Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Generic control system – apparatus or process – Digital positioning
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-19
2004-05-04
Patel, Ramesh (Department: 2121)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Generic control system, apparatus or process
Digital positioning
C700S058000, C700S062000, C700S064000, C700S195000, C382S276000, C382S277000, C382S282000, C353S018000, C353S02700R, C353S02700R, C359S022000, C359S028000, C359S032000, C359S034000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06731991
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the fields of building construction and interior decorating. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for projecting light on a work surface to produce an image for tracing. Specifically, a preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to expediting the construction and installation of modular structures.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Traditional means of constructing geometric designs and constructing and installing modular structures with edge detail required a multiple person crew. Extensive man hours were wasted tediously pre-assembling the entire structure on the floor, mounting and dismounting the structure and the edge detail to make it fit the work surface, aligning the structure in the air, and then raising it and holding it in place for final installation. During some installations, crew members could also take portions of the edge detail and mark points on the modular structure in order to define the perimeter of the finished pattern. These procedures also often ultimately relied on in the air adjustments which at times compromised the intended integrity of the patterns.
Moreover, pre-assembly on the ground limited the size of the structure which could be safely raised. Larger patterns would be too awkward to be raised by a practically sized crew of two or three people. Any additional laborers also have the disadvantage of relatively high cost.
As the construction industry is a competitive business, a preferred solution will be seen by the end-user as being cost effective. A solution is cost effective when it is seen by the end-user as compelling when compared with other potential uses that the end-user could make of limited resources.
Historically, it was known in the prior art to use of light sources of the type hereunder consideration, such as lasers, to aid in building construction. For example, lasers used for leveling are well-known to those skilled in the art. Further, the construction of trusses by following a projected pattern has been used previously in the construction industry. This process will be discussed in greater detail below. However, the use of these lasers in construction applications does not generally involve very complex patterns.
The below-referenced U.S. patents disclose embodiments that were at least in part satisfactory for the purposes for which they were intended. The disclosures of all the below-referenced prior U.S. patents in their entireties are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application for purposes including, but not limited to, indicating the background of the present invention and illustrating the state of the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,662, entitled “Laser Projection System for Truss Manufacturing,” discloses a laser-enhanced design system for truss manufacturing. Lasers mounted on a ceiling project images onto a table below. The initial truss design is produced using a CAD system in conjunction with a work station or PC-microcomputer. A standard PC-microcomputer running MS-DOS software is used to control the laser system. Files required for the laser system are automatically created during the designing phase. An assembly line operator uses a mouse or keyboard to control and select the projected images while a worker places the truss elements over the projected images.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,318, entitled “Method for Defining a Template for Assembling a Structure,” reveals a system for generating a template for use in assembling a structure such as a truss. One or more laser scanners mounted above a work surface are controlled by a computer to generate a scanning laser image of all or a portion of the structure. The computer receives data describing the relative location of the individual work pieces in their assembled positions and the position of the laser scanner relative to the work surface. The computer generates a set of template defining data which is converted to a control signal and transmitted to the laser scanner.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,885, entitled “Procedure and Device for Processing Cutting Material,” discloses a procedure for optimizing the processing of cutting material, such as textiles, leather and technical fabrics and the like, as well as to a device to perform the procedure. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,885, the cutting patterns (T1, T2, T3) are first contained in the main memory of a computer (1) and then are selected. The selected patterns are projected on a cutting material on a working surface (AF) in their original size by means of direct laser projection, possibly with different colors, and are also projected on a control panel (4) in a scaled down size. The laser projections of the individual patterns are then interlocked on the cutting material by means of a control unit (5) actuated by an operator (P) positioned next to the cutting material. The patterns are interlocked to optimize use of the cutting material by accounting for the conditions of the cutting material, such as defective spots (F1, F2, F3, F4), and the shape of the cutting material. Once the patterns are finally positioned, data on these positions is then transmitted to a cutting unit, such as an automated cutter (C), by an instruction given by the operator and the citing operation is triggered.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,258, entitled “Laser Projector for Projecting an Image Onto a Curvilinear Surface,” discloses a laser projection system for projecting an image onto a surface comprises a laser projector operably connectable to a computer. The computer controls the operation of the system. The laser projector comprises a laser beam source for generating a laser light beam, a collimator comprising a focusing lens for focusing the laser light beam to a focal point, a collimating lens for collimating the laser light beam beyond the focal point and a wedge-shaped lens having an apertured interposed between the focusing lens and collimating lens. The aperture has a size for passing the laser light beam therethrough. Two scanners direct the light beam about a light path. A photo sensor receives light refracted by the wedge-shaped lens and generates a feedback signal. A plurality of target reflectors, each having a retroreflective material for retroreflecting light back to its source. The laser light beam is projectable in a predetermined pattern and if the laser light beam is retroreflected back to the laser light source, the retroreflected laser light beam is refracted by the wedge-shaped lens towards the photo sensor for generating a feedback signal for the computer. The plurality of target reflectors comprises a plurality of mountable targets for removably mounting on the surface. Upon striking the mountable targets with the laser beam, the photo sensor generates a plurality of feedback signals for establishing spatial coordinates of the mountable targets. The plurality of target reflectors further comprises a moveable target for inserting in the light path of the laser beam while projecting the image. Upon striking the moveable target with the laser beam, the photo sensor generates a feedback signal for limiting the area of projection of the image.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,183, entitled “Method for Controlling Projection of Optical Layup Template,” reveals a projection system having a process utilizing three-dimensional data, thereby allowing the system to account for rotational and translational differences between the projector and the object upon which the laser light is directed. Reference sensors located on the object are in a known relationship to the three-dimensional data set to be projected, i.e., the reference sensors utilize the same coordinate system as the three-dimensional data set.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,500, entitled “Calibration System for Large Tooling Fixtures,” discloses a method for determining the position of a laser projector relative to a large tool which includes the use of posts having several reference points. A rotating tool is preferably also provided with a
Holpfer Dennis D.
Michalski Michael
Stuart Christopher J.
Boyle Fredrickson Newholm Stein & Gratz S.C.
Laser Force, Inc.
Patel Ramesh
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