Laser alignment device providing multiple references
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a pendulum assembly, including;
a coarse pendulum, and a fine pendulum coupled to said coarse pendulum;
a laser beam source assembly mounted on said pendulum assembly, wherein said laser beam assembly provides a first laser beam.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A laser alignment device provides horizontal and vertical reference planes, lines, and points. The alignment device includes a pendulum assembly that supports a laser beam source assembly, two reflectors, and two motors. The laser beam source directs beams onto the reflectors—producing a horizontal reference beam and a vertical reference beam. Each reflector is rotated by one of the motors. Continuous rotation generates a reference plane; dithering generates a reference line, and no movement results in a reference point. The pendulum assembly includes a coarse pendulum that supports a fine pendulum, as well as the rotating motors and beam reflectors. The coarse pendulum roughly levels the alignment device. The fine pendulum supports the laser beam source assembly and brings the alignment device to a level position. The laser alignment device also includes a motor control system that enables users to accurately position the device'"'"'s references.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a pendulum assembly, including;
a coarse pendulum, and a fine pendulum coupled to said coarse pendulum;
a laser beam source assembly mounted on said pendulum assembly, wherein said laser beam assembly provides a first laser beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A laser alignment device comprising:
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a pendulum assembly;
a first motor mounted on said pendulum assembly;
a second motor mounted on said pendulum assembly;
a first reflective element coupled to said first motor to rotate in response to a rotational movement of said first motor;
a second reflective element coupled to said second motor to rotate in response to a rotational movement of said second motor; and
a laser beam source assembly mounted on said pendulum assembly, wherein said laser beam source assembly is aligned to provide a first laser beam to said first reflective element and a second laser beam to said second reflective element. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A laser alignment device comprising:
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a housing;
a pendulum assembly;
a first motor mounted on said pendulum assembly, a second motor mounted on said pendulum assembly;
a first reflective element coupled to said first motor to rotate in response to a rotational movement of said first motor;
a second reflective element coupled to said second motor to rotate in response to a rotational movement of said second motor; and
a mounting bracket pivotably mounted within said housing, wherein said mounting bracket supports said pendulum assembly;
a yaw arm extending from said mounting bracket; and
a yaw motor having a shaft, wherein a portion of said yaw arm rests against said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A laser alignment device comprising:
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a pendulum assembly, including;
a coarse pendulum, and a fine pendulum mounted to said coarse pendulum;
a first motor mounted on said coarse pendulum;
a second motor mounted on said course pendulum;
a first reflective element mounted on said coarse pendulum and coupled to said first motor to rotate in response to a rotational movement of said first motor;
a second reflective element mounted to said coarse pendulum and coupled to said second motor to rotate in response to a rotational movement of said second motor; and
a laser beam source assembly mounted on said fine pendulum, wherein said laser beam source assembly is aligned to provide a first laser beam to said first reflective element and a second laser beam to said second reflective element, wherein said laser beam source assembly includes;
a mounting block containing a first opening and a second opening, a first mounting joint secured in said first opening, wherein said first mounting joint includes a first front section located in said first opening and said first front section has a spherical surface, a second mounting joint secured in said second opening, wherein said second mounting joint includes a second front section located in said second opening and said second front section has a spherical surface, a first laser diode mounted in said first mounting joint, and a second laser diode mounted in said second mounting joint. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing;
a first rigid member mounted to said housing;
a second rigid member mounted to said housing;
a coarse pendulum mounted within said housing and having a first base, wherein said first base passes between said first rigid member and said second rigid member;
a fine pendulum mounted on said coarse pendulum and having a second base, wherein said second base passes between said first rigid member and said second rigid member;
a first set of magnets mounted on said first rigid member; and
a second set of magnets mounted on said second rigid member. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing;
a pendulum assembly;
a support member rigidly mounted to said housing;
a mounting bracket mounted to said support member to pivot about a pivot point, wherein said mounting bracket supports said pendulum assembly;
an arm extending from said mounting bracket; and
a motor having a shaft, wherein said shaft is in contact with a portion of said arm, and wherein said mounting bracket pivots in response to a rotation of said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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48. A laser beam source assembly comprising:
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a mounting block containing a first opening and a second opening;
a first mounting joint secured in said first opening, wherein said first mounting joint includes a first front section located in said first opening and said first front section has a spherical surface; and
a second mounting joint secured in said second opening, wherein said second mounting joint includes a second front section located in said second opening and said second front section has a spherical surface. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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51. A method for positioning a motor, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) retrieving a positioning input indicating a distance the motor is to be rotated;
(b) determining a motor control signal frequency, in response to said positioning input;
(c) determining a motor control signal pulse width, in response to said positioning input; and
(d) providing a motor control signal to said motor, wherein said motor control signal has said motor control signal frequency and said motor control signal pulse width. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A processor readable storage medium having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage medium, said processor readable code for programming a processor to perform a method, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) retrieving a positioning input indicating a distance the motor is to be rotated;
(b) determining a motor control signal frequency, in response to said positioning input;
(c) determining a motor control signal pulse width, in response to said positioning input; and
(d) providing a motor control signal to said motor, wherein said motor control signal has said motor control signal frequency and said motor control signal pulse width. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification