Patent ID: 8184267
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: G01C,G01S

Abstract:
1. A surveying instrument provided with a tracking function, comprising a first image pickup means with a first solid image pickup element, a second image pickup means with a second solid image pickup element, an image pickup control instrument for controlling image pickup conditions of said first image pickup means and said second image pickup means, and a control unit for controlling the tracking operation of a target based on a target image signal obtained at said first solid image pickup element or based on a target image signal obtained at said second solid image pickup element, wherein said first image pickup means can acquire an image in wider range by said second image pickup means, and wherein said image pickup control instrument controls in such manner that a target image is acquired by said first image pickup means when the target image is out of a photodetection range of the target of said second solid image pickup element and controls in such manner that the target image is acquired by said second image pickup means when the target image detected by said first solid image pickup element is within a predetermined range, and wherein a predetermined range including an optical axis of said second image pickup means is set up, and when a photodetection position of the target by said second solid image pickup element is included in said predetermined range, a mask processing is performed on said second solid image pickup element in such manner that a photodetection signal of said predetermined range is acquired, and the tracking operation is performed based on a photodetection signal of said predetermined range.