Automatic Leveling Method And Automatic Leveling Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290800-A1
Application number	US-201615071535-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 16, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

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 in a condition as required, wherein the control device is configured so as to tilt the leveling base plate so that a change of 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 in a case where a tilt detecting signal from the tilt sensor is obtained in a process of the auxiliary leveling.

First claim

1 . An automatic leveling method in an automatic leveling device having one tilt sensor provided on a leveling base plate, comprising an auxiliary leveling and a main leveling, wherein said auxiliary leveling is for changing a tilting of said leveling base plate and for obtaining a signal from said tilt sensor in a process of changing the tilting, and said main leveling is for leveling said leveling base plate horizontally based on the signal from said tilt sensor.

2 . The automatic leveling method according to claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary leveling 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 is leveled horizontally, as an absolute position, and said auxiliary leveling 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; 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 so as to tilt said leveling base plate so that a change of the tilting of said leveling base plate follows a searching route as set in a process of a leveling from a condition where a tilt detecting signal from said tilt sensor is not obtained, carries out an auxiliary leveling to obtain signals from said tilt sensor in a process of changing the tilting, and carries out a main leveling by controlling said leveling mechanism unit based on the detection result from said tilt sensor in a case where a tilt detecting signal from said tilt sensor is obtained in a process of said auxiliary leveling.

6 . The automatic leveling device according to claim 5 , wherein said control device carries out said auxiliary leveling in which the tilting of said leveling base plate is changed according to a driving limit as set to leave a predetermined surplus with respect to a maximum leveling range of said leveling mechanism unit and a signal from said tilt sensor is obtained in the process of changing the tilting.

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

8 . 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 is started from said absolute position.

9 . 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.

10 . The automatic leveling device according to claim 8 , 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