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US 11,892,320 B2Granted
Level with digital display
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorsGareth J. Mueckl, Eric Mackey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool, such as a digital level, includes displays on top and side surfaces of the level. The top surface display provides an additional visual means to communicate the orientation of the level by emitting any of several visual signals. A processor in the level determines a measured orientation of the level and sends a communication signal to the top surface display to emit a selected visual signal based on the measured orientation.
Claims20
A level comprising:
- a level body, comprising:
- a planar base surface,
- a top surface opposing the base surface,
- a first longitudinal end, and
- a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end;
- an orientation sensor configured couple to the level body, the orientation sensor configured to measure an orientation of one of the top and base surfaces with respect to the force of gravity;
- a primary display coupled to the level body;
- and
- a secondary display coupled to the level body and spaced apart from the primary display by a portion of the level body, the secondary display oriented perpendicularly to the primary display;
- wherein the primary display displays a first digital image that corresponds to the measured orientation;
- and
- wherein the secondary displays a second digital image that corresponds to the measured orientation.
9 more elements
A level comprising:
- a planar base surface;
- a top surface opposing the base surface;
- a side surface extending between the base surface and the top surface;
- a primary longitudinal axis;
- a first end of the level along the primary longitudinal axis;
- a second end opposing the first end;
- an orientation sensor configured to measure an orientation of one of the top and base surfaces with respect to the force of gravity;
- a primary display positioned along the side surface;
- and
- a secondary display positioned along the top surface;
- wherein the primary display generates a first visual signal that corresponds to the measured orientation;
- wherein the secondary display generates a second visual signal that corresponds to the measured orientation;
- and
- wherein the secondary display comprises a plurality of display elements that are selectively illuminated to indicate a plurality of orientations of one of the top and base surfaces.
11 more elements
A level comprising:
- a level body;
- an interior cavity defined within the body;
- a planar base surface defined by the level body;
- a top surface defined by the level body and opposing the base surface;
- an orientation sensor coupled to the level body and configured to measure an orientation of one of the top and base surfaces with respect to the force of gravity;
- a light-emitting device located within the interior cavity and coupled to the level body;
- a light pipe coupled to the light-emitting device;
- and
- a display positioned adjacent to an external surface of the level body, the display coupled to and supported adjacent the external surface of the level body by the light pipe;
- wherein the light pipe provides optical communication between the light-emitting device and the display such that light emitted from the light-emitting device and communicated through the light pipe generates a digital image this is visible outside the level body and that corresponds to the measured orientation.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.