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. 01, 2016
Filed:
Apr. 29, 2015
Trimble Ab, Danderyd, SE;
Christian Grässer, Vallentuna, SE;
Suat Köker, Danderyd, SE;
TRIMBLE AB, Danderyd, SE;
Abstract
A tracker unit for a measuring instrument such as a total station is disclosed. The tracker unit comprises a first and at least a second optical radiation source arranged at different positions and each of which is noncoaxially arranged with respect to a tracker pointing axis and adapted to emit optical radiation towards the reflective target when activated. The first and the at least a second optical radiation source are arranged at such positions so that the tracker pointing axis and the position of the first optical radiation source define a first plane and the tracker pointing axis and the position of the at least a second optical radiation source define a second plane, such that the first optical radiation source is coaxial with respect to the tracker pointing axis in a plane perpendicular to the first plane and the at least a second optical radiation source is coaxial with respect to the tracker pointing axis in a plane perpendicular to the second plane. At least one first set of signals is generated on basis of optical radiation impinging on the photosensors generated by reflection of optical radiation emitted by the first optical radiation source. At least one second set of signals is generated on basis of optical radiation impinging on the photosensors generated by reflection of optical radiation emitted by the at least one second optical radiation source. By employing the at least two optical radiation sources in the tracker unit that are eccentrically arranged with respect to the tracker pointing axis, a non-coaxial optic configuration may be employed in the tracker unit while at the same time allowing for a coaxial optic behavior in the tracker unit to be mimiced or 'simulated'.