System for operating one or more lasers to project a visible line onto a surface

• US 6,895,677 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2004
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thought Development, Inc.
• Original Assignee: First Down Laser Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Dinicola, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, G. Bradley
• Application Number:
  US10/838,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20040200082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 332/27, 332/86, 332/89, 33D/IG.21, 473/415, 473/490
• US Class Current: 33/289
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/004 Reference lines, planes or sectors

Abstract

At least one temporary visible reference line is projected onto a target surface, as for example, an athletic field, by several laser sources. A first laser source emits optical energy—at a wavelength of between 380 nm and 750 nm—along at least a first selectable path upon the target surface so as to form a temporary line thereon. A second laser source disposed at a second elevated, stationary location relative to the target surface different from the first stationary location emits optical energy along at least a second selectable path upon the target surface so as to form a temporary line thereon. In some instances, each laser light source may be capable of traversing the entire width of the target surface, in which case each laser source covers a discrete region. In other cases, respective laser sources arranged on opposite laterals sides of the target surface can be included so that segments contiguous with those projected by a corresponding one of the first and second laser sources can be generated to form a temporary line that does traverse the entire width of the target surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a temporary visible reference line across a surface, comprising:

a first laser source disposed at a first elevated, stationary location relative to the surface, said first laser source being operative to emit optical energy at a wavelength of between 380 nm and 750 nm along a selectable path within a first region of the surface so as to form at least a portion of a temporary visible line thereon; and

a second laser source disposed at a second elevated, stationary location relative to the surface, said second laser source being operative to emit optical energy at a wavelength of between 380 m and 750 m along a selectable path within a second region of the surface so as to form at least a portion of a temporary visible line thereon; and

a controller, said controller being responsive to input user commands to operate said first laser source when a temporary visible line is to be formed within the first region and to operate said second laser source when a temporary visible line is to be formed within the second region of the surface.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said laser source comprises a line projecting module including a cylindrical lens.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said laser source comprises an X-Y scanning assembly.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including a plurality of lasers each operative to generate pulses and wherein said controller is operative to sequentially operate at least some of said plurality of lasers so as to form a composite pulse having a duration of at least 0.25 seconds.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, each of said plurality of lasers is a frequency-doubled Nd:

YAG laser emitting an optical beam at a wavelength of 532 nm.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first laser source includes a first line projecting module having a cylindrical lens and the second laser source includes a second line projecting module having a cylindrical lens, and wherein the output of said at least some of said plurality of lasers is optically coupled to the line projecting module of at least one of said first and second laser sources.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first laser source includes a first line projecting module having an X-Y scanning assembly and said second laser source includes a second line projecting module having an X-Y scanning assembly and wherein the output of said at least some of said plurality of lasers is optically coupled to the line projecting module of at least one of said first and second laser sources.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including

a third laser source disposed at a third elevated, stationary location relative to the surface, said third laser source being operative to emit optical energy at a wavelength of between 380 nm and 750 nm along a selectable path within the first region, and

a fourth laser source disposed at a fourth elevated, stationary location relative to the surface, said fourth laser source being operative to emit optical energy at a wavelength of between 380 nm and 750 nm along a selectable path within the fourth region, wherein

said controller is responsive to input user commands to operate said first laser source and said third laser source when a temporary visible line is to be formed within the first region and to operate said second laser source and said fourth laser source when a temporary visible line is to be formed within the second region of the surface.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said controller is operative to cause said first laser source to project a temporary line segment that is aligned and contiguous with a temporary line segment projected by the third laser source so as to thereby form a continuous, temporary visible line, and to cause said second laser source to project a temporary line segment that is aligned and contiguous with a temporary line segment projected by the fourth laser source so as to form a continuous, temporary visible line.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a continuous temporary line formed within the first region by said first and third laser sources and within said second region by said second and fourth laser sources is a straight line having a length of about fifty three yards and a width of from about four to about eight inches.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said controller is operative to cause said first laser source to project a temporary line segment that overlaps a temporary line segment projected by the third laser source so as to thereby form a composite, temporary visible line within the first region, and to cause said second laser source to project a temporary line segment that overlaps a temporary line segment projected by the fourth laser source so as to form a composite, temporary visible line within the second region.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a composite temporary line formed within the first region by said first and third laser sources and within said second region by said second and fourth laser sources is a straight line having a length of about fifty three yards and a width of from about four to about eight inches.

13. A method for providing a temporary visible reference line across a surface, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first command to generate a temporary visible line within a first region of the surface;

operating a first laser source operative to emit optical energy at a wavelength of between 380 nm and 750 nm along a selected path within the first region of the surface;

receiving a second command to generate a temporary visible line within a second region of the surface;

de-energizing the first laser source so as to terminate generation of a temporary visible line within the first region and operating a second laser source operative to emit optical energy at a wavelength of between 380 nm and 750 nm along a selected path within the second region of the surface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a third laser source is operated during the step of operating the first laser source.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a fourth laser source is operated during the step of operating the second laser source.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of operating a first laser source includes sequentially pulsing a first plurality of lasers to generate a composite pulse having a pulse width of at least 0.25 seconds.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of operating a second laser source includes sequentially pulsing the first plurality of lasers to generate a composite pulse having a pulse width of at least 0.25 seconds.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of operating a second laser source includes sequentially pulsing a second plurality of lasers to generate a composite pulse having a pulse width of at least 0.25 seconds.