US 7,414,704 B1Granted

Laser light receiver apparatus with automatically adjustable zero-reference point

AssigneeApache Technologies, Inc.

InventorKevin R. Nau

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Abstract

An improved laser light receiver is provided that senses a laser light beam and determines positional elevation of the laser receiver based on the position where the laser light beam impacts the light sensors of the laser receiver. The laser receiver automatically adjusts its zero-reference point when it senses a magnet that has been mounted on a clamping device that holds the housing of the laser light detector in at least two predetermined attitudes with respect to the clamping device. Thus the invention operates as a clamp-actuated “offset” on-grade mode for the laser receiver.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A laser light receiver system, comprising:

(a) a laser light receiver, having:
(i) a housing that has at least two predetermined mounting locations;
(ii) a first laser light photosensor, which generates a first signal if receiving a beam of laser light energy from an external laser light source;
(iii) a visible readout to indicate if said laser light receiver is substantially on-grade with respect to said received beam of laser light energy;
(b) a mounting apparatus having:
(i) at least one mating area to receive said housing at one of said at least two predetermined mounting locations of the housing;
and
(ii) a physical feature that is positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said at least one mating area;
and
(c) said laser light receiver further comprising:
(iv) a sensor that detects said physical feature of the mounting apparatus, and produces a second signal having a first logic state if said laser light receiver detects a first state of said physical feature of the mounting apparatus, and produces said second signal having a second logic state if said laser light receiver detects a second state of said physical feature of the mounting apparatus;
and
(v) a processing circuit that receives said first signal and said second signal, wherein said processing circuit is configured:
(A) to automatically select a zero-reference point from at least two possible states;
(B) to enable a first state of the zero-reference point if said processing circuit receives said first logic state of said second signal;
(C) to enable a second state of the zero-reference point that is different than said first state of the zero-reference point if said processing circuit receives said second logic state of said second signal;
and (D) to determine whether said received beam of laser light energy has impacted said first laser light photosensor at an on-grade position, with respect to said enabled zero-reference point.

14 more elements

A laser light receiver system, comprising:

(a) a laser light receiver, having:
(i) a housing that has at least two predetermined mounting locations;
(ii) a first laser light photosensor, which generates a first signal if receiving a beam of laser light energy from an external laser light source;
(iii) a visible readout to indicate if said laser light receiver is substantially on-grade with respect to said received beam of laser light energy;
and
(b) a mounting apparatus having:
(i) a mating area to receive said housing at one of said at least two predetermined mounting locations of the housing;
and
(ii) a permanent magnet positioned at a predetermined location that is proximal to said mating area;
(c) said laser light receiver further comprising:
(iv) a magnetically-actuated sensor that produces a second signal having a first logic state if said magnetically-actuated sensor is substantially within a predetermined proximity of said permanent magnet that is located on said mounting apparatus, and produces said second signal having a second logic state if said magnetically-actuated sensor is not substantially within said predetermined proximity of said permanent magnet;
and
(v) a processing circuit that receives said first signal and said second signal, wherein said processing circuit is configured:
(A) to automatically select a zero-reference point from at least two possible states;
(B) to enable a first state of the zero-reference point if said processing circuit receives said first logic state of said second signal;
(C) to enable a second state of the zero-reference point that is different than said first state of the zero-reference point if said processing circuit receives said second logic state of said second signal;
and (D) to determine whether said received beam of laser light energy has impacted said first laser light photosensor at an on-grade position, with respect to said enabled zero-reference point.

14 more elements

A laser light receiver, comprising:

(a) a housing that has at least two predetermined mounting locations;
(b) a laser light photosensor, which generates a signal if receiving a beam of laser light energy from an external laser light source;
(c) a visible readout to indicate if said laser light receiver is substantially on-grade with respect to said received beam of laser light energy;
(d) a sensor that detects a predetermined external physical parameter proximal to one of said at least two predetermined mounting locations, wherein:
(i) said sensor exhibits a first output state if it detects said predetermined external physical parameter proximal to a first one of said at least two predetermined mounting locations;
(ii) said sensor exhibits a second output state if it does not detect said predetermined external physical parameter proximal to said first one of said at least two predetermined mounting locations;
and
(e) a processing circuit that receives said signal and determines a present output state of said sensor, wherein said processing circuit is configured:
(i) to automatically select a zero-reference point from at least two possible states;
(ii) to enable a first state of the zero-reference point if said processing circuit determines said first output state of said sensor;
(iii) to enable a second state of the zero-reference point that is different than said first state of the zero-reference point if said processing circuit determines said second output state of said sensor;
and (iv) to determine whether said received beam of laser light energy has impacted said laser light photosensor at an on-grade position, with respect to said enabled zero-reference point, and if so to indicate that on-grade status on said visible readout.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A laser light receiver system, comprising:

(a) a laser light receiver, having:
(i) a housing that has at least two predetermined mounting locations;
(ii) a first laser light photosensor, which generates a first signal if receiving a beam of laser light energy from an external laser light source;
(iii) a visible readout to indicate if said laser light receiver is substantially on-grade with respect to said received beam of laser light energy;
(b) a mounting apparatus having:
(i) at least one mating area to receive said housing at one of said at least two predetermined mounting locations of the housing;
and
(ii) a physical feature that is positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said at least one mating area;
and
(c) said laser light receiver further comprising:
(iv) a sensor that detects said physical feature of the mounting apparatus, and produces a second signal having a first logic state if said laser light receiver detects a first state of said physical feature of the mounting apparatus, and produces said second signal having a second logic state if said laser light receiver detects a second state of said physical feature of the mounting apparatus;
and
(v) a processing circuit that receives said first signal and said second signal, wherein said processing circuit is configured:
(A) to automatically select a zero-reference point from at least two possible states;
(B) to enable a first state of the zero-reference point if said processing circuit receives said first logic state of said second signal;
(C) to enable a second state of the zero-reference point that is different than said first state of the zero-reference point if said processing circuit receives said second logic state of said second signal;
and (D) to determine whether said received beam of laser light energy has impacted said first laser light photosensor at an on-grade position, with respect to said enabled zero-reference point.

14 more elements