PHOTOGRAMMETRIC MARKER ADAPTER FOR HOLES F i el d of the I nventi on

The present invention relates to an adapter for photogrammetry systems which is used in measuring and comparing how compatible the produced physical part is with the designs made in engineering phase in three dimensional photogrammetry systems.

Background of the Invention

Photogrammetry is a branch of science wherein methods from several disciplines including optic and projective geometry are used, credible information are obtained as a result of recording, measuring and interpreting of the photogrammetric images shaped by the beams reflecting from the physical objects and the environment they form and the energies they emit. The general benefit of this technique using the measurements made on the images is that it gives the whole appearance of the object in details. The image measurement has become practical upon the emerging of the photography which is an optic technical method of forming central perspectives compatible with the original comprehensively.

Photogrammetry is used in many fields including topographic mapping, architecture, engineering, production, quality control, geology, and archeology. The digital data received from the photogrammetry is matched and compared with the results of the computational models. The photographic methods can easily be applied in fields in which other methods cannot be used.

Three dimensional (3D) photogrammetry systems are used for measuring hole coordinates. It is measured with the 3D photogrammetry how compatible a physical part that is produced is with the designs made in engineering phase and a comparison is made between two data. Photogrammetry operates with the principle of taking the photographs of scale bar, coded marker, and uncoded marker equipment placed on the object to be measured with a high resolution camera, and processing these photographed by a computer software, and then determining the distance relations between the equipment used in the three dimensional coordinate system.

Photogrammetry is commonly used in hole center measurements. In hole center measurements, uncoded marker put centrally on the pin is placed inside holes on the object to be measured. The uncoded marker gives the hole center coordinates of the product which is produced with the design performed during photographing. Therefore, the hole center coordinate and the design measurements of the design which is made and the product which is produced are compared. For this reason, in hole center measurements, it is quite important to mark the center point of the hole accurately.

In the apparatuses that are being currently used, stepped pins in close measurements to the center of the hole center diameter are used. These pins are produced in certain ranges according to the hole diameters to be used. For example, for holes with 10-12 mm diameter, five different apparatuses having pin diameters of 10-10,5-1 1-11,5-12 mm should be used. Before starting the measurement, the pins are placed inside the holes to be measured by the operator. Due to the hole diameter differences originating from production tolerances, problems are experienced during mounting. Due to the diameter differences, an adapter compatible with each diameter is required. The supply of adapters compatible with different diameters causes delays in measurement time, as well as it increases the cost.

United States Patent Document no US6279246 (B1), an application known in the state of the art, di scl oses an apparatus and method devel oped i n order to determi ne a position of a hole. In the invention disclosed in the said patent document the measurement is made by inserting a measurement tip inside the hole. The most important difference between the said patent document and the invention of the present application is that the said measurement apparatus does not have a flexible structure the diameter of which can expands or narrows on the measurement tip, and the holder does not provide solution for holes with different diameters. The said invention cannot be adapted to completely fit into the holes in different diameters. The invention of the present application can be adapted to the holes with different diameters to be measured. The measurements of holes with different diameters can be performed with only one adapter with the invention of the present application; the apparatus can easily be adapted to the holes with different diameters by means of the flexible parts surrounding the pin placed inside the hole to be measured. The use of single apparatus during measurement decreases the measurement time, and the need for the user having an adapter in different diameter is eliminated. Furthermore, fast and accurate results can be obtained with the invention of the present application.

Currently, there is no adapter compatible with holes with different diameters used in photogrammetry systems which can be used for holes with different diameters, which prevents a space between the hole and itself by right fitting into the center of the hole, which eliminates the use of a plurality of adapters for holes with different diameters, and therefore which decreases the cost.

T he 0 bj ecti ve of the I nventi on The objective of the present invention is to provide an adapter for photogrammetry systems which is compatible with holes with different diameters, which completely fits into the hole center and thus eliminates the problems of not fitting into the hole of the apparatus or falling out of the hole in diameter changes.

An objective of the present invention is to provide an adapter for photogrammetry systems which eliminates to use of a plurality of apparatuses.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an adapter for photogrammetry systems which can perform the operations by itself that can be done by a plurality of apparatuses, which eliminates the burden of having/carrying an apparatus in different diameters, and which provides saving in the cost.

