US 7,409,312 B2 · Handheld laser light detector with height correction, using a GPS receiver to provide two-dimensional position data

Abstract

A laser light receiver is provided with an integral laser distance measurement (LDM) device for measuring the distance from a laser plane of a desired elevation to a desired physical target point to be measured on a jobsite. The laser receiver can be combined with a gravity reference device, so that the laser receiver does not necessarily have to be held plumb to a desired target point, when determining the relative elevation of the laser receiver between a rotating beam of laser light and the target point; it can also acquire multiple samples of positions and automatically take a vertical measurement and store that result for later readout. The laser receiver can be further combined with a GPS receiver, to acquire latitude and longitude data, and then in combination act as a three-dimensional transducer that is more accurate in the vertical direction than a GPS receiver alone is capable of.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A laser light receiver, comprising:

a housing;
a first laser light photosensor, which generates a first signal if receiving a beam of laser light energy from an external laser light source;
a visible readout to indicate if said laser light receiver is substantially on-grade with respect to said beam of laser light energy;
a visible light marker;
a distance measuring device that uses a second laser light source and a second laser light photosensor, said distance measuring device being used to substantially determine a first distance between said second laser light photosensor and a predetermined external position, as selected by a user of said laser light receiver apparatus while aiming said visible light marker, said second laser light photosensor generating a second signal if receiving reflected laser light energy from said second laser light source;
a level vial;
and
a processing circuit that receives said first signal and said second signal;
wherein said housing, said first laser light photosensor, said distance measuring device, said level vial, said visible readout, and said processing circuit are assembled as a unitary hand-held apparatus.

6 more elements

A laser light receiver, comprising:

a housing;
a first laser light photosensor, which generates a first signal if receiving a beam of laser light energy from an external laser light source;
a visible readout to indicate if said laser light receiver is substantially on-grade with respect to said beam of laser light energy;
a visible light marker;
a distance measuring device that uses a second laser light source and a second laser light photosensor, said distance measuring device being used to substantially determine a first distance between said second laser light photosensor and a predetermined external position, as selected by a user of said laser light receiver apparatus while aiming said visible light marker, said second laser light photosensor generating a second signal if receiving reflected laser light energy from said second laser light source;
a gravity sensor that generates a third signal that is substantially indicative of an angular orientation of said housing with respect to gravity;
and
a processing circuit that receives said first signal, said second signal, and said third signal;
wherein said housing, said first laser light photosensor, said distance measuring device, said gravity sensor, said visible readout, and said processing circuit are assembled as a unitary hand-held apparatus.

6 more elements

A laser light receiver, comprising:

a housing;
a first laser light photosensor, which generates a first signal if receiving a beam of laser light energy from an external laser light source, said first signal being indicative of a second distance between said beam of laser light energy and an on-grade position of said laser light receiver;
a visible light marker;
a distance measuring device that uses a second laser light source and a second laser light photosensor, said distance measuring device being used to substantially determine a first distance between said second laser light photosensor and a predetermined external position, as selected by a user of said laser light receiver apparatus while aiming said visible light marker, said second laser light photosensor generating a second signal if receiving reflected laser light energy from said second laser light source;
a gravity sensor that generates a third signal that is substantially indicative of an angular orientation of said housing with respect to gravity;
a visible readout to indicate a relative elevation;
and
a processing circuit that receives said first signal, said second signal, and said third signal;
wherein said housing, said first laser light photosensor, said distance measuring device, said gravity sensor, said visible readout, and said processing circuit are assembled as a unitary hand-held apparatus.

6 more elements

A laser light receiver, comprising:

a housing;
a first laser light photosensor, which generates a first signal if receiving a beam of laser light energy from an external laser light source, said first signal being indicative of a second distance between said beam of laser light energy and an on-grade position of said laser light receiver;
a visible light marker;
a distance measuring device that uses a second laser light source and a second laser light photosensor, said distance measuring device being used to substantially determine a first distance between said second laser light photosensor and a predetermined external position, as selected by a user of said laser light receiver apparatus while aiming said visible light marker, said second laser light photosensor generating a second signal if receiving reflected laser light energy from said second laser light source;
a GPS (global positioning sensor) receiver that generates a third signal that is indicative of a position with respect to the Earth's surface;
a tilt indication device;
a visible readout to indicate a relative elevation between said predetermined external position and said beam of laser light energy;
and
a processing circuit that receives said first signal, said second signal, and said third signal;
wherein:
(a) said housing, said first laser light photosensor, said distance measuring device, said tilt indication device, said visible readout, said GPS receiver, and said processing circuit are assembled as a unitary hand-held apparatus;
and
(b) said processing circuit is configured to:
(i) use said third signal is to substantially determine a position in the horizontal plane with respect to the Earth's surface, and (ii) use said first and second signals to substantially determine said relative elevation, based upon said first distance and said second distance.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Handheld laser light detector with height correction, using a GPS receiver to provide two-dimensional position data

Life of this patent

Handheld laser light detector with height correction, using a GPS receiver to provide two-dimensional position data

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31