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.
Claims20
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 a housing orientation, the housing orientation defined by 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 an exaggerated representation of the orientation difference.
A level, comprising:
- a housing comprising a longitudinal axis and a planar base surface;
- 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, the image comprising:
- the target orientation;
- a primary range that extends a first circumferential distance from the target orientation;
- and
- a secondary range that extends a second circumferential distance from the target orientation greater than the first circumferential distance.
A level, comprising:
- a housing with a longitudinal axis;
- a power supply;
- 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 first display that emits an image of the orientation difference;
- wherein the controller determines to enter a Depleted Mode when the power supply is below a predetermined threshold;
- and
- wherein, when in the Depleted Mode, the first display has restricted functionality.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.