US 7,552,025 B2
Position data interpolation method, position detecting sensor and position measuring device
Fumio Ohtomo, Itabashi-ku (Japan); and Hitoshi Otani, Itabashi-ku (Japan)
Assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON, Tokyo-to (Japan)
Filed on Dec. 07, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/635,116.
Claims priority of application No. 2005-370867 (JP), filed on Dec. 22, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0167154 A1, Jul. 19, 2007
Int. Cl. G06F 15/00 (2006.01); G01C 17/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 702—150  [702/161; 702/152; 702/153; 348/143] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A position data interpolation method, which interpolates a position data in a zone where position measurement cannot be performed by GPS, comprising:
a step of measuring a position of a mobile object by GPS;
a step of determining a first point and a second point as known points according to measurement results obtained before position measurement cannot be performed in the case that position measurement cannot be performed by GPS;
a step of continuously taking digital images of scenes in the surrounding in a process of moving from a first point, which is a known point, via a second point, which is a known point, to a third point, which is an unknown point;
a step of generating tracking points from an image acquired at the first point, and sequentially specifying the tracking points through the pursuit of points generated on continuously acquired images;
a step of obtaining 3-dimensional position data of the tracking points based on a result of orientation of the tracking points at the first point and at the second point and based on position data of the first point and the second point; and
a step of sequentially obtaining a position of the third point based on a result of orientation of the tracking points acquired at the third point and based on 3-dimensional position data of the tracking points.