U.S. patent application number 10/310894 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-10 for laser meter.
Invention is credited to Pu, Jian-Hua.
Application Number | 20040107588 10/310894 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32468131 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040107588 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pu, Jian-Hua |
June 10, 2004 |
LASER METER
Abstract
A laser meter includes a casing; a laser module inside the
casing; and a reflection means coaxial with the laser module and
having circular circumference. The laser meter can provide both
horizontal and vertical light beam for mark and consumes lower
power.
Inventors: |
Pu, Jian-Hua; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
32468131 |
Appl. No.: |
10/310894 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
33/286 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01C 15/002 20130101;
Y10S 33/21 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
033/286 |
International
Class: |
G01C 015/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A laser meter comprising a casing; a laser module inside the
casing; a reflection means coaxial with the laser module and having
circular circumference.
2. The laser meter as in claim 1, wherein the casing has a base to
provide vertical and horizontal beam.
3. The laser meter as in claim 1, wherein the casing has a base
with level and adjusting screw.
4. The laser meter as in claim 1, wherein the reflection means has
a through hole along the axis of the laser.
5. The laser meter as in claim 1, wherein the reflection means has
a bubble level on top thereof.
6. The laser meter as in claim 1, wherein the casing has a bolt at
longitudinal circumference thereof.
7. The laser meter as in claim 1, wherein the reflection means has
reflection function.
8. The laser meter as in claim 1, wherein the reflection means is
made of light conducting material.
9. The laser meter as in claim 1, further comprising a reflecting
disk to provide second reflection.
10. The laser meter as in claim 1, further comprising an enclosure
formed outside the reflecting disk.
11. The laser meter as in claim 1, wherein the laser module has a
screw for adjusting optical axis.
12. The laser meter as in claim 1, wherein the casing can be
adjusted in omni direction.
13. The laser meter as in claim 1 or 12, wherein the base has level
and adjusting screw.
14. The laser meter as in claim 1, wherein a supporting stage is
provided to provide horizontal state for the casing.
15. The laser meter as in claim 1, wherein the casing is rotated
for horizontal application.
16. The laser meter as in claim 1, wherein the reflection means is
performed in an inner curve arc-shaped reflecting surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a laser meter, especially
to a laser meter providing both horizontal and vertical light beam
for mark and consuming lower power.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The laser meter generally comprises a laser module emitting
a single laser beam driven by a high-speed motor for circular
scanning. The circular scanning light is emitted on a work surface,
a user view views the reflected light of the circular scanning
light as a liner light due to persistence of vision.
[0005] However, the laser light has high power density and may
damage human's eye as revealed by the case of laser point pen in
Japan, which had hurt child's eyes. However, the laser light does
not provide sufficient luminance for indication once its power is
reduced.
[0006] Moreover, the conventional laser meter generally requires
considerable electrical power for motor, which should drive the
laser beam in high-speed circular motion.
[0007] Moreover, the motor itself has considerable weight and is
generally used with a rack to emit light in horizontal direction.
The light in vertical direction to ground is hard to obtain.
Therefore, the conventional laser meter has the drawbacks of eye
damage, high electrical power and impossibility for light in
vertical direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser
meter with continuous and planar laser beam and high
compactness.
[0009] In the first aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter is located on a carrier for easy adjustment.
[0010] In the second aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter has an adjusting screw and a tension spring for horizontal
adjustment.
[0011] In the third aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter can be rotated with 90 degree.
[0012] In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter can rotated to provide horizontal and vertical mark.
[0013] In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter has elongated level.
[0014] In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter has a reflecting means with a through hole for emitting laser
light.
[0015] In the seventh aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter has a casing with a conic section for supporting.
[0016] In the eighth aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter has an adjusting screw opposite to the conic section.
[0017] In the ninth aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter has a reflective type reflecting means.
[0018] In the tenth aspect of the present invention, the reflecting
means is made of light conducting material.
[0019] In the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter has an enclosure for protecting purpose.
[0020] In the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the casing
is placed atop a floating supporter.
[0021] In the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter has a circular bubble level.
[0022] In the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter is hung on a plumb.
[0023] In the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the laser
meter has a reflecting disk.
[0024] In the Sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the
reflection means is performed as an inner curve arc-shaped surface
in achieving the light beam focusing effect and thus relatively
performed in a reduced height thereof.
