US 5,844,679 A · System for adjusting the orientation of a plane of laser light

Abstract

A system for adjusting the orientation of a plane defined by a rotating laser beam from a laser transmitter is provided. The laser beam is swept across one or more targets having a plurality of sections. The targets each include a first reflective section and a second reflective section with a non-reflective section positioned therebetween. The non-reflective section includes a portion which slopes across the reflective sections. A photodetector detects a signal representative of the laser beam reflected from each of the targets. The orientation of the laser beam is adjusted until the laser beam traverses the center of the target at which point the width of the first reflective section equals the width of the second reflective section. A processor calculates the distance or angle in which to adjust the laser transmitter so that the laser beam traverses the center of the target once the laser beam traverses the portion of the target including the sloped non-reflective section.

Claims61

Dependent claims

A process for adjusting the orientation of a plane in which a laser beam is rotated, said process comprising the steps of:

projecting said laser beam from a laser source such that it rotates in a plane and sweeps across at least a first target, said first target having a plurality of reflective sections and at least one non-reflective section;
detecting a reflected laser beam from said first target and generating a first signal having a first waveform representative of said reflected laser beam from said first target;
and
adjusting the orientation of said plane in response to said first signal.

1 more element

A process for adjusting the orientation of a plane in which a laser beam is rotated, said process comprising the steps of:

projecting said laser beam from a laser source such that it rotates in a plane and sweeps across a first target and a second target, said first and second targets each having a plurality of reflective sections and at least one non-reflective section;
detecting a reflected laser beam from said first and second targets and generating first and second signals having first and second waveforms representative of said reflected laser beam from said first and second targets, respectively;
adjusting the orientation of said plane in response to said first and second signals.

A laser transmitting system comprising:

at least a first target having a plurality of reflective sections and at least one non-reflective section;
a laser source for projecting a rotating laser beam, said laser beam being swept across said first target;
a positioning device coupled to said laser source, said positioning device including a first member and a second member for adjusting an angular orientation of said laser source with respect to a first axis and with respect to a second axis;
a photodetecting system receiving a reflected laser beam from said first target and generating a first signal having a first waveform representative of said reflected laser beam from said first target;
a processor adapted to receive said first signal and programmed to control at least one of said first and second members of said positioning device in response to said first signal.

2 more elements

A laser transmitting system comprising:

a first target having a plurality of reflective sections and at least one non-reflective section, said first target positioned at a first point having a predetermined angular orientation with respect to a first axis;
a second target having a plurality of reflective sections and at least one non-reflective section, said second target positioned at a second point having a predetermined angular orientation with respect to a second axis;
a laser source positioned at a third point corresponding to an intersection of said first and second axes and projecting a rotating laser beam, said laser beam being swept across said first target and said second target;
a positioning device coupled to said laser source, said positioning device including a first member and a second member for adjusting an angular orientation of said laser source with respect to said first axis and with respect to said second axis;
a photodetecting system receiving a reflected laser beam from said first and second targets and generating first and second signals having first and second waveforms representative of said reflected laser beam from said first and second targets, respectively;
a processor adapted to receive said first and second signals and programmed to control said first and second members of said positioning device in response to said first and second signals so that said rotating laser beam forms a plane defined by said first, second and third points.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for adjusting the orientation of a plane of laser light

Life of this patent

System for adjusting the orientation of a plane of laser light

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims61