Servo-controlled automatic level and plumb tool

An optical level comprising:

• an optical assembly for generating an output light beam;
• a platform that supports the optical assembly;
• a slip-stick mechanism that pivotably supports the platform for rotation in at least one degree of freedom, the slip-stick mechanism providing sufficient stiction to hold the platform in place even when the platform is tilted somewhat relative to level, while permitting the platform to pivot with relatively lower friction when the stiction is overcome;
• a sensor for providing signals that may be used to determine whether the platform is level, the sensor comprising:
• a light source for producing a detector light beam;
• a two-axis bubble level aligned with the output light beam such when the two-axis bubble level is leveled that the output light beam is also level;
• a position sensitive light detector that is sensitive to the detector light beam;
• wherein the light source positioned so that it projects the detector light beam through the two-axis bubble level onto the position sensitive light detector so that the detector can determine whether the two-axis bubble level is leveled;
• and
• an actuator arranged to cause motion of the platform by supplying sufficient force to the platform to overcome stiction from the slip-stick mechanism.

A leveling assembly comprising:

• a pivotably mounted platform capable of rotation in at least one degree of freedom;
• an actuator arranged to cause motion of the platform by supplying sufficient force to tilt the platform;
• a sensor for providing signals that may be used to determine whether the platform is level, the sensor comprising:
• a light source for producing a detector light beam;
• a two-axis bubble level aligned with the platform such when the two-axis bubble level is leveled that the platform is also level;
• a position sensitive light detector that is sensitive to the detector light beam;
• and
• the light source positioned so that it projects the detector light beam through the two-axis bubble level onto the position sensitive light detector so that the detector can determine whether the platform is leveled.

An apparatus for projecting a visible light beam in level or plumb direction, in spite of a tilted condition of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• an optical assembly tiltably mounted such that the optical assembly can tilt about two axes and hold its position, the optical assembly capable of generating at least one visible light beam;
• a driving element, which when appropriately activated can tilt the optical assembly about either of the two axes;
• a sensor element for determining if the at least one visible light beam generated by the optical assembly is level;
• and
• control circuitry for controllably activating the driving element to tilt the optical assembly in a manner so that the at least one visible light beam is substantially level.

An apparatus for projecting a visible light beam in level or plumb direction, in spite of a tilted condition of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• an optical platform tiltably mounted in the housing such that it can tilt in two axes about slip-stick joints;
• an optical assembly mounted on the optical platform, the optical assembly capable of generating at least three orthogonal output light beams;
• an actuator element which, when appropriately activated, tilts the optical platform about said two axes;
• a sensor element for determining if the optical assembly is level;
• and
• control circuitry in communication with the sensor element and the actuator element, the control circuitry for controllably activating the actuator element to tilt the optical platform so that the optical assembly is level.

A method for projecting a visible light beam in level or plumb direction, in spite of a tilted condition of an optical assembly comprising:

• a. mounting an optical assembly such that the optical assembly can tilt about two axes and hold its position after being controllably tilted, the optical assembly capable of generating at least one visible light beam;
• b. sensing if the at least one visible light beam generated by the optical assembly is level;
• c. controllably tilting the optical assembly to a new angle in the event that the at least one visible light beam generated by the optical assembly is not level;
• d. sensing if the at least one visible light beam generated by the optical assembly is level when the optical assembly is at the new angle;
• e. controllably tilting the optical assembly to another angle if the new angle is such that the at least one visible light beam generated by the optical assembly is not level;
• and
• f. repeating the operations of sensing and tilting as in Steps (d) and (e) until the at least one visible light beam generated by the optical assembly is level.