Method and Apparatus for Applying an Architectural Layout to a Building Construction Surface

• US 20170280114A1
• Filed: 03/28/2017
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jz Companies, JZ Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: JZ Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Samuelson, Jeffrey, Buck, Joshua W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,579,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/14 Transformations for image registration, e.g. adjusting or mapping for alignment of images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3161 using laser light sources using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3185 Geometric adjustment, e.g. keystone or convergence optical or mechanical adjustment of convergence H04N9/317; using scanning means H04N3/22; optical or mechanical adjustments of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

The present device may project a building design drawing onto a floor to indicate substantially precisely where contractors should install their products on the construction site. The device scans the raw space, compares the proposed construction documents with the existing conditions and projects a full scale accurate image of the plan on a work surface of either gravel, dirt and/or concrete. The resulting image would allow installation of underground utilities and walls more quickly and with increased accuracy. This decreases the time needed for installation and reduces or eliminates the need for costly re-work necessitated by these common errors.

Claims

1. Portable imaging apparatus for laying out an architectural plan on a worksite surface, said apparatus comprising:

means for attaching the apparatus to an elevated position above the worksite surface;

network communication means for receiving the architectural plan;

a scanner for generating a 3D point cloud image of the worksite surface;

a computer for receiving and aligning the architectural plan image with the worksite surface image; and

a projector for laying out the aligned architectural plan image on the worksite surface.

2. The portable imaging apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a power supply.

3. The portable imaging apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising computer software for image processing.

4. The portable imaging apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a protective case.

5. The portable imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner is a 3D laser scanner.

6. The portable imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projector is a laser projector.

7. The portable imaging apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a hand-held controller for adjusting the aligned architectural plan image on the worksite surface.

8. A method of laying out an architectural plan image on a worksite surface with portable imaging apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

Attaching the imaging apparatus to an elevated position above the worksite surface;

Receiving the architectural plan via network communication means;

Generating a 3D point cloud image of the worksite surface with a scanner;

Aligning the architectural plan image with the worksite image with the computer; and

Laying out the aligned architectural plan image on the worksite surface with a projector.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein generating an image of the worksite surface comprises creating a point cloud image thereof.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein aligning the worksite image and the architectural plan image comprises adjusting the architectural plan image to fit within the worksite image.

11. The method of claim 8, and further comprising the step of adjusting the aligned architectural plan image on the worksite surface with a hand held controller.

12. The method of claim 11, and further comprising the step of locking the adjusted and aligned architectural image in place on the worksite surface.