Automated layout and point transfer system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10935369-B2
Application number	US-201816168167-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2018
Priority date	Jun 28, 2010
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A two-dimension layout system identifies points and their coordinates, and transfers identified points on a solid surface to other surfaces in a vertical direction. Two leveling laser light transmitters are used with a remote unit to control certain functions. The laser transmitters rotate about the azimuth, and emit vertical (plumb) laser planes. After being set up using benchmark points, the projected lines of the laser planes will intersect on the floor of a jobsite at any point of interest in a virtual floor plan, under control of a user with the remote unit. An “active target” can be used to more automatically create benchmarks. A laser distance meter can be installed on base units to automatically scan a room or a wall to determine certain key features.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A layout and point transfer system, comprising:
(a) a first laser controller, including a rotatable first laser light transmitter that emits a first laser light plane, a first communications circuit, and a first processing circuit; and
(b) a second laser controller, including a rotatable second laser light transmitter that emits a second laser light plane, a second communications circuit, and a second processing circuit;
(c) a computerized active target, including an omni-directional laser light sensor, a third communications circuit, and a third processing circuit;
wherein:
(d) said computerized active target is configured to send instructions to said first laser controller and said second laser controller to control aiming of said first and second laser light transmitters so that said first and second laser light planes both become aimed at said omni-directional laser light sensor, for establishing a position of said computerized active target as a benchmark for use by said system.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
(a) said first and second processing circuits are configured to register locations of said first and second laser controllers on a physical jobsite surface with respect to at least two benchmark points which have been established by said computerized active target and which are also located on said physical jobsite surface; and
(b) said first and second laser controllers are configured to provide a visual representation of a virtual point on said physical jobsite surface, by aiming said first laser light plane and said second laser light plane, to indicate a physical location of said virtual point.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
(a) said first laser light plane creates a first visual laser light line along said physical jobsite surface;
(b) said second laser light plane creates a second visual laser light line along said physical jobsite surface; and
(c) said visual representation comprises said first and second visual laser light lines intersecting at said virtual point.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first and second planes of laser light comprise at least one of:
(a) a static laser fan beam; (b) a rotating laser light beam; and (c) a dithering laser light beam.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
(a) a remote controller, including a fourth processing circuit, a memory circuit including instructions executable by said fourth processing circuit, and a fourth communications circuit;
(b) said first laser controller further comprises: (i) a first leveling platform; (ii) a first azimuth position encoder; (iii) a first azimuth motor drive for automatically positioning said first laser light transmitter, under control of said remote controller; and
(c) said second laser controller further comprises: (i) a second leveling platform; (ii) a second azimuth position encoder; (iii) a second azimuth motor drive for automatically positioning said second laser light transmitter, under control of said remote controller.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein, when desired, for establishing a position of said computerized active target for use by said system:
(a) said computerized active target controls the movements of said first azimuth motor drive of said first laser light transmitter, using commands sent to said first laser controller; and
(b) said computerized active target controls the movements of said second azimuth motor drive of said second laser light transmitter, using commands sent to said second laser controller.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
(a) a remote controller, including a fourth processing circuit, a fourth communications circuit, a memory circuit including instructions executable by said fourth processing circuit, a display, and an input sensing circuit that allows a user to enter commands to said remote controller, said remote controller being in communication with said first and second laser controllers, said remote controller storing a virtual floor plan in said memory circuit;
wherein:
(b) after said computerized active target, while being positioned at a first location on a physical jobsite surface, has been used to establish said benchmark, said computerized active target is then moved from said first location on the physical jobsite surface to a second, different location on the physical jobsite surface;
(c) while being positioned at said second location on the physical jobsite surface, said computerized active target is configured to send additional instructions to said first laser controller and said second laser controller to control aiming of said first and second laser light transmitters so that said first and second laser light planes both become aimed at said omni-directional laser light sensor, for establishing a current position of said computerized active target as a second benchmark for use by said system;
(d) said remote controller is configured to receive input data regarding an actual distance between said first benchmark and said second benchmark;
(e) said fourth processing circuit is configured to record said actual distance in said memory circuit of the remote controller; and
(f) said fourth processing circuit is further configured to scale said virtual floor plan to actual dimensions of said jobsite, based upon said actual distance between said first and second benchmarks.

8. A method for setting up a layout and point transfer system, said method comprising:
(a) providing a first laser controller which includes a first processing circuit, a first communications circuit, a first azimuth angle measuring instrument, and a rotatable first laser light transmitter that emits a first laser light plane;
(b) providing a second laser controller which includes a second processing circuit, a second communications circuit, a second azimuth angle measuring instrument, and a rotatable second laser light transmitter that emits a second laser light plane;
(c) providing a remote controller that includes a third processing circuit, a third communications circuit, a memory circuit including instructions executable by said third processing circuit, a display, and an input sensing circuit that allows a user to enter commands to said remote controller, said remote controller being in communication with said first and second laser controllers;
(d) providing a computerized active target that includes an omni-directional laser light sensor, a fourth communications circuit, and a fourth processing circuit;
(e) positioning said first laser controller and said second laser controller at two different locations on a solid surface of a jobsite, and positioning said computerized active target at a third location on said solid surface;
(f) determining an alignment axis between said first laser controller and said second laser controller;
(g) starting a new virtual jobsite floor plan in said memory circuit of the remote controller;
(h) activating said computerized active target;
(i) under control of command signals sent by said computerized active target, aiming said first laser light transmitter and said second laser light transmitter so that said omni-directional laser light sensor is impacted by both said first and second laser light planes; determining a first set of azimuth angles of said first and second laser light transmitters; and recording said first set of azimuth angles in said memory circuit of the remote controller, thereby creating a first benchmark for said virtual floor plan stored in said memory circuit;
(j) moving said computerized active target to a fourth location on said solid surface;
(k) under control of command signals sent by said computerized active target, aiming said first laser light transmitter and said second laser

Assignees

• Trimble Navigation Ltd

Inventors

• Hayes James N
• Snyder Chris W
• Hajmousa Ayman
• Unger Eric Keith

Classifications

• G01S17/87 Primary

  Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves · CPC title

• G01C15/004

  Reference lines, planes or sectors · CPC title

• G01B11/14 Primary

  for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00) · CPC title

• G01S7/481

  Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements · CPC title

• G06F15/00

  Digital computers in general (details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00); Data processing equipment in general · CPC title