producing an electrical output signal which indicates the exact time the sighting is taken. The sextant includes electronics for automatically synchronizing the electrical output signal from the encoder with the electrical output signal from the clock.

Abstract: An arrangement for indicating a relative azimuth between two objects remote from each other, such as a control station and a mobile unit remotely controlled by the station, on which are respectively mounted first and second synchronous transmitters for generating and transmitting their respective signals corresponding respectively to true azimuths of the station and the unit. The control station is further provided with a relative azimuth indicating device including outer stational and inner rotatable dials, a rotatable indicator, first and second synchronous receivers, each having means for effecting rotation by receiving one of the signals corresponding thereto, and means for transmitting the respective rotations of the receivers to the inner dial and the indicator, respectively.