[0025] The various objects and advantages of the present invention
will be more readily understood from the following detailed
description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in
which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
[0026] FIG. 1 show a prior art laser meter;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the laser meter of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 3 shows the application of the laser meter of the
present invention;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the laser meter of the
present invention;
[0030] FIG. 5 also shows the application of the laser meter of the
present invention;
[0031] FIG. 5-1 shows a perspective view of the laser meter of the
present invention;
[0032] FIG. 5-2 shows a sectional view of the laser meter of the
present invention;
[0033] FIG. 5-3 shows another perspective view of the laser meter
of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the laser meter of the
present invention;
[0035] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the laser meter of the
present invention;
[0036] FIG. 8 shows a partial sectional view of the laser meter of
the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 9 shows a partial sectional view of the laser meter of
the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 10 shows a partial sectional view of the laser meter of
the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 11 shows the laser meter of the present invention with
a reflecting disk;
[0040] FIG. 12 shows a partial portion of the laser meter of the
present invention in FIG. 11;
[0041] FIG. 13 shows the laser meter of the present invention with
a reflecting disk; and
[0042] FIG. 14 shows the laser meter of the present invention with
an enclosure.
[0043] FIG. 15 shows reflection from the parabolic surface of the
present invention.
[0044] FIG. 16 shows reflection from the ellipsoidal surface of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0045] FIG. 1 shows a prior art horizontal laser meter, which
comprises a base 1 with a motor 10 arranged on a shoulder of the
base 1. The base 1 has an eye-shaped level 19 with an adjusting
button 191 to adjust horizontal position of the motor 10. The base
1 has a coupling stage 131 with a connector 132 with a pivotal part
133 corresponding to the axis 15 of the motor 10. The axis 15 is
assembled with winding 16 within a casing 18 to form the motor 18.
A laser 17 is provided in the casing 18, the beam thereof passes
through a through hole 151 of the axis 15. A refracting means 14 is
formed at output end of the axis 15 to deflect the beam into a
horizontal beam P.
[0046] The motor 10 drives the beam P to form circular scanning
with high speed to provide linear indication. Therefore, high
driving AC power is required to drive the motor. If the motor is
driven with low DC voltage, the motor needs large current and the
risk to damage human eye is increased.
[0047] The connector 132 is movable with the coupling stage 131 and
the laser 17 will emit laser beam in vertical direction. The
adjusting button 191 will roughly adjust the base 1 in horizontal
direction. The horizontal beam can be obtained by the weight pro se
of the motor 10 and the refraction action of the refracting means
14.
[0048] The inner face of the coupling stage 131 is in movable
contact with the outer face of the connector 132 such that the
motor 10 can drive the laser in vertical direction and horizontal
beam P can be obtained by the refracting means 14.
[0049] As described above description, the horizontal beam is
obtained by the weight pro se of the motor and a bearing means 13.
Therefore, the laser meter described above is hard to use after it
is rotated 90 degree. The conventional laser meter is limited to
horizontal marking and consumes high power for daytime use. For
example, a 10 AH battery is required and the volume is bulky.
[0050] Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide a
laser meter with low power and projecting in omni direction way,
thus providing a light marking for horizontal or vertical
direction.
[0051] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the present invention.
The laser meter comprises a laser module 4 opposite to a conic
refractor means 3 and enclosed by a cylindrical casing 2 and a
shell 31. The laser module 4 in the cylindrical casing 2 emits an
annulus light beam to the refraction face 33 of the conic refractor
means 3, wherein the refraction face 33 is 45 degree with respect
to the horizontal plane and the apex angle of the conic refractor
means 3 is 90 degree. A transparent cover 23 is provided between
the cylindrical casing 2 and the shell 31 to define an annulus
window 24. The laser light from the laser module 4 is reflected by
the conic refractor means 3 to emit horizontal light beam P1. The
casing 2 has conic bump 21 on shoulder thereof and corresponding to
the upper end of the laser module 4 for point support. The casing 2
can be adjusted at bottom thereof by clamping screws 41 and
adjusting the emitting angle of beam.
[0052] With reference to FIG. 3, the shell 31 has a slit 310 at
center thereof corresponding to the casing 2. The conic refractor
means 3 has a through hole 32 corresponding to the axis of laser
light to emit an axial light P2. The conic refractor means 3 has a
reflecting face 330 to form a horizontal beam P1 vertical to the
beam P2.
[0053] With reference to FIG. 4, the casing 2 is cylindrical shape
and has window 24 behind the shell 31 for emitting planar light
beam P1. The slit 310 emits vertical beam P2. A tubular level 25 is
arranged on circumference of the casing 2.
[0054] FIG. 5 shows the application of the present invention, which
is mainly used for indication in vertical mark by the horizontal
beam P1. The casing 2 is used with a carrier 5 with a receiving
slot 51 to receive the casing and a coupling stage 52 on bottom
thereof and connected to a base 57. The coupling stage 52 has a
tension spring 53 on one end thereof such that the horizontal state
of the casing 2 can be adjusted by a screw 54. The horizontal state
can be checked by viewing a level 25 through a window 56.
Therefore, the horizontal beam P1 can be used as vertical mark and
the beam P2 can be used as horizontal mark.
[0055] If the carrier is rotated 90 degree, the horizontal beam P1
can be used as horizontal mark.
