US 8,943,701 B2 · Automated layout and point transfer system

Abstract

A two-dimension layout system identifies points and their coordinates, and transfers identified points on a solid surface to other surfaces in a vertical direction. Two leveling laser light transmitters are used with a remote unit to control certain functions. The laser transmitters rotate about the azimuth, and emit vertical (plumb) laser planes. After being set up using benchmark points, the projected lines of the laser planes will intersect on the floor of a jobsite at any point of interest in a virtual floor plan, under control of a user with the remote unit. An “active target” can be used to more automatically create benchmarks. A laser distance meter can be installed on base units to automatically scan a room or a wall to determine certain key features.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A base unit for use in a layout and point transfer system, said base unit comprising:

a laser light transmitter that emits a substantially vertical first plane of laser light, said laser light transmitter being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis;
a laser light receiver having:
(a) a null-position photosensor that detects laser light emitted by an external laser light source that emits a substantially vertical second plane of laser light, wherein said null-position photosensor is mounted to detect an offset position of where said second plane of laser light strikes said base unit in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to a predetermined location on said base unit, and
(b) an amplifier circuit that is in communication with said null-position photosensor;
and
a leveling mechanism.

3 more elements

A method for setting up a layout and point transfer system, said method comprising:

(a) providing a first base unit which includes a first processing circuit, a first communications circuit, a first azimuth angle measuring instrument, and a rotatable first laser light transmitter that emits a first laser light plane;
(b) providing a second base unit which includes a second processing circuit, a second communications circuit, a second azimuth angle measuring instrument, and a rotatable second laser light transmitter that emits a second laser light plane;
(c) providing a remote unit that includes a third processing circuit, a third communications circuit, a memory circuit, a display, and an input sensing device that allows a user to enter commands to said remote unit, said remote unit being in communication with said first and second base units;
(d) positioning said first base unit and said second base unit at two different locations on a solid surface of a jobsite;
(e) determining an alignment axis between said first base unit and said second base unit;
(f) starting a new virtual jobsite floor plan in said memory circuit of the remote unit;
(g) selecting a first physical point on said jobsite and aiming said first laser light transmitter and said second laser light transmitter so that said first physical point is indicated by intersecting laser light lines that are produced by said first and second laser light planes;
determining a first set of azimuth angles of said first and second laser light transmitters;
and recording said first set of azimuth angles in said memory circuit of the remote unit, and thereby creating a first benchmark for said virtual floor plan stored in said memory circuit;
(h) selecting a second physical point on said jobsite and aiming said first laser light transmitter and said second laser light transmitter so that said second physical point is indicated by intersecting laser light lines that are produced by said first and second laser light planes;
determining a second set of azimuth angles of said first and second laser light transmitters;
and recording said second set of azimuth angles in said memory circuit of the remote unit, and thereby creating a second benchmark for said virtual floor plan stored in said memory circuit;
(i) determining an actual distance between said first benchmark and said second benchmark, and recording said actual distance in said memory circuit of the remote unit;
and
(j) scaling said virtual floor plan to actual dimensions of said jobsite, based upon said actual distance between said first and second benchmarks.

12 more elements

A method for determining a perpendicular line up to a wall, said method comprising:

(a) providing a base unit which includes a processing circuit, an azimuth angle measuring instrument, a rotatable laser light transmitter that emits a laser light plane, and a rotatable distance measuring device that measures distance to a target;
(b) positioning said base unit at a user-selected location on a solid surface of a space on a jobsite;
(c) scanning a wall of said space by rotating said distance measuring device and recording a plurality of angles and distances to said wall for a plurality of angular positions;
(d) determining two angular positions where a distance to said wall is substantially equal at both said angular positions;
and
(e) aiming said laser light transmitter at an angular direction that bi-sects said two angular positions, and turning on said laser light transmitter so that it creates a visible laser light line along said solid surface, thereby indicating a visible perpendicular line to said wall.

