Laser level system with automatic detector alignment
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorsDennis Y. Wong, Gareth J. Mueckl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various laser level systems that provide for automatic alignment between a laser level and a detector are shown. In one example, a laser level system processes a detected laser to determine an orientation of a detector with respect to the laser level. In another example, a laser level system processes a detected laser to determine a distance between the laser and the detector.
Claims26
A method of operating a laser level light detection system, the method comprising:
- providing a first photodiode array and a second photodiode array wherein each photodiode array includes two or more photodiodes connected in parallel, and arranging the first and second photodiode arrays to receive laser light from a laser level, the first and second photodiode arrays configured to generate an electrical output in response to the laser light;
- amplifying a first output of the first photodiode array, and amplifying a second output of the second photodiode array, wherein amplifying the output of the first and second photodiode array comprises simultaneously providing more than one amplified output for each photodiode array, where each of the more than one amplified outputs for the first photodiode array has a different level of amplification, and each of the more than one amplified outputs for the second photodiode array has a different level of amplification;
- and
- automatically selecting one first array output from the more than one amplified outputs of the first photodiode array, and providing the selected one first-array output as a system output of the first photodiode array, and selecting one second array output from the more than one amplified outputs of the second photodiode array, and providing the selected one second-array output as a system output of the second photodiode array.
A method of operating a laser level light detection system, the method comprising:
- providing an array of photodiodes coupled in parallel, and arranging the array of photodiodes to receive laser light from a laser level, the photodiode array configured to generate an electrical output in response to the laser light;
- maintaining a first reverse bias voltage across the array of photodiodes while a first pulsed laser beam sweeps over each photodiode in the array of photodiodes;
- counting a number of laser beam pulses during the sweep of the laser beam over the array of photodiodes, then determining a distance from the array of photodiodes to a source of the pulsed laser beam based on the counted laser beam pulses;
- determining a best gain for amplification of an output from the array of photodiodes;
- and
- applying a second reverse bias voltage across the array of photodiodes while a second pulsed laser beam sweeps over each photodiode in the array of photodiodes, the second reverse bias voltage being less than the first reverse bias voltage.
A method of operating a laser level light detection system, the method comprising:
- arranging a photodiode array to receive laser light from a laser level, the photodiode array configured to generate an electrical output in response to the laser light
- sweeping a laser beam across the photodiode array, the laser light pulsing at a first duty cycle rate;
- aligning the laser beam on the photodiode array such that a first current generated from a first end of the photodiode array is equal to a second current generated from a second end of the photodiode array opposite the first end;
- and
- causing the laser light to pulse at a second duty cycle rate, the second duty cycle rate being higher than the first duty cycle rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.