Digital measuring and proportioning instrument
First Claim
1. A distance-measuring instrument comprising:
- a scale having distinguishable divisional markings,a first gaging member disposed in fixed relation with said scale;
a sensing device having a second gaging member disposed in fixed relationship therewith, movable along said scale and cooperating therewith in a manner to generate signals representing current distance gaged between said first and second gaging members; and
electronic circuitry adapted to receive said signals, to register, display and store therefrom an initial distance reading, and then for each subsequent distance reading, to automatically calculate a proportioning factor expressing the ratio of said subsequent reading to said initial distance reading and display said proportioning factor.
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Abstract
A hand-held microcomputer-based ruler-like measuring and calculating instrument, particularly adapted for but not restricted to the graphic arts field, is capable of registering individual size measurements, proportioning successive readings in percent, converting to different units and visually displaying numeric results. The measuring, computing and indicating system has been human-engineered to eliminate fatigue and risk of error associated with conventional methods of repeatedly sizing and proportioning graphics elements. Distance along a fixed ruler scale, gaged by a slider-mounted pointer, is sensed and encoded electro-optically from an internal fixed bar-scale, digitally decoded, registered, processed and displayed. Optional audible indication enables the sliding pointer to be reset manually to a memory-stored reference point without eye contact, simplifying multiple sequential readings and proportioning factor determinations and thus greatly reducing mental and visual effort. Other ancillary functions include the ability to measure and display distances directly in inches, centimeters, picas, or in other user-defined units, to readily convert between any of these units systems, to reference visually to scale marks as typically shown on maps, charts, diagrams and the like, to center an object within an arbitrary span, and to measure distances greater than the actual length of the instrument. Life of the on-board battery is prolonged by pulsing the sensor device light source at a variable sampling rate in an adaptive velocity-feedback loop, and by automatic cutback to a low-power standby mode when not in use. Upon "re-awakening" by a user, recalibration is performed automatically. In the preferred embodiment, the abovementioned functions are controlled by only three user push-buttons and a slider-actuated switch.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A distance-measuring instrument comprising:
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a scale having distinguishable divisional markings, a first gaging member disposed in fixed relation with said scale; a sensing device having a second gaging member disposed in fixed relationship therewith, movable along said scale and cooperating therewith in a manner to generate signals representing current distance gaged between said first and second gaging members; and electronic circuitry adapted to receive said signals, to register, display and store therefrom an initial distance reading, and then for each subsequent distance reading, to automatically calculate a proportioning factor expressing the ratio of said subsequent reading to said initial distance reading and display said proportioning factor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A distance-measuring instrument comprising:
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a scale, having clearly distinguishable divisional markings, said scale being affixed to a body of the instrument and said scale having a first gaging member disposed in fixed relationship therewith; a sensing device, having a second gaging member disposed in fixed relationship therewith, movable along said scale and cooperating therewith to generate signals representing any current distance gaged between said first and second gaging members; electronic circuitry adapted to receive and decode said signals, to register therefrom a reading of said distance, to convert said reading into any selected one of a plurality of preselected units systems, such as inches, centimeters and picas; and user input means enabling a user to select any of said units systems, and to thus cause said electronic circuitry to display said reading expressed in said selected units system. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A distance-measuring instrument comprising:
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a scale having clearly distinguishable divisional markings, said scale having a uniquely-distinguishable calibration marking at one end thereof; a first gaging member disposed in fixed relationship with said scale; a sensing device, having a second gaging member disposed in fixed relationship therewith, movable along said scale over a travel range having at one extreme end a home position immediately adjacent to a calibration position corresponding to sensing of said calibration marking, said first and second gaging members being made to coincide at said calibration position, whereby said sensing device, in cooperation with said scale, is enabled to generate signals representing any current distance gaged between said first and second gaging members; electronic circuitry adapted to register and display distance data derived from said signals; and a home position sensing switch, disposed so as to be actuated each time said sensing device is moved to said home position, and adapted to thereupon reset and thus recalibrate said electronic circuitry; whereby automatic recalibration of said instrument with respect to said calibration position is caused to be performed each time said sensing device is moved to said home position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A distance-measuring instrument comprising
a scale, having optically distinguishable divisional markings, an optical sensing ammsembly movable relative to said scale and cooperating therwith to generate signals representing displacement of said sensing assembly relative to said scale, said sensing assembly including a light source and means for pulsing said light source at an adjustable sampling rate, and rate control means responsive to the velocity of movement between said sensing assembly and said scale to adjust said sampling rate in accordance with a predetermined relationship.
