IP Library Granted Patent US 9,175,958
Granted Patent B2
US 9,175,958 · App. 13/519,659 · Granted Nov 3, 2015

Electronic level

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,175,958
App. No.
13/519,659
Granted
Nov 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is an electronic level capable of accurately measuring a height difference between two points even when a waving method of finding and determining as a measured height a minimum value of read heights while rocking a leveling rod back and forth is used. An electronic level includes leveling rod reading-in means (S 2 ) which reads graduations on a leveling rod being rocked back and forth and stores read heights, and stores the time of reading, approximate function determining means (S 3 ) which approximates the read heights read in by the leveling rod reading-in means by a quadratic function of time, and measured value calculating means (S 4 ) which determines a minimum value of the quadratic function approximated by the approximate function determining means as a measured height.

Claims (15)

1. An electronic level comprising:

leveling rod reading-in means which periodically reads the heights of graduations on a leveling rod being rocked back and forth and stores the heights read at each period,

approximate function determining means which generates a curve formed by a polynomial function of time that approximates a plot of the read heights read in by the leveling rod reading-in means, and

measured value calculating means which determines a minimum value of the polynomial function of time approximated by the approximate function determining means as a measured height.

2. The electronic level according to claim 1 , wherein the polynomial is a quadratic function.

3. The electronic level according to claim 1 , further comprising an average calculating means which obtains a plurality of measured heights and calculates an average of the measured heights.

4. The electronic level according to claim 1 , comprising average determining means which calculates dispersion of the measured heights, and determines the average to be erroneous when the dispersion is a predetermined value or more.

5. An electronic level comprising:

leveling rod reading-in means which periodically reads graduations on a leveling rod being rocked back and forth and stores heights read at each period, and stores a time of reading,

approximate function determining means which generates a curve formed by a polynomial function of time that approximates a plot of the read heights in the vicinity of a portion of the curve including a maximum height read in by the leveling rod reading-in means, and

measured value calculating means which determines a minimum value of the polynomial function of time approximated by the approximate function determining means as a measured height.

6. A method of operating an electronic level having a leveling rod reading-in means, an approximate function determining means, and a measured value calculating means, comprising the steps of:

periodically reading graduations on a leveling rod being rocked back and forth and stores heights read at each period, and stores a time of reading,

generating a curve formed by a polynomial function of time that approximates a plot of the read heights in the vicinity of a portion of the curve including a maximum height read in by the leveling rod reading-in means, and

determining a minimum value of the polynomial function of time approximated by the approximate function determining means as a measured height.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2019
From: SOKKIA TOPCON CO., LTD.
To: TOPCON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048208/0158 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Apr 8, 2015
From: SOKKIA TOPCON CO., LTD.
To: SOKKIA TOPCON CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035388/0730 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2012
From: NAGAO, TAKASHI
To: SOKKIA TOPCON CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 028469/0427 →