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US 11,692,820 B2Granted
Digital level
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorsMatthew Leidel, Gareth J. Mueckl, Eric Mackey, Gary Lee McMurray, Taylor Wayne Crenshaw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool, such as a digital level, having multiple methods of indicating the orientation of the level. One embodiment of the level includes two or more accelerometers arranged in complimenting orientations, such as 90 degrees with respect to each other. The complimenting orientation allows for more precise measurements from less expensive accelerometers compared to a level with a single more expensive accelerometer. A power supply module, and an associated control module in charge of the power supply, selectively provides power to the accelerometers and displays based in part on user input, movement of the level, and the disposition of the level.
Claims25
A level comprising:
- a housing comprising a longitudinal axis;
- a planar base surface extending parallel to the longitudinal axis;
- a first orientation sensor configured to measure an orientation of the housing with respect to the force of gravity, the first orientation sensor defining a first angular position relative to the planar base surface;
- a second orientation sensor configured to measure the orientation of the housing with respect to the force of gravity, the second orientation sensor defining a second angular position relative to the planar base surface, wherein the second angular position is oriented at a 90 degree angle with respect to the first angular position;
- a controller that calculates an orientation of the housing based on the orientation measured by the first orientation sensor and the orientation measured by the second orientation sensor;
- a display that emits an image that corresponds to the calculated orientation of the housing;
- and
- wherein the controller calculates an orientation difference between the calculated orientation and a target orientation, and wherein the image comprises an exaggerated representation of the orientation difference.
5 more elements
A level comprising:
- a housing comprising a longitudinal axis;
- a planar base surface extending parallel to the longitudinal axis;
- an orientation sensor configured to measure an orientation of the housing with respect to the force of gravity;
- a controller that calculates an orientation difference between the housing orientation and a target orientation;
- and
- a display that emits an image including the target orientation, a primary range that extends a first range from the target orientation, and a secondary range that extends a secondary range from the target orientation further than the first range.
3 more elements
A level comprising:
- a housing comprising a longitudinal axis;
- a planar base surface extending parallel to the longitudinal axis;
- an orientation sensor configured to measure an orientation of the housing with respect to the force of gravity;
- a controller that calculates an orientation difference between the housing orientation and a target orientation;
- and
- a display that emits an image comprising a directional indicator that rotates in a first rotational direction within the image, the first rotational direction indicating a rotational direction to rotate the housing to adjust the measured orientation of the housing towards the target orientation.
3 more elements
A method of controlling a level comprising:
- placing a level against an object surface, the level comprising:
- a housing with a longitudinal axis;
- a planar base surface;
- an orientation sensor;
- a controller;
- and
- a display;
- the orientation sensor measuring an orientation of the housing with respect to the force of gravity;
- the controller calculating an orientation difference between the housing orientation and a target orientation;
- the display emitting an image indicating the orientation difference;
- the controller determining to enter a Sleep Mode;
- and
- in response to the controller determining to enter the Sleep Mode, the display stops displaying the orientation difference.
10 more elements
A level comprising:
- a housing comprising a longitudinal axis;
- a planar base surface extending parallel to the longitudinal axis;
- a first orientation sensor configured to measure an orientation of the housing with respect to the force of gravity, the first orientation sensor defining a first angular position relative to the planar base surface;
- a second orientation sensor configured to measure the orientation of the housing with respect to the force of gravity, the second orientation sensor defining a second angular position relative to the planar base surface, wherein the second angular position is oriented at a 90 degree angle with respect to the first angular position;
- a controller that calculates an orientation of the housing based on the orientation measured by the first orientation sensor and the orientation measured by the second orientation sensor;
- and
- wherein the first orientation sensor is oriented at a 30 degrees angle in a first direction with respect to the base surface.
4 more elements
A level comprising:
- a housing comprising a longitudinal axis;
- a planar base surface extending parallel to the longitudinal axis;
- a first orientation sensor configured to measure an orientation of the housing with respect to the force of gravity, the first orientation sensor defining a first angular position relative to the planar base surface;
- a second orientation sensor configured to measure the orientation of the housing with respect to the force of gravity, the second orientation sensor defining a second angular position relative to the planar base surface, wherein the second angular position is oriented at a 90 degree angle with respect to the first angular position;
- a controller that calculates an orientation of the housing based on the orientation measured by the first orientation sensor and the orientation measured by the second orientation sensor;
- and
- wherein the controller calculates the orientation by calculating a weighted average of the orientation measured by the first orientation sensor and the orientation measured by the second orientation sensor.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.