Automatic point layout and staking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10690498-B2
Application number	US-201715591213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2017
Priority date	May 10, 2017
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

An automatic point layout system identifies points and their coordinates using vertical planes of laser light. Laser controllers aim vertical laser light planes that will cross at any desired point on the jobsite floor. The user views a virtual jobsite illustration on a remote controller touchscreen display, and selects a point of interest. Commands are sent to the two laser controllers, which aim their laser transmitters at that point of interest, showing visible laser light lines that intersect directly at the point of interest, for staking. The user selects a second point of interest on the touchscreen display, commanding the laser transmitters to rotate to a new set of coordinates. The user performs these functions seamlessly; the remote controller allows the user to quickly move from one point of interest to the next, without having changing to any other operating mode between the identifying and staking of each new point.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for using a layout and point transfer system, said method comprising:
(a) providing at least one laser controller, said at least one laser controller including: (i) a laser light transmitter that emits visible laser light, said laser light transmitter being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis; (ii) an electronic angle measuring instrument; and (iii) a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first wireless communications circuit, and a first input/output interface circuit;
(b) providing a remote controller, which includes: a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a second wireless communications circuit, a display, a user-controlled input circuit, and a second input/output interface circuit, wherein said at least one laser controller and said remote controller communicate with one another by use of said first and second wireless communications circuits;
(c) placing said at least one laser controller on a jobsite surface in a work area, and setting up said at least one laser controller so that, in terms of jobsite coordinates, a position of said at least one laser controller on said jobsite surface is determined;
(d) executing a computer program using said remote controller, which displays a virtual jobsite illustration on said display;
(e) selecting, using said display and said user-controlled input circuit, a specific point of interest on said virtual jobsite illustration, and, without changing operating modes, virtually staking said specific point of interest on said virtual jobsite illustration; and
(f) automatically indicating, on said jobsite surface, said specific point of interest to be staked, by aiming the laser light transmitter of said at least one laser controller directly at an azimuth angle of said specific point of interest on the jobsite surface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said selecting step comprises:
(a) a human user first selects said specific point of interest, using said display and said user-controlled input circuit;
(b) said computer program causes said display to show a point symbol to confirm said selected specific point of interest to the user;
(c) said computer program causes said display to show a menu box having a CREATE & STAKE symbol; and
(d) the user selects said CREATE & STAKE symbol, and the software automatically displays a new point designator symbol representing said selected specific point of interest on the display.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
(a) physically staking said specific point of interest on the jobsite surface;
(b) without referring to a separate point list file, selecting, using said display and said user-controlled input circuit, a second specific point of interest on said virtual jobsite illustration, and virtually staking said second specific point of interest on said virtual jobsite illustration;
(c) automatically indicating, on said jobsite surface, said second specific point of interest to be physically staked, by aiming the laser light transmitter of said at least one laser controller directly at an azimuth angle of said second specific point of interest on the jobsite surface; and
(d) physically staking said second specific point of interest on the jobsite surface.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of: after a new point designation is displayed, showing on said display at least one virtual laser transmitter light line that becomes aimed at the new point designator symbol representing the selected specific point of interest.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein: said at least one laser controller comprises a total station, and said laser light transmitter comprises a visible pointing laser beam that aims directly at said specific point of interest on the jobsite surface, to provide a visible indication on said jobsite surface as to where said specific point of interest should be physically staked.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
(a) said at least one laser controller comprises two laser transmitters that are positioned at separate positions on said jobsite surface, each of said two laser transmitters emitting a visible, vertical laser plane that rotates about a vertical axis; and
(b) the step of aiming the laser light transmitter of said at least one laser controller directly at an azimuth angle of said specific point of interest on the jobsite surface comprises:
(i) aiming said vertical laser plane of a first of said two laser transmitters directly at said specific point of interest on the jobsite surface, so that a first visible laser light line is produced upon said jobsite surface and directly crosses said specific point of interest;
(ii) aiming said vertical laser plane of a second of said two laser transmitters directly at said specific point of interest on the jobsite surface, so that a second visible laser light line is produced upon said jobsite surface and directly crosses said specific point of interest; and
(iii) an intersection of said first visible laser light line and said second visible laser light line provides a visible indication on said jobsite surface as to where said specific point of interest should be physically staked.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said user-controlled input circuit comprises at least one of:
(a) a touch-sensing circuit that communicates with said display, to create a touchscreen display;
(b) a joystick;
(c) a touchpad;
(d) a mouse;
(e) a keypad; and
(f) a keyboard.

8. A method for using a layout and point transfer system, said method comprising:
(a) providing a laser controller, said laser controller including: (i) an electronic distance measuring instrument; (ii) an electronic angle measuring instrument; and (iii) a first processing circuit, a first memory circuit, a first wireless communications circuit, and a first input/output interface circuit;
(b) providing a remote controller, which includes: a second processing circuit, a second memory circuit, a second wireless communications circuit, a display, a user-controlled input circuit, and a second input/output interface circuit, wherein said laser controller and said remote controller communicate with one another by use of said first and second wireless communications circuits;
(c) providing a movable target that is controlled by a human user;
(d) placing said laser controller on a jobsite surface in a work area, and setting up said laser controller so that, in terms of jobsite coordinates, a position of said laser controller on said jobsite surface is determined;
(e) executing a computer program using said remote controller, which displays a virtual jobsite illustration on said display;
(f) selecting, using said display and said user-controlled input circuit, a specific point of interest on said virtual jobsite illustration, and, without changing operating modes, virtually staking said specific point of interest on said virtual jobsite illustration; and
(g) automatically indicating said specific physical point of interest to be staked:
(i) by aiming the electronic distance measuring instrument of said laser controller directly at said movable target as the human user moves the movable target;
(ii) by providing directions to said user to guide movements of the movable target toward said specific point of interest on the jobsite surface; and
(iii) by providing an indication to said user that the movable target is now placed at said specific point of interest on the jobsite surface.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said selecting step comprises:
(a) a human user first selects said specific point of interest on said display;
(b) said computer program causes said display to show a point symbol to confirm said s

Assignees

• Trimble Inc

Inventors

• Turner Jamin Michael
• Morrissey Kevin Marc
• Snyder Chris William
• Hajmousa Ayman Zuhdi

Classifications

• G01B11/002 Primary

  for measuring two or more coordinates · CPC title

• G01S1/70

  using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves · CPC title

• G01C15/004 Primary

  Reference lines, planes or sectors · CPC title

• G01C15/02

  Means for marking measuring points · CPC title

• A61B6/587

  Alignment of source unit to detector unit · CPC title