Communication protocol for remotely controlled laser devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290801-A1
Application number	US-201615177784-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 9, 2016
Priority date	Jul 10, 2008
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A laser device operating system includes a laser device generating a laser beam when receiving a remote control unit command signal. The remote control unit operates in a public or private mode. In public mode the remote control unit generates a command signal transmitted to the laser device. In private mode the remote control unit generates a unique identifier prepended to the command signal. The laser device operates in a laser device public or private mode. In public mode the laser device responds to the remote control unit command signal or the command signal if transmitted by a second remote control unit. In private mode the laser device operates only upon receipt of the command signal and unique identifier, preventing laser device operation by the second remote control unit if the second unit does not include the unique identifier with the command signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for operating a laser level system, the method comprising:
providing a wireless communication signal between a control device and a laser level, whereby, in response to the wireless communication signal, the laser level is configured to accept wireless control command signals only from the particular control device with which the wireless communication signal was provided.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser level is configured to initiate the wireless communication signal.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to initiate the wireless communication signal.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser level comprises a housing and a laser generator housed in the housing and projecting a laser beam outside of the housing onto a surface;
the method further comprising wirelessly providing a control command signal from the particular control device to the laser level to so that the particular control device controls at least one operation of the laser level.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one operation comprises at least one of turning on and turning off the laser generator.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the control command signal includes a unique identifier which identifies the control command signal as being provided by the particular control device.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one operation comprises turning on the laser generator.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser level is configured to distinguish between a control command signal received from the particular control device and another control device.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the control device is powered independently of the laser level.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser level comprises a rotary laser level.

11 . A laser level system, comprising:
a laser level, the laser level comprising a housing, a laser generator assembly housed in the housing and generating a laser beam that projects outside of the housing onto a surface; and a control device, the control device being separate from the housing and configured to selectively control operation of the laser level through wireless communication with the laser level; wherein the laser level and control device are configured to exchange a wireless communication signal and, after exchange of the wireless communication signal, the laser level is configured to accept wireless control command signals only from the particular control device with which the wireless communication signal was exchanged.

12 . The laser level system of claim 11 , wherein the laser level is configured to initiate the wireless communication signal.

13 . The laser level system of claim 11 , wherein control device is configured to initiate the wireless communication signal.

14 . The laser level system of claim 11 , wherein the control device is configured to control at least one of turning the laser generator on and turning the laser generator off.

15 . The laser level system of claim 11 , wherein the control command signals provided by the particular control device include a unique identifier which identifies the control command signals as being provided by the particular control device.

16 . The laser level system of claim 11 , wherein the laser level is configured to distinguish between a control command signal received from the particular control device and another control device.

17 . The laser level system of claim 11 , wherein the control device is powered independently of the laser level.

18 . The laser level system of claim 11 , wherein the laser level comprises a rotary laser level.

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Horky John K
• Howard Geoffrey S
• Bascom James P
• Arakas Stamati
• Concari Gabriel E
• Noffke Gary

Classifications

• G08C17/02

  using a radio link · CPC title

• G01C15/002 Primary

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