3 more elements

A method for setting up a layout and point transfer system, said method comprising:

(a) providing a first base unit which includes a first processing circuit, a first communications circuit, a first azimuth angle measuring instrument, a rotatable first laser light transmitter that emits a first laser light plane, and a rotatable first distance measuring device that measures distance to a target;
(b) providing a second base unit which includes a second processing circuit, a second communications circuit, a second azimuth angle measuring instrument, and a rotatable second laser light transmitter that emits a second laser light plane;
(c) providing a remote unit that includes a third processing circuit, a third communications circuit, a memory circuit, a display, and an input sensing device that allows a user to enter commands to said remote unit, said remote unit being in communication with said first and second base units;
(d) positioning said first base unit and said second base unit at two different locations on a solid surface of a jobsite;
(e) determining an alignment axis between said first base unit and said second base unit;
(f) starting a new virtual jobsite floor plan in said memory circuit of the remote unit, for a field of work at said jobsite;
(g) selecting a first physical point on said solid surface of the jobsite and aiming said first laser light transmitter and said second laser light transmitter so that said first physical point is indicated by both laser light lines that are produced by said first and second laser light planes;
(h) determining a first set of azimuth angles of said first and second laser light transmitters;
(i) determining a first distance between said first physical point and said first distance measuring device;
(j) recording said first set of azimuth angles and first distance in said memory circuit of the remote unit, thereby creating a first benchmark for said virtual floor plan stored in said memory circuit;
and
(k) calculating a second distance between said first and second base units, thereby scaling the field of work.

9 more elements

A method for setting up a layout and point transfer system, said method comprising:

(a) providing a first base unit which includes a first processing circuit, a first communications circuit, a first azimuth angle measuring instrument, a rotatable first laser light transmitter that emits a first laser light plane, and a rotatable first distance measuring device that measures distance to a target;
(b) providing a second base unit which includes a second processing circuit, a second communications circuit, a rotatable second laser light transmitter that emits a second laser light plane, and a rotatable second distance measuring device that measures distance to a target;
(c) providing a remote unit that includes a third processing circuit, a third communications circuit, a memory circuit, a display, and an input sensing device that allows a user to enter commands to said remote unit, said remote unit being in communication with said first and second base units;
(d) positioning said first base unit and said second base unit at two different locations on a solid surface of a jobsite;
(e) determining an alignment axis between said first base unit and said second base unit;
(f) starting a new virtual jobsite floor plan in said memory circuit of the remote unit, for a field of work at said jobsite;
(g) selecting a first physical point on said solid surface of the jobsite and aiming said first laser light transmitter and said second laser light transmitter so that said first physical point is indicated by both laser light lines that are produced by said first and second laser light planes;
(h) determining a first azimuth angle of said first laser light transmitter;
(i) determining a first set of distances between said first physical point and said first and second distance measuring devices;
(j) recording said first azimuth angle and first set of distances in said memory circuit of the remote unit, thereby creating a first benchmark for said virtual floor plan stored in said memory circuit;
and
(k) calculating a second distance between said first and second base units, thereby scaling the field of work.

9 more elements

A method for setting up a layout and point transfer system, said method comprising:

(a) providing a first base unit which includes a first processing circuit, a first communications circuit, a first azimuth angle measuring instrument, and a rotatable first laser light transmitter that emits a first laser light plane;
(b) providing a second base unit which includes a second processing circuit, a second communications circuit, a second azimuth angle measuring instrument, and a rotatable second laser light transmitter that emits a second laser light plane;
(c) providing a remote unit that includes a third processing circuit, a third communications circuit, a memory circuit, a display, and an input sensing device that allows a user to enter commands to said remote unit, said remote unit being in communication with said first and second base units;
(d) providing a fixed-length rod, said rod having a first indicia proximal to a first end and a second indicia proximal to a second, opposite end along a longitudinal axis, said rod having a known actual length between said first and second indicia;
(e) positioning said first base unit and said second base unit at two different locations on a solid surface of a jobsite, and positioning said fixed-length rod at a third location on said solid surface;
(f) determining an alignment axis between said first base unit and said second base unit;
(g) starting a new virtual jobsite floor plan in said memory circuit of the remote unit;
(h) aiming said first laser light transmitter and said second laser light transmitter so that said first indicia of the rod is indicated by intersecting laser light lines that are produced by said first and second laser light planes;
determining a first set of azimuth angles of said first and second laser light transmitters;
and recording said first set of azimuth angles in said memory circuit of the remote unit, and thereby creating a first benchmark for said virtual floor plan stored in said memory circuit;
(i) aiming said first laser light transmitter and said second laser light transmitter so that said second indicia of the rod is indicated by intersecting laser light lines that are produced by said first and second laser light planes;
determining a second set of azimuth angles of said first and second laser light transmitters;
and recording said second set of azimuth angles in said memory circuit of the remote unit, and thereby creating a second benchmark for said virtual floor plan stored in said memory circuit;
and
(j) scaling said virtual floor plan to said known actual length, which represents the physical distance between said first and second benchmarks.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automated layout and point transfer system

Life of this patent

Automated layout and point transfer system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28