Trimble has been granted a patent for a measurement instrument that includes a front lens assembly, a distance measurement module, and a deflection module. The instrument is capable of transmitting and receiving optical radiation along a measurement path, with the deflection module deflecting the measurement path across the instrument optical axis. The patent also includes a claim for a measurement instrument with additional features such as controllable drives, a mixer, and a synchronizer for obtaining a grid of distance measurements. GlobalData’s report on Trimble gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Trimble, GNSS-based positioning was a key innovation area identified from patents. Trimble's grant share as of September 2023 was 74%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Measurement instrument with deflection module for scanning function
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11774557B2) describes a measurement instrument that utilizes an alidade, a base, and a center unit to obtain distance measurements with a selected angular spacing. The instrument includes a front lens assembly, a distance measurement module, a deflection module, and a synchronizer.
The center unit is mounted on the alidade for rotation about a first axis, while the alidade is mounted on the base for rotation about a second axis. The instrument also features a first controllable drive for rotating the center unit and a second controllable drive for rotating the alidade.
The distance measurement module transmits optical radiation along a transmit path and receives optical radiation along a receive path. A deflection module, located within the center unit, includes at least one deflection element that can provide repetitive displacement of the transmit path parallel to the instrument optical axis upon rotation. The deflection element can also deflect the transmit path across the instrument optical axis, enabling a scanning function.
A mixer is positioned on the optical path between the distance measurement module and the front lens assembly to merge the transmit path and the receive path, forming a measurement beam. The synchronizer coordinates the operation of the first controllable drive, the second controllable drive, the deflection module, and the distance measurement module to obtain a grid of distance measurements with a selected angular spacing.
The patent also mentions various additional features, such as a drive element and a drive controller to control the rotational or translational motion of the deflection element, an angle sensor to detect the angle of rotation of the deflection element, and a displacement sensor to detect the translational displacement of the deflection element.
Overall, this measurement instrument patent describes a system that can obtain distance measurements with precise angular spacing by utilizing a combination of rotational and deflective movements. The instrument has potential applications in various fields that require accurate distance measurements, such as surveying, mapping, and remote sensing.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
