Automatic leveling method and automatic leveling device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10006767-B2
Application number	US-201615071535-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

The invention provides an automatic leveling device comprising; one tilt sensor provided on a leveling base plate, a leveling mechanism unit capable of tilting the leveling base plate in at least two directions and a control device for controlling the leveling mechanism unit and for tilting the leveling base plate, wherein the control device is configured to tilt the leveling base plate so that the tilting of the leveling base plate follows a searching route as set in a process of a leveling from a condition where a tilt detecting signal from the tilt sensor is not obtained, carries out an auxiliary leveling to obtain signals from the tilt sensor in a process of changing the tilting, and carries out a main leveling by controlling the leveling mechanism unit based on the detection result from the tilt sensor where a tilt detecting signal is obtained from the auxiliary leveling.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automatic leveling method in an automatic leveling device having only one tilt sensor provided on a leveling base plate, comprising: an auxiliary leveling step and a main leveling step, wherein said auxiliary leveling step entails changing an inclination of said leveling base plate following a predetermined searching route that is defined by successive inclinations, so as to bring said leveling base plate from a condition in which no tilt detecting signal reflecting said tilt sensor's inclination is obtained from said tilt sensor into a condition in which a tilt detecting signal reflecting said tilt sensor's inclination is obtained from said tilt sensor, and wherein said main leveling step entails leveling said leveling base plate horizontally based on the tilt detecting signal from said tilt sensor.

2. The automatic leveling method according to claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary leveling step changes the tilting of said leveling base plate according to a driving limit as set to leave a predetermined surplus with respect to a maximum leveling range of said automatic leveling device.

3. The automatic leveling method according to claim 1 , wherein said automatic leveling device has a leveling result as obtained when said leveling base plate was previously leveled horizontally, as an absolute position, and said auxiliary leveling step is started from said absolute position.

4. The automatic leveling method according to claim 3 , wherein the leveling result is obtained every time an automatic leveling is executed, and said absolute position is updated based on said leveling result.

5. An automatic leveling device comprising: only one tilt sensor provided on a leveling base plate, a leveling mechanism unit capable of tilting said leveling base plate in at least two directions and a control device for controlling said leveling mechanism unit and for tilting said leveling base plate in a condition as required, wherein said control device is configured to carry out, by controlling said leveling mechanism unit,
an auxiliary leveling step that entails changing an inclination of said leveling base plate following a predetermined searching route that is defined by successive inclinations, so as to bring said leveling base plate from a condition in which no tilt detecting signal reflecting said tilt sensor's inclination is obtained from said tilt sensor into a condition in which a tilt detecting signal reflecting said tilt sensor's inclination is obtained from said tilt sensor, and a subsequent main leveling step that entails leveling said leveling baseplate horizontally based on the tilt detecting signal from said tilt sensor.

6. The automatic leveling device according to claim 5 , wherein said control device carries out said auxiliary leveling step that entails changing an inclination of said leveling base plate following a predetermined searching route that is defined by successive inclinations, so as to bring said leveling base plate from a condition in which no tilt detecting signal reflecting said tilt sensor's inclination is obtained from said tilt sensor into a condition in which a tilt detecting signal reflecting said tilt sensor's inclination is obtained from said tilt sensor, according to a driving limit as set to leave a predetermined surplus with respect to a maximum leveling range of said leveling mechanism unit.

7. An automatic leveling device according to claim 5 , wherein said control device stores leveling results as obtained, when said leveling base plate was previously leveled horizontally, as an absolute position, and said auxiliary leveling step is started from said absolute position.

8. The automatic leveling device according to claim 7 , wherein said control device obtains leveling results every time an automatic leveling is carried out and updates said absolute position based on said leveling results.

9. The automatic leveling device according to claim 5 , wherein said leveling mechanism unit comprises limit sensors for detecting a tilting limit and wherein said control device stores a position of said leveling base plate, when said limit sensors detect a tilting limit, as an absolute position, and said auxiliary leveling step is started from said absolute position.

10. The automatic leveling device according to claim 9 , wherein said control device obtains leveling results every time an automatic leveling is carried out and updates said absolute position based on said leveling results.

Assignees

• Kk Topcon

Inventors

• Momiyama Homare
• Yanobe Satoshi

Classifications

• G01C9/06 Primary

  Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means · CPC title

• G01C25/00

  Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass (testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38) · CPC title

• G05D3/203 Primary

  using fine or coarse devices · CPC title