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21. A distance-measuring system comprising:
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an elongated body having affixed thereto a scale having optically distinguishable divisional markings; a sensing assembly, having a light source illuminating said scale, said assembly being movable relative to said scale and adapted to sense light from said source through an optical path including a selected portion of said scale to generate signals representing displacement of said sensing assembly relative to said scale; and indicator means for indicating both the displacement of said sensing device from a predetermined position along said scale and the direction of said displacement. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A distance measuring instrument comprising:
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an elongated body; a first reference mark located near a first end of said body; a second reference mark located near the opposite end of said body; a slider assembly movable along said body between an initial position, corresponding to said first reference mark, and an extreme position corresponding to said second reference mark; an indicator device for digitally providing an indication of the displacement of said slider assembly from said initial position as a measure of distance gaged between said first reference mark and and a reference point on said slider; and means for making measurements longer than said body, comprising means responsive to movement of said slider assembly to said extreme position for adapting said indicator device to indicate said displacement to said extreme position plus the displacement of said slider assembly from said initial position to a new final position; whereby, upon shifting said instrument longitudinally from an original position so as to cause said first reference mark to coincide with a noted previous position of said second reference mark, said instrument will indicate a measurement from the original position of said first reference mark to a new final position between said first reference mark and said second reference mark, thus enabling said instrument, when utilized in the manner of an ordinary ruler measuring distances ranging between its full length and twice its full length, to display a result of such measurement directly.
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28. A method of scaling distance measurements with an apparatus having an elongated body and a slide assembly movable along said body, said slide assembly having an initial position on said body, and including means for registering the displacement of said slide assembly from said initial position on said body, said method comprising the steps of
moving said slide assembly from said initial position to a predetermined position by a first displacement, storing said displacement in a memory, displacing said slide assembly to a second position having a second displacement from said initial position, calculating the ratio of said second displacement divided by said first displacement, and automatically indicating and storing said ratio to set a scaling factor, moving said slide assembly to one or more additional positions, and at each of said additional positions, registering the displacement of said additional position from said initial position, adjusted by said scaling factor, whereby said additional position is scaled to said first displacement.
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29. The method of operating a hand-held distance-measuring instrument in a manner to center an object within an arbitrary span, said instrument having (a) an elongated body with a reference mark, (b) a slide assembly movable along said body, (c) an indicator registering the displacement of said slide assembly from said reference mark, (d) "Set" user input means for setting an instrument scale factor at a user-selected first position of said slide assembly corresponding to a first distance reading, such that said indicator is caused to display a unity reading, whereby a second distance reading at a second position of said slide assembly will be displayed as a proportion related to said first reading and (e) "Centering" user input means adapted to double said instrument scale factor without altering the displayed value of a current reading, so as to cause the displayed value from any subsequent movement of said slide to change at twice a normal incremental rate relative to displacement;
- said method comprising the steps of;
placing said reference mark at a first edge of said object, moving the slider to a first position at a second edge of said object, opposite its first edge, actuating said "Set" user input means, thereby setting said instrument scale factor to display a unity reading on said indicator, placing said reference mark at a first edge of said arbitrary span, moving the slider to a second position at a second edge of said arbitrary span, opposite its first edge, thus producing a second displayed reading, actuating said "Centering" user input means, whereby said instrument scale factor is caused to be doubled without altering said second displayed reading, moving said slider assembly so as to locate it in a third position wherein a unity reading is displayed on said indicator, and moving said object until its second edge is aligned with said third position of said slider assembly, whereupon said object is now centered in said arbitrary span.
- said method comprising the steps of;
Specification