Laser receiver and target with lighted indicators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11435182-B2
Application number	US-201916723512-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2019
Priority date	Dec 20, 2019
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

A movable accessory for an automatic point layout system includes a laser receiver, target screen, and an array of LEDs. A laser controller aims a vertical laser light plane toward any desired point on the jobsite. The user moves the accessory into the laser light plane, thereby impacting a photosensor on the laser receiver. The accessory's electronic controller translates that laser light impact and illuminates a corresponding LED. The illuminated LED indicates the desired point of interest on the jobsite floor for the user to mark. An electronic distance measuring instrument (an LDM) aims along the same laser plane, and the target screen reflects the LDM signal to provide a distance reading, which is sent to a remote controller operated by the user. Alternatively, the LED array indicates where the laser plane strikes the photosensor, allowing the user to quickly move the accessory to the null position of the photosensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A movable accessory for a layout and point transfer system, the accessory comprising:
(a) a target screen having a surface that is at least partially reflective to emissions from an electronic distance measuring instrument, said surface having a longitudinal axis;
(b) a laser light receiver comprising: a processing circuit, a memory circuit including instructions executable by said processing circuit, a communications circuit, an input/output interface circuit, and at least one photosensor that detects a wavelength emitted by a laser light transmitter;
(c) a plurality of photoemitters that are controlled by at least one output signal that is generated by said input/output interface circuit;
wherein:
(d) said plurality of photoemitters is mounted proximal to a bottom portion of said movable accessory, at least two of the individual photoemitters of said plurality being mounted at different horizontal positions;
(e) said at least one photosensor of the laser light receiver is oriented in a non-vertical orientation;
(f) said processing circuit is configured:
(i) to monitor a position of where a vertical plane of laser light strikes said at least one photosensor of the laser light receiver, as said accessory is moved by a user; and
(ii) to provide a predetermined visual indication produced by said plurality of photoemitters to indicate a position of where said laser light receiver has received the vertical plane of laser light.

2. The movable accessory of claim 1 , further comprising: a tilt angle sensor that determines a roll angle of said longitudinal axis with respect to a vertical direction, said tilt angle sensor generating an output signal that is directed to said input/output interface circuit;
wherein: said tilt angle sensor output signal is used by said processing circuit to compensate for a value of said roll angle that is not zero degrees, by determining a corrected position as to which of said plurality of photoemitters should be illuminated to provide a roll angle-compensated visual indication.

3. The movable accessory of claim 1 , wherein: said plurality of photoemitters comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs), and emit visible light.

4. The movable accessory of claim 3 , wherein: if a vertical plane of laser light strikes said at least one photosensor of the laser light receiver, one corresponding LED is illuminated, thereby providing said visual indication of where said laser light receiver has received the vertical plane of laser light.

5. The movable accessory of claim 3 , wherein: if a vertical plane of laser light strikes said at least one photosensor of the laser light receiver, multiple corresponding LEDs are illuminated, thereby providing said visual indication of where said laser light receiver has received the vertical plane of laser light.

6. The movable accessory of claim 1 , wherein: said plurality of photoemitters comprise multi-color light emitting diodes (LEDs), and emit visible light.

7. The movable accessory of claim 6 , wherein: if a vertical plane of laser light strikes said at least one photosensor of the laser light receiver, one corresponding LED is illuminated in a first color, thereby providing said visual indication of where said laser light receiver has received the vertical plane of laser light.

8. The movable accessory of claim 6 , wherein:
(a) if a vertical plane of laser light strikes said at least one photosensor of the laser light receiver;
(b) a plurality of said LEDs are illuminated in a first color; and
(c) one corresponding LED is illuminated in a second, different color, thereby providing said visual indication of where said laser light receiver has received the vertical plane of laser light.

9. The movable accessory of claim 6 , wherein:
(a) if a first vertical plane of laser light strikes said at least one photosensor of the laser light receiver;
(b) a plurality of said LEDs are illuminated in a first color; and
(c) if a second vertical plane of laser light strikes said at least one photosensor of the laser light receiver;
(d) a plurality of said LEDs are illuminated in a second color.

10. The movable accessory of claim 1 , wherein:
said plurality of photoemitters comprise multi-color light emitting diodes (LEDs), and emit visible light; and
a first strip of LEDs is mounted below a second strip of LEDs.

11. The movable accessory of claim 10 , wherein:
(a) if a first vertical plane of laser light strikes said at least one photosensor of the laser light receiver;
(b) a plurality of said LEDs from said first strip of LEDs are illuminated in a first color; and
(c) if a second vertical plane of laser light strikes said at least one photosensor of the laser light receiver;
(d) a plurality of said LEDs from said second strip of LEDs are illuminated in a second, different, color.

12. The movable accessory of claim 1 , further comprising:
(a) at least one leg that is attached to said movable accessory;
(b) wherein: said at least one leg making said movable accessory free-standing when resting on a floor surface.

13. The movable accessory of claim 1 , further comprising:
(a) an elongated pole that extends in a direction that is parallel to said longitudinal axis of the movable accessory, said target screen, said laser light receiver, and said plurality of photoemitters all being mounted to said pole;
(b) wherein: said pole must be held in place when the movable accessory is in use.

14. The movable accessory of claim 13 , further comprising:
(a) at least one level vial mounted to said pole;
(b) wherein: said pole must be held plumb in order to accurately determine a point of interest for a jobsite surface.

15. The movable accessory of claim 13 , further comprising:
(a) a tilt angle sensor that determines a roll angle of said longitudinal axis with respect to a vertical direction, said tilt angle sensor generating an output signal that is directed to said input/output interface circuit;
(b) wherein: said tilt angle sensor output signal is used by said processing circuit to compensate for a value of said roll angle that is not zero degrees, by determining a corrected position as to which of said plurality of photoemitters should be illuminated to provide a roll angle-compensated visual indication.

16. A movable accessory for a layout and point transfer system, the accessory comprising:
(a) a target screen having a surface that is at least partially reflective to emissions from an electronic distance measuring instrument, said surface having a longitudinal axis;
(b) a laser light receiver comprising: a processing circuit, a memory circuit including instructions executable by said processing circuit, a communications circuit, an input/output interface circuit, and at least one photosensor that detects a wavelength emitted by a laser light transmitter;
(c) a plurality of photoemitters that are controlled by at least one output signal that is generated by said input/output interface circuit;
wherein:
(d) said plurality of photoemitters is mounted proximal to a top portion of said movable accessory, at least two of the individual photoemitters of said plurality being mounted at different horizontal positions;
(e) said at least one photosensor of the laser light receiver is oriented in a non-vertical orientation;
(f) said processing circuit is configured:
(i) to monitor a position of where a vertical plane of laser light strikes said at least one photosensor of the laser light receiver, as said accessory is moved by a user; and
(ii) to provide a predetermined visual indication produced b

Assignees

• Trimble Inc

Inventors

• Hajmousa Ayman Zuhdi
• Snyder Chris William
• Unger Eric Keith

Classifications

• G01C15/006 Primary

  Detectors therefor · CPC title

• G01C9/24

  in closed containers partially filled with liquid so as to leave a gas bubble · CPC title

• G01S17/88

  Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title

• G01C15/002

  Active optical surveying means (optical plumbing G01C15/105) · CPC title

• G01C15/06 Primary

  Surveyors' staffs; Movable markers · CPC title