Method and Apparatus for Dimensional Measurement
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring and computing geometric dimensions, comprising:
- a housing suitable for a human user to grip and carry the apparatus thereby;
a coherent light source that can be directed in a first direction so as to shine on a first target point of interest in space, and capable of being directed in a second direction so as to shine on a second point of interest in space;
a distance measurement element including a circuit that determines a first distance from the apparatus to said first target point of interest, and capable of measuring a second distance from the apparatus to at least the second target point of interest in space;
an angular displacement or rotational sensing element that determines an angle between;
a first line connecting said light source and said first point of interest, and a second line connecting said light source and said second point of interest;
a data storage element that stores data representative of said measured distances to said first and second target points of interest;
a processor that receives a plurality of inputs representative of at least said respective distances to the first and second target points of interest, and said angle, and that calculates a distance between said first and second target points of interest;
a visual display unit providing a visual indication of a plurality of operational features of said apparatus; and
a user interface adapted to receive inputs from said human user to control said operational features of said apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An non-contacting measurement apparatus for measuring distances, angles and related geometric quantities, and for computing other quantities based on the measurements, is provided. A visible light beam or ultrasonic beam allows a user to point the device at one or more points to which the distance is measured, and angular rotation between the various points of interest can be measured and recorded. Then, geometric and trigonometric relationships are used to compute and display lengths, areas, volumes or other facts derived from the measurements. Various input and output features are provided in the present embodiments.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring and computing geometric dimensions, comprising:
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a housing suitable for a human user to grip and carry the apparatus thereby; a coherent light source that can be directed in a first direction so as to shine on a first target point of interest in space, and capable of being directed in a second direction so as to shine on a second point of interest in space; a distance measurement element including a circuit that determines a first distance from the apparatus to said first target point of interest, and capable of measuring a second distance from the apparatus to at least the second target point of interest in space; an angular displacement or rotational sensing element that determines an angle between;
a first line connecting said light source and said first point of interest, and a second line connecting said light source and said second point of interest;a data storage element that stores data representative of said measured distances to said first and second target points of interest; a processor that receives a plurality of inputs representative of at least said respective distances to the first and second target points of interest, and said angle, and that calculates a distance between said first and second target points of interest; a visual display unit providing a visual indication of a plurality of operational features of said apparatus; and a user interface adapted to receive inputs from said human user to control said operational features of said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A hand-held apparatus for determining a distance between two points in space, comprising:
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a housing arranged and sized to fit in a hand of a human user and that can be configurably directed in a desired direction; an emitter that emits energy from a first of said two points towards a second of said two points; a touch-sensitive pad configured to accept a user input to set said apparatus into a selected one of a plurality of operating modes and to accept a user input to mark a position of said second point in space relative to said first point in space; a receiver substantially at said first point that receives a returned portion of energy from said second point; an electronic circuit that executes instructions that determines a distance between said first and second points from inputs; and a display screen, combined with said touch-sensitive pad so as to form a touch screen user interface, that displays both said selected operating mode and said distance thereon. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for measuring a distance between two points of interest in space, comprising:
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determining a first distance between a reference point an a first target point of interest; determining a second distance between said reference point and a second target point of interest; determining an angle defined by said reference point and said first and said second target points; providing signals representative of said first distance, said second distance and said angle to a processing circuit; computing the distance between said first and second points of interest using said signals representative of said first distance, said second distance and said angle; and providing an output signal representative of said distance between said first and second points of interest. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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Specification