Laser rangefinder device
OwnerMark Walker, Howard D. Kentinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser rangefinder device for determining the distance of an object includes an optical device for collecting an image, a laser associated with the optical device, and a laser beam having a constant angle of divergence. The laser beam is projectable onto the object to create a spot of light. The spot is included in the image. A scale element is carried by the optical device for determining a size of a dimension of the spot of light and using the size of the dimension to convert the spot of light to a distance to the object. A display device is carried by the optical device to display the collected image and the distance to the object.
Claims19
A laser rangefinder device for determining the distance of an object, the laser rangefinder device comprising:
- an optical device for collecting an image including an object;
- a laser associated with the optical device;
- a laser beam projectable by the laser onto the object creating a spot of light on the object which is included in the image collected by the optical device, the laser beam having a constant angle of divergence;
- a scale element carried by the optical device for determining a size of a dimension of the spot of light and using the size of the dimension to convert the spot of light on the object in the collected image to a distance to the object;
- and
- a display device carried by the optical device to display the collected image and the distance to the object.
A method of determining a range to an object comprising the steps of:
- collecting an image with an optical device;
- projecting a laser beam from a laser having a constant angle of divergence and associated with the optical device, the laser beam creating a spot of light on an object, the spot of light is included in the image collected by the optical device;
- providing a scale element carried by the optical device;
- using the scale element to determine a size of a dimension of the spot of light;
- converting the spot of light on the object in the collected image to a distance to the object using the size of the dimension;
- and
- displaying the collected image and the distance to the object on a display device.
A laser rangefinder device for determining the distance of an object, the laser rangefinder device comprising:
- a digital imager for collecting a digital image including an object;
- a laser associated with the digital imager;
- a laser beam projectable by the laser onto the object creating a spot of light on the object which is included in the digital image collected by the digital imager, the laser beam having a constant angle of divergence;
- a scale element including a plurality of pixels defining a size of a dimension of the spot of light and using the size of the dimension to convert the spot of light on the object in the collected image to a distance to the object;
- and
- a display device carried by the digital imager to display the collected image and the distance to the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.