Summary of the Invention

The adapter used in photogrammetry systems developed in order to fulfill the objective of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the other claims dependent to the said claim can be adapted to holes with different diameters. The adapter is designed such that it will fit into the hole to be measured without any space. The adapter has an uncoded marker and an uncoded marker slot. The uncoded marker slot is placed on the pin with the uncoded marker fitted thereon. There are flexible protrusions on the lower part of the pin which are for the adapter to adapt holes in every diameter. The adapter is pressed inside the hole until the uncoded marker surface corresponds to the hole surface. The pressure applied on the uncoded marker moves the flexible protrusions together and enables the adapter to be adapted to the holes with smaller or larger diameters. When the contact of the surfaces is enabled, the adapter and the center of the hole coincide. Therefore, the uncoded marker to be used for photogrammetry is completely fitted into the hole to be measured.

Detailed Description of the Invention An adapter for photogrammetry systems developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is the schematic view of the use of the adapter in the photogrammetry system.

Figure 2 is the cross-sectional view of an adapter placed inside the hole to be measured.

Figure 3 is the sectional view of an adapter.

Figure 4 is the exploded view of an adapter.

Figure 5 is the lateral perspective view of an adapter.

Figure 6 is the perspective view of an adapter.

Figure 7 is the top view of the flexible protrusions.

Figure 8 is the bottom view of the flexible protrusions.

The components shown in the figures are each given reference numbers as follows:

1. Adapter

2. U ncoded marker

3. U ncoded marker si ot

4. Pin

5. Flexible protrusion

51. Inclined surface

52. Flat surface

A. Panel

B. Hole

X . Distance An adapter for photogrammetry systems (1 ), which is used in measuring and comparing how compatible the produced physical part is with the designs made in engineering phase in three dimensional photogrammetry systems, essentially comprises

- at least one uncoded marker (2) which helps the measurement,

- at least one uncoded marker slot (3) which prevents the uncoded marker (2) from being harmed and enables it to be connected to the other parts,

- at least one pin (4) which is used for fixing and centering the parts,

at least one flexible protrusion (5) which adapts to the diameter of the hole (B) it enters, and which centers the hole (B) coordinate. The inventive adapter (1) is placed into the hole (B) the photogrammetry measurement of which is to be performed. By means of the adapter (1) placed into the hole (B), the coordinates and the center of the hole (B) is determined with photogrammetry. In one embodi ment of the i nvention, there is an uncoded marker (2) i n the adapter (1). The uncoded marker (2) is the member which is detected by the photogrammetry software and the central points of which are calculated and thus which helps the measurement. The uncoded marker (2) is located on the top part of the adapter (1). The uncoded marker (2) can be reflective or unreflective. The uncoded marker (2) can be in form of a label comprising a paint layer or circular shapes, as well as it can be a part in form of a disc. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the uncoded marker (2) is in form of a disc, and the middle part is white and its edges are black. In one embodiment of the invention, there is an uncoded marker slot (3). The uncoded marker slot (3) prevents the uncoded marker (2) from being damaged, and it enables it to connect to the other parts. The uncoded marker slot (3) can be in a preferred geometry such that it will be similar to the geometry of the uncoded marker (2). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the uncoded marker slot (3) has a hollow circular structure. The uncoded marker slot (3) on which the uncoded marker (2) is placed is placed on the hole (B) to be measured such that the surfaces will contact each other. After measurement process is completed, the user can hold the adapter (1) from the uncoded marker slot (3) and remove it outside the hole (B). The surface of the uncoded marker slot (3) that will fit on the hole (B) is preferably flat. By means of the lower surface of the uncoded marker slot (3) being flat, the adapter (1) is placed in a position such that it will completely contact the hole (B) surface preferably in a flat way.

The uncoded marker (2) and the uncoded marker slot (3) in which the uncoded marker (2) is placed forms the top part of the adapter (1). In one embodiment of the invention, the top part of the adapter (1) completely fits into the hole (B). In another embodiment of the invention, the top part of the adapter (1) remains above the hole (B).

