Leica Geosystems Ag

Hexagon Technology Center Gmbh

Leica Geosystems Hds, Inc.

Gregory Charles Walsh

Alan Aindow

Bernhard Metzler

Alexander Velizhev

Roman Parys

Ralph Storz

Marc Pollefeys

Christopher Robin Thewalt

Bernhard Zeisl

Ashavini Pavaskar

Kevin Köser

Derik Schroeter

Daniel Marty

A laser-scanning method may include obtaining scan data captured by a laser scanner in which the laser scanner includes a first private key that uniquely corresponds to the laser scanner. The laser-scanning method may include obtaining a first digital signature corresponding to the obtained scan data that is generated based on the scan data and the first private key. The laser-scanning method may include validating the first digital signature using a first public key that corresponds to the first private key and generating a report that summarizes results of the validating. The laser-scanning method may include transforming and aggregating, by a scan data aggregator, the scan data as aggregated scan data and generating a second digital signature corresponding to the aggregated scan data. The second digital signature may be generated by signing hashes corresponding to the aggregated scan data using a second private key corresponding to the scan data aggregator.

Laser scanner configured to generate a digital chain of custody

A method may include identifying features in images of a setting captured by cameras associated with a laser scanner at a first location. The features may correspond to elements in the setting. The method may include correlating the features with scan point data associated with the elements. The scan point data may be derived from a scan of the setting by a laser of the laser scanner at the first location. The method may include tracking the features within images captured by the cameras. The images may be captured during movement of the laser scanner away from the first location. The method may include estimating a position and/or an orientation of the laser scanner at a second location based on the tracking of the features and based on the correlating of the features with the scan point data.

Multi-camera laser scanner

In one example, a method may include receiving one or more laser scan of a scene, receiving two or more camera images of the scene, determining one or more decision regions where the camera images are different from one another, detecting edges of the decision regions where the camera images are different from one another, comparing the decision regions where the camera images are different from one another inside of the detected edges with a corresponding region in the laser scan to determine which of the camera images includes a desired region that more closely corresponds to the laser scan, and generating a corrected image including the desired region that more closely corresponds to the laser scan.

Image correction for lasers scanners

Embodiments may include methods and systems for obtaining location information regarding an object. In one example, a laser pulse may be generated. The laser pulse may be divided into a plurality of laser pulse signals. Each of the laser pulse signals may be provided to a corresponding delay path, each delay path having a different length. An output of each delay path may be directed to the object. A plurality of reflected time-separated laser pulse signals from the object may be detected. The plurality of time-separated laser pulse signals may be combined to provide a recombined laser pulse signal. The recombined laser pulse signal may be resolved to generate object location information regarding the object.

Lidar system

A method of determining a registration between Scanworlds may include determining a first viewpoint of a setting based on first point data of a first Scanworld. The first Scanworld may include information about the setting as taken by a first laser scanner at a first location. The method may further include determining a second viewpoint of the setting based on second point data of a second Scanworld. The second Scanworld may include information about the setting as taken by a second laser scanner at a second location. The method may further include generating a first rectified image based on the first viewpoint and generating a second rectified image based on the second viewpoint. Additionally, the method may include determining a registration between the first Scanworld and the second Scanworld based on the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint.

Registration of multiple laser scans

A laser imaging, detection, and ranging (LIDAR) system may include a scanner and a compression module. The scanner may be configured to generate a scan including multiple range values associated with multiple scan points of the scan. The compression module may be configured to map multiple range values to multiple integers. The multiple integers may represent multiple range intervals. The multiple range intervals may include multiple differently sized range intervals. The size of the range intervals may be a function of range according to an interval size function.

Range data compression

A device may include a laser configured to rotate about an azimuth axis of the device and an elevation axis of the device. The device may also include a plurality of cameras configured to rotate about the azimuth axis and fixed with respect to the elevation axis. The cameras may be configured to have a collective field-of-view that includes a collective elevation field-of-view and a collective azimuth field-of-view. The device may also include a control system configured to direct the laser to rotate about the azimuth axis and the elevation axis such that the laser is configured to scan a setting. The control system may also be configured to direct the cameras to each begin capturing an image of the setting at substantially the same time.

A model-based scan line encoder is disclosed. A method of model-based scan line encoding includes defining a geometry model for describing a scan line of a scan, the scan line including multiple scan points. The method further includes calculating a trajectory model representing an approximate pattern of deviation of the multiple scan points relative to the geometry model. The method further includes calculating multiple residuals, each of the residuals associated with a difference between the deviation of the scan points and the trajectory model. The method may further include compressing the residuals.

Model-based scan line encoder

Methods and systems for using spectrally separated light pulses to collect more LIDAR information are presented. In one example, a laser pulse may be directed to a point on an object and a corresponding return light signal may be received. The return light signal may be wavelength separated into a plurality of spectral pulse components. Each of the spectral pulse components may be propagated down a separate fiber optic delay line each having a different length to provide a plurality of time-separated spectral pulse components. The time-separated spectral pulse components may be combined to provide a recombined spectral pulse signal. The recombined spectral pulse signal can be provided to an intensity-related measuring/detection circuitry to generate corresponding object location information and object spectral information regarding the point on the object.

LIDAR system

A method may include projecting, onto a first projection plane of a first projection volume, first points from a point cloud of a setting that are within the first projection volume. Further, the method may include matching a plurality of the projected first points with a cross-section template that corresponds to a line parametric object (LPO) of the setting to determine a plurality of first element points of a first primary projected element. Additionally, the method may include projecting, onto a second projection plane of a second projection volume, second points from the point cloud that are within the second projection volume and matching a plurality of the projected second points with the cross-section template to determine a plurality of second element points of a second primary projected element. Moreover, the method may include generating a parameter function based on the first element points and the second element points.

Line parametric object estimation

Methods and systems for using spectrally separated light pulses to collect more LIDAR information are presented. In one embodiment, a monochromatic pulse is transmitted to collect range information and a white pulse is transmitted a short time afterwards to collect spectral responsivity information or color of the target. In another embodiment, the white light pulse is used to collect both range and spectral responsivity information of the target. In another embodiment, the spectral separated laser is spatially spread in order to collect range information over more than one point at a time.

The performance of a laser scanner is optimized in the field by automatically determining appropriate laser parameters for the scan location. A laser control system uses information such as the environmental temperature to select an appropriate range of start points for various laser parameters, such as pump temperature and laser currents. Test pulses over that range can be used to determine optimal operating parameters.

Laser operation for survey instruments

An embodiment of the invention includes using a set of telescopes to calibrate a three dimensional optical scanner. Three separate calibrations are disclosed for a survey grade calibration: () angular calibration, implemented using at least one anti-podal pair of telescopes, () range calibration, implemented using at least one telescope mounted fiber recirculator, and () tilt calibration, implemented using at least one pair of telescopes not mounted in anti-podal configuration and an integral tilt table. Methods for aligning or measuring the mis-alignment between anti-podal telescope pairs are also described.

Telescope based calibration of a three dimensional optical scanner

Methods for using spectrally separated light pulses to collect more LIDAR information are presented. In one embodiment, a monochromatic pulse is transmitted to collect range information and a white pulse is transmitted a short time afterwards to collect spectral responsivity information or color of the target. In another embodiment, the white light pulse is used to collect both range and spectral responsivity information of the target. In another embodiment, the spectral separated laser is spatially spread in order to collect range information over more than one point at a time.

Growing community of inventors

Walnut Creek, CA, United States of America

Gregory Charles Walsh