Laser light reflective target

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9494424-B2
Application number	US-201414525717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2014
Priority date	Oct 28, 2014
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A laser light reflective target that effectively brightens a laser light line being produced by a laser fan beam emitter. The target is placed on a jobsite floor and when two laser fan beams strike the reflective surface of the target, the laser beams appear much brighter than otherwise. The laser fan beams, when properly aimed at a point of interest, will intersect and produce an “X” shaped pattern of light on the target. The target can be used with a laser plumb beam pointer, which will aim its vertical beam downward directly at the specific point of interest if the target has been properly positioned. The laser plumb line pointer can additionally aim a second vertical beam upward, to produce a plumb line target point on the ceiling of an interior room that is being laid out.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for using a reflective target apparatus, said method comprising:
(a) providing a reflective target apparatus having:
(i) a planar surface having a perimeter that extends around said planar surface, said perimeter separating a front area from a rear area of said reflective target, said front area including a translucent portion; and
(ii) at least one arm that extends from reflective target apparatus, for attaching and holding said reflective target to an exterior device;

(b) aiming at least two visible light lines from different angles at said front area of the planar surface, when in use, said planar surface being oriented at an angle other than vertical, said front area acting as a gross target, said front area having a surface that is substantially reflective so that when said at least two visible light lines strike said front area, an amount of light of said at least two visible light lines that is reflected by said front area surface is visibly greater than an amount of light of said at least two visible light lines that is reflected by a jobsite surface; and
(c) further aiming said at least two visible light lines from different angles at said translucent portion, said translucent portion acting as a fine target for said at least two visible light lines, thereby allowing a user to visually determine if said at least two visible light lines are striking said front area at correct aiming angles when crossing over said translucent portion.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said exterior device comprises a laser plumb line pointer, which is self-leveling and includes at least one light emitter that emits a first laser beam pointing in a substantially vertical direction, such that said first laser beam strikes said translucent portion and creates a first spot of visible light at a predetermined position on said translucent portion.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of: during said further aiming step, aligning said first spot of visible light with a location where said at least two visible light lines intersect.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of: refining the aim of said at least two visible light lines until said location where they intersect moves to said first spot of visible light at the predetermined position on said translucent portion.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of: moving said combination of reflective target apparatus and laser plumb line pointer to a different position on a jobsite surface until said location where said at least two visible light lines intersect becomes aligned with said first spot of visible light at the predetermined position on said translucent portion.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
using said at least one light emitter of said laser plumb line pointer, emitting a second laser beam pointing in a downward substantially vertical direction, such that said second laser beam strikes a jobsite surface and creates a second spot of visible light on said jobsite surface; and
moving said combination of reflective target apparatus and laser plumb line pointer to a different position on said jobsite surface until said second spot of visible light is aligned with a predetermined point of interest on said jobsite surface;
during said further aiming step, aligning paths of said at least two visible light lines until they intersect at said first spot of visible light at the predetermined position on said translucent portion; and
thereby establishing a plumb line of laser light that runs: (i) from said first spot of visible light at the predetermined position on said translucent portion (ii) to said second spot of visible light at the predetermined point of interest on said jobsite surface.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:
removing said translucent portion from said front area;
using said at least one light emitter of said laser plumb line pointer, emitting said first laser beam pointing in an upward substantially vertical direction, such that said first laser beam strikes a jobsite ceiling and creates a third spot of visible light on said jobsite ceiling; and
thereby establishing a plumb line of laser light that runs: (i) from said third spot of visible light on said jobsite ceiling (ii) to said second spot of visible light at the predetermined point of interest on said jobsite surface.

8. A reflective target system, comprising:
(a) a laser plumb line pointer, having a self-leveling mount, and at least one light emitter that emits a laser light beam having a pathway that is in a substantially vertical direction; and
(b) a reflective target comprising:
(i) a planar surface having a perimeter that extends around said planar surface, said perimeter separating a front area from a rear area of said reflective target, said front area including an opening within said perimeter;
(ii) at least one arm that extends from reflective target apparatus, said at least one arm having a shaped member that assists in attaching and holding said reflective target to said laser plumb line pointer, such that, after said reflective target has been attached to said laser plumb line pointer when in use, said planar surface is oriented at an angle other than vertical;
(iii) a movable member that includes an aiming area, wherein:
(A) if said movable member is moved to a first position, said aiming area will be located in said laser light beam pathway; and
(B) if said movable member is moved to a second position, no portion of said movable member will be located in said laser light beam pathway.

9. The reflective target system of claim 8 , wherein said aiming area comprises a translucent portion of said movable member.

10. The reflective target system of claim 9 , wherein if the movable member is moved to said first position, then:
(a) a first portion of said laser light beam will be substantially intercepted by said translucent portion, and will not continue travelling along said pathway past said translucent portion; and
(b) a second portion of said laser light beam will travel through said translucent portion and will produce a spot of light that is visible from a side of the translucent portion of the movable member that is opposite from a side where said at least one light emitter is located.

11. The reflective target system of claim 10 , wherein said spot of light comprises diffused laser light that was emitted by said at least one light emitter.

12. The reflective target system of claim 8 , wherein if the movable member is moved to said second position, then: substantially the entire laser light beam that was emitted by said at least one light emitter passes through said opening, and is not intercepted by said aiming area.

13. The reflective target system of claim 8 , wherein if the movable member is moved to a third position, then said aiming area will not be located in said laser light beam pathway, but an opaque portion of said movable member will be located in said laser light beam pathway, and substantially the entire laser light beam that was emitted by said at least one light emitter is blocked by said movable member.

14. The reflective target system of claim 8 , wherein said front area is substantially reflective, and said aiming area of the movable member is less reflective than said front area.

15. The reflective target system of claim 8 , wherein said front area is substantially reflective, and said opening comprises air.

16. A reflective target, comprising:
a planar surface having a perimeter that extends around s

Assignees

• Trimble Navigation Ltd

Inventors

• Unger Eric Keith

Classifications

• G01S7/481

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

• G01C15/004

  Reference lines, planes or sectors · CPC title

• G01C15/105 Primary

  Optical plumbing · CPC title

• G01S17/88 Primary

  Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title

• G09F13/16

  Signs formed of or incorporating reflecting elements or surfaces, e.g. warning signs having triangular or other geometrical shape · CPC title