Laser level with selectable constant or pulsed beam output

• US 7,412,774 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Level & Tool Mfg Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Johnson Level & Tool Mfg Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhang, Minli, Lu, Jianhong, Xu, Yifei
• Primary Examiner(s): GUADALUPE, YARITZA
• Application Number:
  US11/274,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20060280212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 332/90, 332/86, 332/91, 332/93, 332/85, 33D/IG.21
• US Class Current: 33/290
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/004 Reference lines, planes or sectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/20 for imaging minute objects, e.g. light-pointer
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0683 by monitoring the optical output parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser

Abstract

A laser marking device including an oscillating mechanism that enables the laser beams emitted from the device to be emitted in either a constant state or in a pulsed state to enhance the visibility of the laser beam in various lighting conditions. The oscillating mechanism modulates the power supplied by the power source into either a constant state or a pulsed state in order to send the power in that state to the laser generator, which consequently emits a laser beam in either a constant or pulsed state. In bright light conditions in which the beam is not readily visible, the beam can be emitted in a pulsed state to be sensed by a separate detector capable of detecting the pulsed beam from the device. The detector provides an indication to the operator of the position of the beam relative to the detector such that the operator can readily determine the location of the beam.

Claims

1. A laser marking device comprising:

a) a power source for providing power;

b) a laser generator operably connected to the power source for emitting a laser beam from the device;

c) an oscillating device operably connected between the power source and the laser generator, the oscillating device capable of modulating a state of the power provided by the power source; and

(d) a control device operably connected between the power source and the oscillating device, wherein the control device is configured and arranged to interact with the power source and the oscillating device to selectively modulate the state of the power from the power source between a constant power state for providing a constant laser beam from the laser generator, and a pulsed power state for providing a pulsed laser beam from the laser generator.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the control device comprises a switch operably connected to the oscillating device and capable of changing the operation of the oscillating device.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the switch is capable of switching the operation of the oscillating device between the modulation of the power to the constant power source state and the modulation of the power to the pulsed power state.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the switch is a manually operable switch.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the laser generator comprises:

a) a laser driving circuit operably connected to the oscillating device; and

b) a laser irradiating circuit operably connected to the laser driving circuit and operable to generate the laser beam.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the control device comprises a power switch operable to selectively connect the power source and the oscillating device.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the control device further includes an igniter.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the control device further comprises at least one triode.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a detector capable of sensing the laser beam generated when the oscillating device is operating to modulate the power to a pulsed power state.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the detector comprises:

a) a housing;

b) a detector disposed on the housing; and

c) an indicator disposed on the housing and operably connected to the detector.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the detector is disposed within an aperture in the housing.

12. The device of claim 10 further comprising a handle releasably connected to the housing.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the housing comprises a front panel and a rear panel.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the rear panel includes a threaded bore adapted to receive and engage a bolt disposed in one end of the handle thereby enabling the handle to be secured to the housing.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein the indicator comprises an indicator screen configured to visually illustrate whether the laser beam is one of below, at and above a centerline of the detector.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the device is configured so that when the detector is operated with the handle, the detector can be used to determine whether the laser beam is to the left or right of a centerline of the detector.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the laser beam emitted by the laser generator forms at least one laser line.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the control device comprises a control signal output and the oscillating device comprises a control signal input, wherein the control signal output of the control device is operably connected with the control signal input of the oscillating device.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the oscillating device comprises a control signal output and the laser generator comprises a control signal input, wherein the control signal output of the oscillating device is operably connected to the control signal input of the laser generator.