Position measuring/plotting apparatus

Abstract

A position measuring/plotting apparatus and a position indicator are used in plotting a plan view representing a situation, for example, the site of a traffic accident. The position measuring/plotting apparatus generally includes a position detector to detect spatial coordinates of targets, a processor to detect plane coordinates of the targets based on the spatial coordinates, and a plan view plotter to plot a plan view based on the data regarding those plane coordinates. The position indicator comprises a plurality of targets fixedly mounted on a supporting rod having an end serving to indicate a position of a scene component. Each target includes a reflector adapted to reflect a light beam projected thereon and light emitters used to project light beams by which the target is detected by the position detector. The position detector comprises a light emitter to project a light beam on the target and a light receiver to detect the light beam reflected on the target to thereby detect spatial coordinates of the target. The spatial coordinates of the target detected by the position detector are processed by the processor to obtain plane coordinates corresponding to the position indicated by the end of the supporting rod. A plan view is then plotted by the plan view plotter based on the plane coordinates. Various kinds of information regarding the target, the supporting rod and the other components are superimposed on the light beams for target detection and the light receiver of the position detector used exclusively to detect these light beams identifies those various kinds of information.