Laser level

• US 20040111898A1
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sergyeyenko, Oleksiy P., Marshall, James D., Dyke, Colin M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,027,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/227
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/008 combined with inclination sensor

Abstract

A laser level disposable on a reference surface includes a housing, a laser diode disposed within the housing for emitting a laser beam along a path, a lens disposed in the path for converting the laser beam into a planar beam. The planar beam thus forms a line on the reference surface. The laser level also includes an electronic distance measurement circuit disposed within the housing for measuring distance. The distance measurement circuit including a display for showing the measured distance.

Claims

1. A laser level disposable on a reference surface comprising:

a housing;

a first laser diode disposed in the housing for emitting a first laser beam along a first path; and

an electronic distance measuring circuit disposed in the housing for measuring distance.

2. The laser level of claim 1, further comprising a pendulum pivotably connected to the housing.

3. The laser level of claim 2, wherein the first laser diode is disposed on the pendulum.

4. The laser level of claim 2, further comprising a first lens disposed on the pendulum in the first path for converting the first laser beam into a first planar beam, the first planar beam forming a first line on the reference surface.

5. The laser level of claim 2, further comprising a second laser diode disposed on the pendulum for emitting a second laser beam along a second path, and a lens disposed on the pendulum in the second path for converting the second laser beam into a planar beam, the planar beam forming a second line on the reference surface.

6. The laser level of claim 1, wherein the distance measuring circuit comprises a laser transmitter.

7. The laser level of claim 1, wherein the distance measuring circuit comprises a laser receiver.

8. The laser level of claim 1, wherein the distance measuring circuit comprises a sound transmitter.

9. The laser level of claim 1, wherein the distance measuring circuit comprises a sound receiver.

10. The laser level of claim 1, wherein the distance measuring circuit comprises a display disposed on the housing.

11. The laser level of claim 1, further comprising a first lens disposed in the housing in the first path for converting the first laser beam into a first planar beam, the first planar beam forming a first line on the reference surface.

12. The laser level of claim 11, further comprising a second laser diode disposed in the housing for emitting a second laser beam along a second path, and a second lens disposed on the pendulum in the second path for converting the second laser beam into a second planar beam, the second planar beam forming a second line on the reference surface.

13. The laser level of claim 12, wherein the first and second lines are substantially perpendicular.

14. The laser level of claim 1, further comprising a detector circuit disposed in the housing for detecting a feature behind or underneath the reference surface.

15. The laser level of claim 14, wherein the detector circuit detects at least one of the group consisting of studs, wire and pipes.

16. The laser level of claim 1, wherein the housing at least partially encloses the pendulum.

17. The laser level of claim 1, wherein the housing has at least one window for allowing the first planar beam to exit therethrough.

18. The laser level of claim 1, further comprising at least one bubble vial on the housing.