Level with digital display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11892320-B2
Application number	US-202217737693-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2022
Priority date	Feb 20, 2019
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

A tool, such as a digital level, includes displays on top and side surfaces of the level. The top surface display provides an additional visual means to communicate the orientation of the level by emitting any of several visual signals. A processor in the level determines a measured orientation of the level and sends a communication signal to the top surface display to emit a selected visual signal based on the measured orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A level comprising:
a level body, comprising:
a planar base surface,
a top surface opposing the base surface,
a first longitudinal end, and
a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end;

an orientation sensor configured couple to the level body, the orientation sensor configured to measure an orientation of one of the top and base surfaces with respect to the force of gravity;
a primary display coupled to the level body; and
a secondary display coupled to the level body and spaced apart from the primary display by a portion of the level body, the secondary display oriented perpendicularly to the primary display;
wherein the primary display displays a first digital image that corresponds to the measured orientation; and
wherein the secondary displays a second digital image that corresponds to the measured orientation.

2. The level of claim 1 , wherein the primary display defines a first display area, and wherein the secondary display defines a second display area that is smaller than the first display area.

3. The level of claim 1 , wherein the primary display is positioned along a surface of the level other than the top surface, and wherein the secondary display is positioned along the top surface.

4. The level of claim 3 , further comprising a side surface extending between the base surface and the top surface, wherein the primary display is positioned along the side surface.

5. The level of claim 1 , wherein the secondary display displays a plurality of digital images, including the second digital image, that correspond to the measured orientation.

6. The level of claim 5 , wherein the secondary display is closer to the first longitudinal end than the second longitudinal end.

7. The level of claim 5 , further comprising a light-emitting device, wherein the secondary display comprises a plurality of display elements that are selectively illuminated, by selective control of the light-emitting device, to display the plurality of digital images.

8. The level of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of digital images comprises the second digital image that indicates the first longitudinal end should be raised relative to the second longitudinal end, a third digital image that indicates the first longitudinal end should be lowered relative to the second longitudinal end, and a fourth digital image that indicates the first longitudinal end is at a target orientation with respect to the second longitudinal end.

9. The level of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of display elements comprises a first display element and a second display element, and wherein the first display element is illuminated in the second digital image and the third digital image but is not illuminated in the fourth digital image.

10. The level of claim 9 , wherein the second display element is not illuminated in the second digital image and the third digital image but is illuminated in the fourth digital image.

11. A level comprising:
a planar base surface;
a top surface opposing the base surface;
a side surface extending between the base surface and the top surface;
a primary longitudinal axis;
a first end of the level along the primary longitudinal axis;
a second end opposing the first end;
an orientation sensor configured to measure an orientation of one of the top and base surfaces with respect to the force of gravity;
a primary display positioned along the side surface; and
a secondary display positioned along the top surface;
wherein the primary display generates a first visual signal that corresponds to the measured orientation;
wherein the secondary display generates a second visual signal that corresponds to the measured orientation; and
wherein the secondary display comprises a plurality of display elements that are selectively illuminated to indicate a plurality of orientations of one of the top and base surfaces.

12. The level of claim 11 , further comprising a light-emitting device, wherein the secondary display comprises a plurality of display elements that are selectively illuminated, by selective control of the light-emitting device, to indicate a plurality of orientations of one of the top and base surfaces.

13. The level of claim 12 , further comprising a light pipe coupled to the light-emitting device.

14. The level of claim 13 , wherein the light pipe is coupled to the secondary display.

15. The level of claim 13 , wherein the light pipe supports the secondary display.

16. A level comprising:
a level body;
an interior cavity defined within the body;
a planar base surface defined by the level body;
a top surface defined by the level body and opposing the base surface;
an orientation sensor coupled to the level body and configured to measure an orientation of one of the top and base surfaces with respect to the force of gravity;
a light-emitting device located within the interior cavity and coupled to the level body;
a light pipe coupled to the light-emitting device; and
a display positioned adjacent to an external surface of the level body, the display coupled to and supported adjacent the external surface of the level body by the light pipe;
wherein the light pipe provides optical communication between the light-emitting device and the display such that light emitted from the light-emitting device and communicated through the light pipe generates a digital image this is visible outside the level body and that corresponds to the measured orientation.

17. The level of claim 16 , further comprising an electronics board coupled to the level body, wherein the light-emitting device is directly coupled to the electronics board, and wherein the light pipe is directly coupled to the electronics board.

18. The level of claim 17 , wherein the electronics board defines a primary longitudinal axis, and wherein the light pipe extends from the electronics board perpendicularly to the primary longitudinal axis of the electronics board.

19. The level of claim 16 , wherein the light pipe is directly coupled to the light-emitting device.

20. The level of claim 16 , wherein the display comprises a plurality of display elements that are selectively illuminated to indicate a plurality of orientations of one of the top and base surfaces.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Mueckl Gareth J
• Mackey Eric

Classifications

• G01C9/06 Primary

  Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means · CPC title

• G01C2009/066

  optical · CPC title