Geometrical instruments – Straight-line light ray type – Alignment device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-11
2001-11-13
Bennett, G. Bradley (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Straight-line light ray type
Alignment device
C033S291000, C033SDIG002
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314650
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to laser plane generators and, more particularly, to laser plane generators which are operable to selectively adjust a laser plane in response to one or more inputs.
Laser beam projectors and receivers are often used in the construction industry or in agricultural land leveling applications to ensure that the targeted area is graded in the proper or desired slope or grade. The laser beam projector is placed in a known position and one or more sensors are placed in the targeted area to sense the impingement of the laser beam. It is known to have laser beam projectors which are self leveling laser plane generators and which further provide for orientation of a desired grade or slope to the laser beam plane.
A laser plane generator typically includes a laser source for generating a beam of collimated light and a rotating mechanism for rotating the beam of light about an axis to generate a plane of light. In order to provide a substantially level plane, it is necessary to have a known orientation for the laser plane with respect to the true earth reference. Typically, the laser plane is oriented perpendicular to the earth's gravitational field, such as by manually leveling the mechanism or by a self leveling mechanism. Self leveling mechanisms are operable to orient each of a pair of horizontal axes, which are generally orthogonal to one another, in a generally level orientation, via a corresponding pair of servo motors and inclinometer sensors. Additionally, some laser plane generators are operable to orient the laser plane at an angle with respect to the level orientation by rotating each or both of the axes according to the desire slope.
Laser plane generators are often implemented in agricultural land grading applications, where large tracts of land are graded at a very slight grade, in order to facilitate drainage from the tract of land. Such applications require substantially accurate grade requirements over very large regions, and thus require accurate and consistent laser planes to be generated while the work is in progress. However, the laser planes may be bumped or otherwise misaligned over time, or may drift due to changes in temperature. In the large, open areas where these devices are often used, the temperature variations from dawn to dusk may be quite large. Such grade or plane fluctuations may result in improper grading of the tract of land and, thus, lead to additional time and labor to correctly level or grade the targeted land.
Additionally, some grade alignment type laser generators are highly complex units which function to level the system and then rotate the laser source and rotating prism about a vertical and horizontal axis to align the desired grade plane in a proper orientation. This is accomplished by first rotating the laser source and prism about a vertical axis until the horizontal axis is generally perpendicular to a targeted reference point. While such laser projectors facilitate generating a laser plane at a desired grade and orientation, these units and complicated and relatively expensive over non-grade or leveling only units. Additionally, the higher number of moving parts within the units may raise reliability concerns over a prolonged period of time.
Another common usage for laser plane generators is to implement the laser generators for interior use, such as for aligning a wall and/or ceiling within a building. The laser beam is oriented such that the beam is visible on a wall or ceiling as it is rotated, and thus communicates to a worker the proper location or orientation of the wall or ceiling. However, the laser beam is difficult to see with the human eye as it is rapidly rotated and thus intermittently flashed along the surface of the walls or ceilings. In order to enhance visibility of the laser beam, it is known to provide a function on the laser transmitter or generator to oscillate the beam back and forth over a desired location, which results in a more visible laser beam line along the targeted wall or ceiling. However, such a function is set manually at the laser transmitter or requires a special target to be continuously held in the path of the laser beam while the beam oscillates. Such a manual process may be difficult to perform when the laser transmitter is positioned at a ceiling) or upper portion of a wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to provide a laser leveling system which is operable to adjust a laser beam or laser plane generated by a laser transmitter in response to a signal from a laser receiver. The system is operable to selectively adjust the beam in response to one or more electrical signals selectively transmitted from the laser receiver. The present invention thus provides a system for adjusting the beam of a laser transmitter which may be implemented by a single user of the laser system.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a laser system comprises a laser transmitter and a laser receiver. The laser transmitter is operable to generate a laser plane via rotational projection or reflection of a laser beam. The laser transmitter comprises a signal receiver and a transmitter control. The laser receiver comprises at least one laser sensor which is operable to detect the laser beam from the laser transmitter, an electrical signal transmitter and a receiver control. The laser receiver is operable to selectively transmit at least one electrical signal to the laser transmitter in response to the laser sensor. The laser transmitter is then operable to selectably adjust the laser beam in response to the electrical signal.
In one form, the laser transmitter is operable to adjust the tilt or orientation of the laser beam plane in response to a signal from the laser receiver which indicates that the laser beam received at the receiver is above, below or at a center region of the laser sensor. The laser transmitter is correspondingly operable to lower, raise or maintain the laser beam plane in response to the signal, thereby correcting for any drift or change in the plane as detected by the laser receiver. Additionally, the laser receiver may be raised or lowered a predetermined amount, such that the laser transmitter adjusts the laser beam or plane to accommodate the raised or lowered location of the laser receiver. This results in the laser transmitter being adjustable to a desired grade or slope via movement of the laser receiver in an upwardly or downwardly direction.
In another form, the laser transmitter may be operable to enter an oscillating mode about a point or angle range where the laser beam is received by the laser receiver. The laser receiver is selectively operable to signal the laser transmitter when the laser beam is detected by the laser sensor, such that the laser beam is then oscillated about the initial position of the laser receiver. The laser receiver may then be removed and the transmitter continues to oscillate the beam about that area until selected to do otherwise. This provides improved visibility of the laser beam for applications where the laser beam is to provide a reference point or line for a worker to align a wall or ceiling with. Because the laser receiver may be placed in the precise area where the line is to be received, the present invention provides improved accuracy in locating the laser line and may easily be activated and deactivated by a user.
In yet another form, the transmitter control of the laser transmitter may determine a location of the laser receiver relative to an X and/or Y axis associated with the transmitter and calculate an appropriate slope angle or grade angle for each of the X and Y axes for a desired or input grade in both directions. This provides proper orientation of a desired slope via a single laser receiver and mathematical calculations. The laser transmitter automatically calculates the angle and adjusts the X and Y axes of the transmitter in response to a signal from the laser receiver, such that the slope or grade may be properly oriented by a s
Bennett G. Bradley
Laser Alignment, Inc.
VanDyke, Gardner, Linn & Burkhart, LLP
LandOfFree
Laser system for generating a reference plane does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Laser system for generating a reference plane, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Laser system for generating a reference plane will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2603176