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:
Dec. 31, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 26, 2001
Tom M. Hedges, Great Falls, VA (US);
Sean Beliveau, Leesburg, VA (US);
Timothy Pratt, Leesburg, VA (US);
Rick Slater, Reston, VA (US);
Michael J. Sobel, Annandale, VA (US);
Arc Second, Inc., Dulles, VA (US);
Abstract
An improved receiver for use in a robotic theodolite spatial positioning apparatus that allows a single user to determine elevation and azimuth angle data. To determine elevation angle of the receiver, the receiver has a sensor that receives a first position signal and a second position signal emitted from an optical transmitter. The receiver outputs a first and a second receive signal. A calculator in the receiver determines the first interval time separation between the first and second receive signals, converts the first time interval separation into elevation angle data and outputs the elevation angle data. A display in the receiver receives and displays the elevation angle data. The receiver is selectively positionable within a workspace. Determination of azimuth angle of the receiver is made by receiving a strobe pulse, determining the periodicity of the pulse and comparing the periodicity with transmitter calibration information stored in the receiver, and converting the measure of time separation into azimuth angle data. The display in the receiver receives and displays the azimuth angle data. Additionally, the user can select desired azimuth and/or elevation angles, and the display can guide the user to the desired location.