The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 30, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 05, 1996
Richard W Davidson, Danville, CA (US);
Fumio Ohtomo, Tokyo, JP;
Kazuaki Kimura, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Hirano, Livermore, CA (US);
Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A control system is disclosed that controls the position of a grading implement of a construction machine according to a site plan. The control system has three basic components: a stationary tracking station, a computer connected to the tracking station, and an implement controller attached to the construction machine. The tracking station measures a distance and an azimuth (horizontal) angle to a remote target located on the construction machine and communicates that position information to the computer. The computer consults a stored site plan to determine what elevation is desired at that position and calculates a corresponding zenith (vertical) angle, and communicates the desired zenith angle to the tracking station. The tracking station in turn positions a zenith-reference laser beam at the desired zenith angle. The implement controller senses the zenith-reference laser beam and adjusts the grading implement relative to the zenith-reference laser beam until its desired position is obtained.