US 2012/0055035 A1 · METHOD, APPARATUS, AND DEVICES FOR PROJECTING LASER PLANES

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed, along with methods and constituent devices, for generating omnidirectional planar projections for an exemplary laser application to provide visual references for the construction field. The preferred embodiment utilizes a convex cone lens, the lateral surface of which provides for total internal reflection, to disperse the incident beam. The curvatures of the interior and exterior surfaces of a toroidal ring lens normalize and athermalize the dispersed beam such that the resulting projection is orthogonal to the incident beam throughout an operable temperature range. Alternate optical embodiments are also disclosed which utilize various means of dispersal and normalization such as a conical reflector, concave cone lens, double-prism ring and well-adapted spherical lenses. The preferred embodiment is adapted as a portable construction tool by additionally disclosed components including a path-compression prism assembly, an adjustable tripod support adapted to a structural base assembly, and various embodiments of a lens-shield concept.

Claims52

Dependent claims

An apparatus for generating laser reference planar projections comprising of:

a first, a second, and a third means for generating, respectively, a first, a second, and a third incident laser beam and for directing, respectively, said first, said second, and said third beam along, respectively, a first, a second, and a third central axial orientation;
a first, a second, and a third means for dispersing, respectively, said first, said second, and said third incident beam along, respectively, said first, said second, and said third axial orientation, wherein said first, said second, and said third dispersing means are, respectively, fixed relative to said first, said second, and said third beam generating means;
and
a first, a second, and a third means for normalizing, respectively, said first, said second, and said third dispersed beam by optical refraction;
wherein said apparatus is capable of projecting, respectively, a first, a second, and a third substantially uniform, substantially planar, and omnidirectional laser reference projection;
and
wherein the relative position between said first normalizing means and said first dispersing means, the relative position between said second normalizing means and said second dispersing means, and the relative position between said third normalizing means and said third dispersing means are operably aligned, such that said first, said second, and said third reference projections are substantially orthogonal, respectively, to said first, said second, and said third axial orientations, and such that said first, said second, and said third reference projections are of a character suitable for visual alignment, measurement, and guidance in the construction field.

4 more elements

A method for converting an incident beam of electromagnetic radiation into a substantially planar projection comprising the steps of:

dispersing said incident beam along a particular axial orientation;
and
normalizing said dispersed beam by optical refraction to produce a substantially uniform and substantially planar projection;
wherein said dispersing step is accomplished by a means for dispersing said incident beam, said normalizing step is accomplished by a means for normalizing said dispersed beam, and said normalizing step further comprises of the step of aligning said normalizing means with respect to said dispersing means;
and
wherein said aligning step is accomplished by a relative translation between said normalizing means and said dispersing means along the axis of said orientation such that said projection is substantially planar and substantially orthogonal to said orientation.

3 more elements

An optical device for converting an incident beam of electromagnetic radiation along a particular axial orientation into a substantially planar projection comprising of:

a means for dispersing said incident beam along said axial orientation;
and
a means for normalizing said dispersed beam by optical refraction;
wherein the relative position of said normalizing means with respect to said dispersing means is operably aligned such that said projection is substantially orthogonal to said orientation, whereby said optical device is capable of projecting a substantially uniform, substantially planar, and omnidirectional projection.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method, apparatus, and devices for projecting laser planes

Life of this patent

Method, apparatus, and devices for projecting laser planes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims52