Level, angle and distance measuring device

• US 7,350,303 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2003
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan George Rock, Angus James Rock
• Original Assignee: Alan George Rock, Angus James Rock
• Inventors: Rock, Angus James, Rock, Alan George
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett; G. Bradley
• Assistant Examiner(s): Courson; Tania C
• Application Number:
  US10/534,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20060053645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 3336611-36614, 333/28, 332/75.G, 332/75.R, 333/18, 333/29, 333/43, 333/16, 333/21, 333/24
• US Class Current: 33/366.11
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 1/00 Measuring angles

Abstract

The portable self-contained horizontal and vertical level, angle and distance measuring device is suitable for indicating whether or when two or more points are level with each other and for measuring distances and angles between two or more points, a point and a line or a point and a plane. Moreover, the measuring device is capable of displaying such measurements to a user in real time. The measuring device includes a measuring point (3) for identifying from where measurements are to be calculated, a user actuated trigger (11) and a display (9) for displaying measurements to the user either in real time or in memory mode. The measuring device is compact and light-weight making it particularly convenient and portable. It is also very versatile and is capable of replacing a multiplicity of measuring devices commonly employed in DIY, engineering, and in trade in general.

Claims

1. A portable measuring device comprising:

a housing;

power supply means;

one or more motion sensors adapted to detect motion in six degrees of freedom;

a processor adapted to provide a measure of the relative spatial separation;

a user actuated trigger for identifying at least a first location; and

a display for visually presenting information on a measured relative spatial separation;

wherein said processor is further adapted to determine at least one angle of a second location with reference to a line or plane incorporating said first location for presentation by said display and to determine an error correction in relation to motion detected by said one or more motion sensors.

2. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor is adapted to determine said at least one angle with respect to one or both of vertical and horizontal planes.

3. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said processor is adapted to determine whether said first location and said second location are level with respect to either of said vertical or horizontal planes.

4. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor is adapted to determine, in addition to said at least one angle, a linear distance separating said first and second locations.

5. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a measuring point provided on said housing and having a defined spatial relationship with respect to said one or more motion sensors, said measuring point being visually distinguishable on said housing and user alignable with a user selected spatial location.

6. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said measuring point is adapted to be substantially stationary when aligned by a user with a selected spatial location.

7. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor is adapted to determine an error correction when said measuring point is aligned with a selected spatial location and is substantially stationary, in relation to motion detected by said one or more motion sensors.

8. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is in communication with a memory in which is stored calibration data and the processor is adapted to update calibration data stored in said memory at a second or subsequent location.

9. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said processor is adapted to adjust for movement of the one or more motion sensors as a result of uncontrolled hand movements of the user when updating calibration data stored in said memory.

10. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of motion sensors comprising at least three accelerometers and three angular rate sensors.

11. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, further including a timer, in communication with the processor, for monitoring the time duration of a measurement wherein the processor is adapted to determine the measure of relative spatial separation to a resolution dependent upon the time duration of the measurement.

12. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to determine from information received from the motion sensors when the measuring device is stationary and to generate an error correction.

13. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor has access to threshold data identifying lower limits of measurable spatial movement representative of small, uncontrolled hand movements of a user.

14. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a deceleration device for reducing high deceleration forces.

15. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to supply real time data on the measured relative spatial separation.

16. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor additionally includes a data store in which motion data is stored and said processor is adapted to update said stored motion data in dependence on calculated error corrections or updated calibration data and to recalculate said measured spatial separation in dependence on the updated motion data.

17. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, further including a non-contact distance meter for measuring a distance to a position remote from the measuring device, the position being at least one of said first and second locations.

18. A portable measuring device comprising:

a housing;

power supply means;

a processor and one or more motion sensors adapted to provide a measure of the relative spatial separation of at least first and second locations;

a user actuated trigger for identifying at least said first location; and

a display for visually presenting information on a measured relative spatial separation

wherein said processor is further adapted to determine at least one angle of said second location with reference to a line or plane incorporating said first location and a linear distance for presentation by said display and to determine an error correction in relation to motion detected by said one or more motion sensors.

19. A portable measuring device comprising:

a housing;

power supply means;

a processor and one or more motion sensors adapted to provide a measure of the relative spatial separation of at least first and second locations;

a user actuated trigger; and

a display for visually presenting information on a measured relative spatial separation

said measuring device further including a measuring point provided on said housing having a defined spatial relationship with respect to said one or more motion sensors, said measuring point being provided for identification to said processor, in association with said user actuated trigger, at least one of said first and second locations and said processor being adapted to determine an error correction in relation to motion detected by said one or more motion sensors.

20. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said measuring point is visually distinguishable on said housing and user alignable with a user selected spatial location.

21. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said measuring point is adapted to be substantially stationary when aligned by a user with a selected spatial location.

22. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 21, wherein processor is adapted to determine an error correction when said measuring point is aligned with a selected spatial location and is substantially stationary, in relation to motion detected by said one or more motion sensors.

23. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the processor is in communication with a volatile memory in which is stored calibration data and the processor is adapted to update calibration data stored in said volatile memory at a second or subsequent location.

24. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said processor is adapted to adjust for movement of the one or more motion sensors as a result of uncontrolled hand movements of the user when updating calibration data stored in said volatile memory.

25. A portable measuring device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said one or more motion sensors comprise at least three accelerometers and three angular rate sensors.

26. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 19, further including a timer, in communication with the processor, for monitoring the time duration of a measurement wherein the processor is adapted to determine the measure of relative spatial separation to a resolution dependent upon the time duration of the measurement.

27. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the processor is adapted to determine from information received from the motion sensors when the measuring device is stationary and to generate an error correction.

28. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the processor has access to threshold data identifying lower limits of measurable spatial movement representative of small, uncontrolled hand movements of a user.

29. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a deceleration device for reducing high deceleration forces.

30. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the processor is adapted to supply real time data on the measured relative spatial separation.

31. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the processor additionally includes a data store in which motion data is stored and said processor is adapted to update said stored motion data in dependence on calculated error corrections or updated calibration data and to recalculate said measured spatial separation in dependence on the updated motion data.

32. The portable measuring device as claimed in claim 19, further including a non-contact distance meter for measuring a distance to a position remote from the measuring device, the position being at least one of said first and second locations.