In one embodiment of the invention, there is a pin (4). The pin (4) is the part which is used for centering. The pin (4) is preferably located around the uncoded marker (2). The pin (4) is positioned according to the center point of the uncoded marker (2), and the center point of the pin (4) is preferably in the same axis with the center point of the uncoded marker (2). The pin (4) can be long and thin cylindrical or conical. The diameter of the upper surface of the pin (4) that is close to outside of the hole (B) is larger than the surface of its lower surface that is close to inside of the hole (B). In one embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the upper surface of the pin (4) that is on the uncoded marker (2) side is same along the distance (x) preferred till the lower surface. The diameter gets smaller after the said distance (x), and it continues until the lower surface. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pin (4) has a conical geometry. The structure of the pin (4) narrowing from upwards to downwards enables each one of the flexible protrusions (5) to narrow and the adapter (1) to fit into the hole (B) when it is preferred that the adapter (1) enters into a hole (B) with a small diameter. In one embodiment of the invention, the pin (4) and the uncoded marker slot (3) are single piece. There is an uncoded marker slot (3) on the upper surface of the pin (4). The diameter of the surface of the pin (4) facing the uncoded marker slot (3) is preferably larger than the diameter of its circular surface located on the lower part. In this embodiment of the invention, there is an opening between the lower surface of the uncoded marker slot (3) provided on the upper surface of the pin (4) and the circular surface of the pin (4) with larger diameter.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is a flexible protrusion (5). The flexible protrusion (5) surrounds the pin (4), and thus enables the adapter (1) to fully fit into the holes (B) in every diameter. There can be a preferred number of flexible protrusions (5) in the adapter (1). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are three flexible protrusions (5). In one embodiment of the invention, each flexible protrusion (5) is preferably in semi-circle form such that a circular form will be formed. The flexible protrusions (5) are centered from their one ends and they form a circular structure. The flexible protrusions (5) are nested preferably on the pin (4), and each one of them grabs the other one and they are centered around the pin (4) (Figure 4). The length of the upper flat surface (52) of the flexible protrusions (5) towards the uncoded marker (2) is taller than the length of the lower flat surface (52) close to inside of the hole. The inclined surfaces (51) of the flexible protrusions (5) contact the inner surface of the hole (B). The inclined surfaces (51) contacting the inner surface of the hole (B) form a resistance in opposite direction, and make the adapter (1) compatible with holes with different diameters by moving closer or farther from each other. After the flexible protrusions (5) enter into the hole (B), the adapter (1) is pushed until the flat surfaces (52) of the flexible protrusions (5). While the flexible protrusions (5) are being placed inside the hole (B), the adapter (1) easily adapts to the diameter of the hole (B) in which it enters upon each one of the flexible protrusions (5) enters into each other, and it centers the hole (B) coordinate. The flexible protrusions (5) enable to correctly center the hole (B) coordinate in measurements performed with 3D photogrammetry systems. The flexible protrusions (5) wrapped on the pin (4) and the pin (4) form the lower surface of the adapter (1 ). The lower part of the adapter (1) is the part entering into the hole (B). The use of the adapter (1) present in this embodiment of the invention is performed as follows: The adapter (1) is placed on the hole (B) on the panel (A). The uncoded marker (2) surface is compressed until it contacts the hole (B) surface. When the surfaces touch each other, the center of the adapter (1) coincides with the center of the hole (B).

When the adapter (1) is attached to the panel (A) on which holes (B) are made, the flexible protrusions (5) contact the inner surfaces of the hole (B). Upon the flexible protrusions (5) contacting the hole (B) inner surfaces, a resistance in opposite direction is created. The said resistance forms a pressure on the flexible protrusions (5) and enables the flexible protrusions (5) to move towards each other and the diameter to narrow. U pon being compressed towards the adapter (1 ), the flexible protrusions (5) flex towards the circular center, in other words towards the pin (4). The inclined surfaces of the flexible protrusions (5) are tightened inside the hole (B). The adapter (1) is pushed until the flat surface of the flexible protrusions (5). By this means, the adapter (1 ) is inserted into the panel

(A) without any opening. When it is preferred to detach the adapter (1) from the hole (B), the adapter (1) is held and pulled from the uncoded marker slot (3) outside the panel (A), and it is removed from the panel (A). The inventive adapter (1) can be placed into holes (B) with different diameters. Since the pin (4) and the flexible protrusions (5) forming the part of the adapter (1) which enters into the hole (B) move away or towards each other according to the diameter of the hole (B), the adapter (1) becomes compatible with the holes

(B) having different diameters, and there will be no incompatibility between the hole (B) and the adapter (1) in case of any diameter change. The adapter (1 ) developed for photogrammetry systems eliminates problems such as falling out of the hole (B) occurring in case there is an incompatibility between the hole (B) and the adapter (1).

The inventive adapter (1) also eliminates the use of a plurality of members in different diameters for holes (B) with different diameters. The cost is also decreased with the adapter (1) which can perform the work that be performed by a plurality of members.