System and Method for Measuring by Laser Sweeps

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016282107-A1
Application number	US-201415033011-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 30, 2014
Priority date	Nov 1, 2013
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of performing geometrical measurements of remote objects includes performing a laser sweep of a measurement object with a handheld sensor device including a distance measurement unit and an inertial measurement unit. The method includes activating the distance measurement unit to perform a plurality of distance measurements during the laser sweep, and activating the inertial measurement unit to perform an inertial measurement in association with each of the distance measurements. A processor is used to process the distance measurements with reference to the associated inertial measurements to determine a geometric characteristic of the measurement object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of performing geometrical measurements of remote objects, the method comprising:
performing a laser sweep of a measurement object with a handheld sensor device, the handheld sensor device including a distance measurement unit and an inertial measurement unit, the distance measurement unit being configured to measure a distance to a point on the object in a measurement direction, the measurement direction being defined by an orientation of the handheld sensor device; activating the distance measurement unit to perform a plurality of distance measurements during the laser sweep; activating the inertial measurement unit to perform an inertial measurement in association with each of the distance measurements; and using a processor to process the distance measurements with reference to the associated inertial measurements to determine a geometric characteristic of the measurement object.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distance measurement unit comprises a laser range finder.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the inertial measurements include position and orientation data pertaining to the handheld measuring device.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the distance measurement unit and the inertial measurement unit are activated at a frequency of at least 30 Hz.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to take user characteristics into consideration in determining the geometric characteristic of the measurement object, the user characteristics comprising at least one of a forearm length and a distance between a wrist of the user and the laser range finder.

6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
using the processor to generate a 3D point collection for the measurement object from the distance measurements and the associated inertial measurements.

7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein using the processor to determine a geometric characteristic of the measurement object further comprises:
using the processor to process the distance measurements with reference to the associated inertial measurements to determine a dimension of a surface of the measurement object.

8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein using the processor to determine a geometric characteristic of the measurement object further comprises:
using the processor to process the distance measurements with reference to the associated inertial measurements to indirectly determine an angle between two surfaces of the measurement object.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein activating the distance measuring unit further comprises:
activating the distance measuring unit via a user interface of the handheld measuring device.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen interface.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
wirelessly transmitting at least one of the distance measurements, the inertial measurements, and the geometric characteristic to a remote device.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the remote device comprises a smart device.

13 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the handheld sensing device further comprises an image capturing device, and the method further comprises:
activating the image capturing device to capture a panoramic image during the laser sweep; and using the processor to associate distance measurements with points in the panoramic image.

14 . A handheld sensing device comprising:
a portable housing defining a measurement direction: a distance measurement unit supported by the housing and configured to measure a distance to a remote point in the measurement direction; an inertial measurement unit supported by the housing and configured to perform an inertial measurement in association with each distance measurement; and a processor configured to process the distance measurements with reference to the associated inertial measurements to determine a geometric characteristic of a measurement object.

15 . The handheld sensing device of claim 14 , wherein the distance measurement unit comprises a laser range finder.

16 . The handheld sensing device of claim 15 , wherein the inertial measurement unit comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a compass.

17 . The handheld sensing device of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a 3D point collection for the measurement object from the distance measurements and the associated inertial measurements.

18 . The handheld sensing device of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to process the distance measurements with reference to the associated inertial measurements to determine a dimension of a surface of the measurement object.

19 . The handheld sensing device of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to process the distance measurements with reference to the associated inertial measurements to indirectly determine an angle between two surfaces of the measurement object.

20 . The handheld sensing device of claim 16 , further comprising an image capturing device configured to capture a panoramic image of the measurement object, and
wherein the processor is configured to associate distance measurements with points in the panoramic image.

Assignees

• Pitzer Benjamin
• Roan Philip
• Schmidt Hauke
• Dammertz Ralph
• Flaig Alexander
• Roland mattias
• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Roland Matthias
• Pitzer Benjamin
• Roan Philip
• Dammertz Ralph
• Schmidt Hauke
• Flaig Alexander

Classifications

• G01S17/86

  Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders · CPC title

• G01S17/89 Primary

  for mapping or imaging · CPC title

• G01B11/026

  by measuring distance between sensor and object (G01B11/0608 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01B11/14 Primary

  for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00) · CPC title

• G01B11/24

  for measuring contours or curvatures · CPC title