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:
Nov. 25, 2008
Filed:
Mar. 22, 2005
Clyde C. Goad, Columbus, OH (US);
Vernon Joseph Brabec, Livermore, CA (US);
Raymond M. O'connor, Danville, CA (US);
Clyde C. Goad, Columbus, OH (US);
Vernon Joseph Brabec, Livermore, CA (US);
Raymond M. O'Connor, Danville, CA (US);
Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc., Livermore, CA (US);
Abstract
The position of an apparatus moving along a surface is determined by calculating a plurality of vertical angles between the apparatus and a known location, where the vertical angles vary only within a range having a largest expected maximum angle. A plurality of horizontal distances between the apparatus and the known location are determined, each of the horizontal distances associated with one of the vertical angles. The horizontal distances are computed to within a tolerance based at least in part on the largest expected maximum angle. A plurality of heights of the apparatus are then determined using the plurality of vertical angles and associated horizontal distances. In particular embodiments, the known location may be associated with a rotating laser used with a photodetector at the target to determine the vertical angle. Further, the target may comprise a GPS receiver for use in determining the horizontal distance measurements.