[0056] As shown in FIGS. 5-1, the casing 2 can be supported by a
carrier 9 with a changeable angle to obtain an omni directional
laser mark. The carrier 9 comprises a bottom plate 91 with an
arc-shaped supporter 93 and a level 92. The carrier 9 comprises an
adjusting screw 921 at a corner thereof to set horizontal state of
the carrier 9. The arc-shaped supporter 93 has a coupling member 94
on one end thereof, in which the casing 2 is received. More
particularly, the vertical line of the casing 2 is aligned with 90
degree mark of the arc-shaped supporter 93. The arc-shaped
supporter 93 has a sliding groove 933 in which an indicator 932
slides. The indicator 932 is corresponding to a mark 931. The
coupling member 94 is slidably arranged in a sliding groove 94 of
the arc-shaped supporter 93. The swinging angle of the sliding
groove 94 is constrained by the coupling shaft 90 and locked by a
locking knob 95. The sliding groove 94 is linked with the indicator
932 for changing angle of the casing 2. As shown in this figure,
the casing 2 is received in the coupling member 94, and fixed to
vertical position by the locking knob 95. As shown in FIGS. 5-2,
the light beam P emitted from the window 24. The coupling member 94
can be rotated by releasing the locking knob 95 to move the casing
to 45 degree or horizontal position. The horizontal beam then
becomes vertical mark.
[0057] The carrier 9 with 90 degree changeable angle can tune the
horizontal beam to arbitrary angle and the carrier 9 can be reverse
rotated to provide 180 degree marking.
[0058] As shown in FIGS. 5-3, the casing 2 can be supported by a
plumb line 98 for providing horizontal beam P. The casing 2 is hung
to the plumb line 98 through a plurality of supporting wires 97.
Each of the plurality of supporting wires 97 is bound to a lug 961
of a hoop 96. The supporting wire 97 can be hung to an inner hole
of the lug 961 to adjusting the length thereof.
[0059] With reference to FIG. 6, the casing 2 is assembled to a
droop means 7 through a universal coupling stage 6, wherein the
droop means 7 comprises a pendulum 72 and a swing link 71. The
casing 2 is connected to an axial rack 64 though an X shaft 61 in
radial direction and connected to a supporting stage 63 through a Y
shaft 62 such that a floating universal coupling stage 6 is
arranged atop the supporting stage 63. A magnetic device is formed
below the supporting stage 63 and corresponding to the pendulum 72
to prevent over swing. The universal coupling stage 6 enables the
casing 2 to be a free body and aligning with gravity. The light is
emitted from the window to be a horizontal light P1 for horizontal
mark.
[0060] With reference to FIG. 7, in the horizontal arrangement of
the present invention, a groove 312 is defined by a baffle 311 atop
the shell 31. A bubble level 251 is placed in the groove 312 for
basic horizontal calibration.
[0061] With reference to FIG. 8, the reflection means 3 is a light
guiding body with a conic groove 331 thereon and having reflecting
face 33 formed by coating. The included angle between the conic
groove 331 and the light axis is 45 degree.
[0062] With reference to FIG. 9, the reflection means 3 has a
through hole 32 through which a beam P2 is formed and peripheral
light is diffused to form a horizontal light P1. The light guiding
body is used to prevent diffraction by air.
[0063] With reference to FIG. 10, the reflection means 3 is a
reflecting body with a reflecting face 33 of 45 degree such that
the laser light is reflected to form a planar beam P1. The
reflection means 3 has a through hole 32 through which a beam P2
passes.
[0064] With reference to FIG. 11, to further reduce the height of
the window, a reflecting disk 8 is formed below the reflection
means 3 and a bevel is formed therebetween such that the planar
beam P1 is emitted in horizontal direction. The reflecting disk 8
has a through hole 81 through which laser beam passes and is
reflected by the reflection means 3 to reinforce the planar beam
P1.
[0065] With reference to FIG. 12, the included angle between the
reflection means 3 and the reflecting disk 8 is 45 degree such that
a laser light is reflected by the reflection means 3 and the
reflecting disk 8 to form the planar beam P1.
[0066] With reference to FIG. 13, a through hole 32 is formed at
top center of the reflection means 3 to provide a vertical beam P2
beside the planar beam P1.
[0067] With reference to FIG. 14, an enclosure 23 is formed outside
the reflecting disk 8 to prevent the invade of dirt and damp.
[0068] With reference to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the laser module 4
emits an laser light beam to the reflecting surface 33 thereby
either forming horizontal light beam P in accordance with variable
curved surface thereof, or forming focal point F in order to
achieve greater and stronger light beam focusing effect. In
addition, the inner curve arc-shaped reflection means 3 is able to
perform relatively reduced height by applying the variable curved
surface thereof.
[0069] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be
understood that the invention is not limited to the details
thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in
the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of
ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and
modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *