Patent ID: 7804051

Claim:
A geodetic target object comprising: at least one reflector with a reflector surface for receiving incident light received through an optically transmissive surface and for reflecting the incident light in substantially the opposite direction to that received back through the optically transmissive surface for measurement of a distance between the geodetic target object and a remote measurement unit; a receiving channel having a detector for receiving electromagnetic radiation through a surface of an endface disposed directly adjacent to the reflector; a data transmitting channel for communicating information encoded data from the geodetic target object to the remote measurement unit, the data transmitting channel having a radiation source configured to emit modulated and information encoded electromagnetic transmitted radiation through the surface of the endface and at an optical power level sufficient to provide communication of the information encoded data to the remote measuring unit, wherein the endface through which the receiving and transmitting channel communicate forms a cohesive aperture with the optically transmissive surface through which the reflector reflects the incident light; and electronics configured to control the transmission of the information encoded electromagnetic radiation by the radiation source.