Electronic Alignment System
First Claim
1. An electronic alignment device comprising:
- at least two accelerometers, said accelerometers being mutually perpendicular to one another, a computing and processing device, said computing and processing device having computer implemented means for initializing said electronic alignment device, initializing said accelerometers, calibrating said accelerometers, calculating at least one angle of rotation about an axis in a reference frame, reading and writing data from and to a memory device, and sending data to a feedback device, means for electrically connecting said accelerometers, said computing and processing device, said feedback device, said memory device and a power source.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic alignment system is disclosed. The system has at least two accelerometers, mounted in the device in such a manner that the accelerometers are mutually perpendicular to one another. An electrical connection electrically connects the accelerometers, a computing and processing device, a memory device, a feedback device, and a power source. A three axis reference frame is used as a basis for determining the angle of rotation of the device about an axis. Two accelerometers are required to determine a first angle of rotation. Adding a third accelerometer allows for the calculation of a second angle of rotation. Distance sensors can determine distance to a work piece, how far the device has traveled relative to a work piece, areas and volumes, and a third angle of rotation. Gyroscopes can also determine a third angle of rotation. The device may also include light projectors.
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Citations
82 Claims
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1. An electronic alignment device comprising:
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at least two accelerometers, said accelerometers being mutually perpendicular to one another, a computing and processing device, said computing and processing device having computer implemented means for initializing said electronic alignment device, initializing said accelerometers, calibrating said accelerometers, calculating at least one angle of rotation about an axis in a reference frame, reading and writing data from and to a memory device, and sending data to a feedback device, means for electrically connecting said accelerometers, said computing and processing device, said feedback device, said memory device and a power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. An electronic alignment device comprising:
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at least two distance sensors, said distance sensors being mutually perpendicular, a computing and processing device, said computing and processing device having computer implemented means for initializing said electronic alignment device, initializing said distance sensors, calibrating said distance sensors, determining a distance from each of said distance sensors, determining an area from the product of said determined distances, reading and writing data from and to a memory device, and sending data to a feedback device, and means for electrically connecting said distance sensors, said computing and processing device, said feedback device, said memory device and a power source. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A method for aligning a device relative to a reference frame, comprising:
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calculating an angle relative to an axis of said reference frame from output signals from at least two perpendicularly mounted accelerometers, and providing feedback to a user of said device based on said angle. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71)
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72. An electronic alignment apparatus comprising:
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a housing, input and control means externally mounted on said housing, a feedback device operatively mounted in said apparatus, at least two accelerometers, said accelerometers being mutually perpendicular to one another, said accelerometers internally mounted in said housing, first and second distance sensors pointed in the same direction, said distance sensors operatively mounted in said housing, a computing and processing device, said computing and processing device having computer implemented means for initializing said apparatus, initializing said accelerometers, initializing said sensors, calibrating said accelerometers, calculating first and second distances, calculating an angle of rotation about a first axis in a reference frame, calculating an angle of rotation about a second axis in said reference frame, reading and writing data from and to a memory device, receiving input from input and control means, and sending data to said display device, said computing and processing device internally mounted in said housing, and means for electrically connecting said accelerometers, said distance sensors, said computing and processing device, said memory device, said display and a power source, said electrically connecting means internally mounted in said housing. - View Dependent Claims (73, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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74. An electronic alignment apparatus comprising:
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a housing, input and control means externally mounted on said housing, a feedback device operatively mounted in said apparatus, at least two accelerometers, said accelerometers being mutually perpendicular to one another, said accelerometers internally mounted in said housing, a gyroscope, said gyroscope operatively mounted in said housing, a computing and processing device, said computing and processing device having computer implemented means for initializing said apparatus, initializing said accelerometers, initializing said gyroscope, calibrating said accelerometers, calculating an angle of rotation about a first axis in a reference frame, calculating an angle of rotation about a second axis in said reference frame, reading and writing data from and to a memory device, receiving input from said input and control means, and sending data to said display device, said computing and processing device internally mounted in said housing, and means for electrically connecting said accelerometers, said gyroscope, said computing and processing device, said memory device, said display and a power source, said electrically connecting means internally mounted in said housing. - View Dependent Claims (75)
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Specification