Automatic plumb and level tool with acoustic measuring capability

A laser beam projecting device for plumbing, leveling, alignment and distance measuring, comprising,

• a hand-carryable housing,
• laser source means mounted within the housing, for producing at least one collimated beam of visible laser light,
• a laser beam exit window in the housing,
• beam directing means in the housing for directing a beam from the laser source means vertically out of the housing through the exit window when said housing is in a first position, and for directing a beam from the laser source means horizontally out of the housing through the exit window when said housing is in a second position,
• tilt compensation means in the housing and associated with the beam directing means for correcting for relatively small tilt angles of the housing when in position other than true first and second positions, and for projecting the beam through the exit window in substantially true vertical orientation or substantially true horizontal orientation despite such relatively small tilt angles, and
• means associated with the laser beam projecting device for distance measuring, including:
• means for characterizing at least one collimated beam of visible laser light produced at said laser source means, so that a modulated or pulsed beam is projected from said hand-carryable housing, PG,38
• means for projecting an acoustic signal from said hand-carryable housing in substantially true vertical orientation or substantially true horizontal orientation,
• a separate, unconnected component as a target means with photodetector means for receiving and detecting a modulated or pulsed laser beam projected from the hand-carryable housing, and with acoustic signal receiver means for receiving an acoustic signal transmitted directly from the hand-carryable housing, without reflection, and
• means coacting in the hand-carryable housing and separate target means for initiating and carrying out a timing event, said means coacting comprising:
• means for initiating simultaneous transmission of the acoustic signal and a light signal emitted as a modulated or pulsed laser beam, from the hand-carryable housing,
• means for measuring the time interval between receipt of the modulated or pulsed laser beam at the target means and the receipt of the acoustic signal at the target means, and
• associated means in the target means for calculating and displaying the distance between appropriate points on the hand-carryable housing and the target means in response to said measurement of the time interval.

An acoustic distance measuring device, comprising,

• a first component including:
• a characteristic light signal transmitting means, for being located at a first position;
• and
• acoustic means for projecting an acoustic signal from the first component;
• a second component which is separate from the first component and which may be placed at a second position, the distance of which from the first position is to be measured, the second component including:
• a target means with photodetector means for receiving and detecting a characteristic light signal transmitted from the first component, and
• acoustic signal receiver means for receiving the acoustic signal projected from the first component toward the target means, and
• means coacting between the first component and the second component for measuring the time interval between receipt of the characteristic light signal at the photodetector means for receiving and receipt of the acoustic signal at the acoustic signal receiver means, with associated means for calculating and displaying the distance between the first component and the second component in response to said measurement of the time interval.

An acoustic distance measuring device, comprising,

• a first component for being located at a first position, and
• a second component which is separate from the first component and which may be placed at a second position, the distance of which from the first position is to be measured,
• one way acoustic transmission means including:
• acoustic means for projecting an acoustic signal from said first component to said second component, and
• acoustic signal receiver means for receiving the acoustic signal at said second component;
• light signal means for aligning the one way acoustic transmission means, including:
• a characteristic light signal transmitting means for transmitting a characteristic light signal from said first component to said second component, and
• a photodetector means for receiving and detecting the characteristic light signal at the second component;
• means coacting in said first and second components for initiating and carrying out a timing event which is clocked by one acoustic transit time and one optical transit time, without reflection, with associated means for calculating and displaying the distance between the first component and the second component.