System for operating one or more suspended laser projectors to project a temporary visible image onto a surface

• US 20050183273A1
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thought Development, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alan Amron, Brian K. Dinicola
• Inventors: Dinicola, Brian K., Amron, Alan B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,219,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/289
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/065 Line markings, e.g. tapes; Methods therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2019/067 Machines for marking
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/12 Electrically powered or heated
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/14 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/22 Radio waves emitting or receiving, e.g. remote control, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/24 Processing or storing data, e.g. with electronic chip
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/004 Reference lines, planes or sectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser

Abstract

A temporary visible image, such as a first down reference line, corporate logo, or text is projected onto a target surface by an orientation-stabilized, fiber-fed laser projector. The projector may include at least one cylindrical lens or at least one pair of X-Y scanners. One or more remotely located lasers, supplying optical energy at a single wavelength to the projector, accommodate projection of a monochromatic line pattern. Multi-colored images are accommodated by supplying, to the projector, the output of a plurality of lasers operating at different wavelengths within the visible band. The projector is suspended and conveyed as a unitary assembly by a suspension system adapted to maintain the projectors angular orientation and dynamically stabilize the image. If desired, two or more independently-suspended projection modules or groups of modules adapted to move in unison or independently over the length of the field may be employed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a temporary visible image upon a target surface, comprising:

a first laser operative to emit optical energy;

a first projection module optically coupled to said first laser by a first optical fiber, said first projection module being adapted to project optical energy received from said first laser onto the target surface; and

a suspension system for supporting said first projection module at an elevated location above the target surface and for conveying said first projection module in response to user input commands, said suspension system including a position stabilization system adapted to detect and correct angular deviations relative to a desired orientation of the first projection module,

whereby said first projection module may be conveyed from a first, position-stabilized location from which an image can be projected upon a first region of the target surface to a second, position-stabilized location from which an image can be projected upon a second region of the target surface.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temporary visible image is a line and wherein said first projection module includes a cylindrical lens for spreading the optical energy received from said first laser into a line projected upon the target surface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first projection module comprises an X-Y scanning assembly, the X-Y scanning assembly being operative, in accordance with a first mode of operation, to project a temporary, visible reference line across the target surface and operative, in accordance with a second mode of operation, to project a temporary visible image having at least one curvilinear segment.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first laser includes a plurality of lasers.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of one of said plurality of lasers is operative to emit optical energy at a wavelength of between 380 and 750 nm.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said plurality of lasers is operative to emit optical energy at a wavelength of about 532 nm.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including

a second projection module supported and conveyed by said suspension system, and

a second laser optically coupled to said second projection module by a second optical fiber

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of said first and second projection modules includes a corresponding X-Y scanning assembly operative to project optical energy along selectable paths upon the target surface.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of said first and second lasers is adapted to emit optical energy at a respectively different wavelength between 380 nm and 750 nm.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further including a controller responsive to input user commands to operate, in accordance with a first mode of operation, the first projection module and the first laser to project a temporary, visible, monochromatic reference line upon the target surface and to operate, in accordance with a second mode of operation, the first and second projection modules and the first and second lasers to project a temporary, visible, multicolored image upon the target surface.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first and second projection modules and said first and second lasers are operative, in accordance with said second mode of operation, to project a multicolored image having at least one curvilinear portion.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first projection module and the first laser are operative, in accordance with said first mode of operation, to project a continuous temporary line having a length of about fifty three yards.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including

a second projection module;

a second laser optically coupled to said second projection module by a second optical fiber; and

a second suspension system for supporting said second projection module at an elevated location above the target surface and for conveying said second projection module in response to user input commands, said second suspension system including a position stabilization system adapted to detect and correct angular deviations relative to a desired orientation of the first projection module,

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the temporary visible image is a line and wherein each respective projection module includes a cylindrical lens for spreading the optical energy received from a corresponding laser into an associated line segment projected upon the target surface to thereby form a composite temporary line having a length of about fifty three yards.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each said projection module comprises an X-Y scanning assembly, each X-Y scanning assembly being operative, in accordance with a first mode of operation, to project a temporary, visible reference line upon the target surface and operative, in accordance with a second mode of operation, to project a temporary visible image having at least one curvilinear segment upon the target surface.

16. A method for providing a temporary visible reference line across a target surface, comprising the steps of:

responsive to receiving a command to generate a temporary visible image upon a first selected region of the target surface, conveying a projection module suspended above the target surface and optically coupled to a laser to a first location;

operating the projection module and laser so as to project a visible image upon the first selected region of the target surface; and

while performing said operating step, detecting and correcting angular deviations relative to a desired orientation of the projection module to substantially fix the visible image at the first selected region for a desired time interval.

17. The method of claim 16, further including a step of

responsive to receiving a command to generate a temporary visible image upon a second selected region of the target surface, conveying the projection module from the first location to a second location above the target surface;

and

operating the projection module and laser so as to project a visible image upon the second selected region of the target surface.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said projection module includes an X-Y scanning assembly and said method further includes

a step of operating said projection module, in accordance with a first mode of operation, to project a temporary, visible reference line upon the target surface, and

a step of operating said projection module, in accordance with a second mode of operation, to project a temporary visible image having at least one curvilinear segment upon the target surface.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said projection module is optically coupled to a plurality of lasers operating at respectively different wavelengths between 380 and 750 nm, said method further comprising a step of operating said projection module to project a multi-colored, temporary visible image upon the target surface.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of operating the projection module includes spreading the optical energy supplied by the laser into a line image using a cylindrical lens.