Electronic measuring tape and a length measuring device provided therewith

• US 7,900,369 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoechstmass Balzer GmbH
• Original Assignee: Hoechstmass Balzer GmbH
• Inventors: Albrecht, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett; G. Bradley
• Assistant Examiner(s): Courson; Tania C
• Application Number:
  US11/996,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20080276477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,688 Days
• Field of Search: 33761-763
• US Class Current: 33/762
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2003/1053 Tape exit slots, e.g. shape or exit direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1003 characterised by structure or material; characterised by layout or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1043 Details of internal structure thereof, e.g. means for coupling separately moulded casing halves
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1046 Details of external structure thereof, e.g. shapes for ensuring firmer hold
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1056 Tape end arrangements, e.g. end-hooks
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1094 for recording information or for performing calculations

Abstract

The invention relates to the simple and low-cost production of an electronic measuring tape (10) comprising an external housing (12) provided with a tape exit opening (14), a tape winding-up device (20), a tape (30) which is wound up in the tape winding-up device (20) and is withdrawable from the external housing (12) through the tape exit opening (14), wherein said tape is provided with first and second surfaces. A radiation source (50) is arranged between the tape exit opening (14) and the tape winding-up device (20) for sending a beam to the first surface of the tape (30). A detecting device (60) is placed at the side of the second surface of the tape (30) for receiving the beam and transmitting data representing the received radiation to an evaluation device (70) for determining, from these data, the length of the tape (30) extracted through the tape exit opening (14). According to said invention, the tape (30) is radiation-permeable and provided with a biunique code (40) on one of the two surfaces thereof. Said code represents the length of the tape (30) extracted through the tape exit opening (14) and consists of elements influencing the radiation-transmitting capacity of the tape (30).

Said invention also relates to an electronic length-measuring device provided with display and evaluation means for determining a length according to received data and for generating visual data according to said length on the display means, wherein said measuring tape (10) is connected to the evaluation unit.

Claims

1. An electric measuring tape comprising an external housing provided with a tape exit opening, comprising:

a tape winding-up device,

a tape wound up in the tape winding-up device and withdrawable from the external housing through the tape exit opening, the tape having a first surface and a second surface,

a radiation source arranged between the tape exit opening and the tape Winding-up device, for sending a beam onto the first surface of the tape, and

a detector assembly placed at the side of the second surface of the tape, for receiving the beam and outputting data representing the received radiation to an evaluation device for determining the length of the tape extracted through the tape exit opening,

wherein the tape is radiation-permeable and is provided with a biunique code on one of the two surfaces thereof, the code representing the length of the tape extracted through the tape exit opening and comprising elements which influence the radiation-transmitting capacity of the tape, and wherein the detector assembly is configured to determine the length of the tape extracted without continuous activation of the radiation source.

2. A measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein the tape comprises fabric and/or plastic.

3. A measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein the tape is located in a tape cage which can be removed from the external housing.

4. A measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein the code is imprinted or etched in.

5. A measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein the code is a Gray code, a PRBS code, a modified PRBS code, or a bar code with a maximized number of lightdark transitions.

6. A measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein a release device for activating the radiation source as well as preferably a means for automatically deactivating the radiation source after the activation thereof are provided on the outside of the external housing.

7. A measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein a vibrating device is provided, which can be operating by the evaluation device.

8. A measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein a display means is provided on the outside of the external housing.

9. A measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device is located within the external housing.

10. An electronic lengthmeasuring device comprising:

a display,

an evaluation device for determining a length dimension for display, and

an electronic measuring tape connected to the evaluation device wherein the electronic measuring tape comprises

a tape winding-up device,

a tape wound up in the tape winding-up device and withdrawable from the external housing through the tape exit opening, the tape having a first surface and a second surface,

a radiation source arranged between the tape exit opening and the tape winding-up device, for sending a beam onto the first surface of the tape, and

a detector assembly placed at the side of the second surface of the tape, for receiving the beam and outputting data representing the received radiation to the evaluation device for determining the length of the tape extracted through the tape exit opening,

wherein the tape is radiation-permeable and is provided with a biunique code on one of the two surfaces thereof, the code representing the length of the tape extracted through the tape exit opening and comprising elements which influence the radiationtransmitting capacity of the tape, and wherein the detector assembly is configured to determine the length of the tape extracted without continuous activation of the radiation source.

11. A length-measuring device according to claim 10, wherein the connection between the electronic measuring tape and the evaluation device is provided in a wireless manner.