Electronic Alignment System

• US 20050251294A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerwin Tools Incorporated
• Original Assignee: John Cerwin
• Inventors: Cerwin, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,447,565 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/279
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/022 with incorporated levels
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/023 with removably attached levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/183 Compensation of inertial measurements, e.g. for temperature effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/00 Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions

Abstract

An electronic alignment system is disclosed. The system has at least two accelerometers, mounted in the device in such a manner that the accelerometers are mutually perpendicular to one another. An electrical connection electrically connects the accelerometers, a computing and processing device, a memory device, a feedback device, and a power source. A three axis reference frame is used as a basis for determining the angle of rotation of the device about an axis. Two accelerometers are required to determine a first angle of rotation. Adding a third accelerometer allows for the calculation of a second angle of rotation. Distance sensors can determine distance to a work piece, how far the device has traveled relative to a work piece, areas and volumes, and a third angle of rotation. Gyroscopes can also determine a third angle of rotation. The device may also include light projectors.

Claims

1. An electronic alignment device comprising:

at least two accelerometers, said accelerometers being mutually perpendicular to one another,

a computing and processing device, said computing and processing device having computer implemented means for initializing said electronic alignment device, initializing said accelerometers, calibrating said accelerometers, calculating at least one angle of rotation about an axis in a reference frame, reading and writing data from and to a memory device, and sending data to a feedback device,

means for electrically connecting said accelerometers, said computing and processing device, said feedback device, said memory device and a power source.

2. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic alignment device comprises three accelerometers.

3. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises means for communicating with an external computing device.

4. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic alignment device further comprises a first distance sensor,

said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for initializing said first distance sensor, and calculating a first distance, and

wherein said means for electrically connecting said accelerometers, said computing and processing device, said feedback device, said memory device and a power source further electrically connects said first distance sensor.

5. The electronic alignment device according to claim 4, wherein said first distance sensor comprises an infrared distance sensor.

6. The electronic alignment device according to claim 4, wherein said first distance sensor comprises an ultrasonic distance sensor.

7. The electronic alignment device according to claim 4, wherein said first distance sensor comprises a laser distance sensor.

8. The electronic alignment device according to claim 4, wherein said device further comprises a second distance sensor pointed in the same direction as said first distance sensor,

said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for initializing said second distance sensor, calculating a second distance, and determining an angle of rotation about an axis of said reference frame from said first distance and said second distance, and

wherein said means for electrically connecting said accelerometers, said computing and processing device, said feedback device, said memory device and a power source further electrically connects said second distance sensor.

9. The electronic alignment device according to claim 8, wherein said second distance sensor comprises an infrared distance sensor.

10. The electronic alignment device according to claim 8, wherein said second distance sensor comprises an ultrasonic distance sensor.

11. The electronic alignment device according to claim 8, wherein said second distance sensor comprises a laser distance sensor.

12. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises at least one gyroscope,

said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for initializing said gyroscope and determining an angle of rotation about an axis of said reference frame from said gyroscope, and

wherein said means for electrically connecting said accelerometers, said computing and processing device, said feedback device, said memory device and a power source further electrically connects said gyroscope.

13. The electronic alignment device according to claim 12, wherein said at least one gyroscope comprises at least one MEMS gyroscope.

14. The electronic alignment device according to claim 8, wherein said electronic alignment device comprises three accelerometers.

15. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said accelerometers are MEMS accelerometers.

16. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic alignment device further comprises at least two distance sensors, said distance sensors being mutually perpendicular,

said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for initializing said distance sensors, determining a distance from each of said distance sensors, and determining an area from the product of said determined distances, and wherein said means for electrically connecting said accelerometers, said computing and processing device, said feedback device, said memory device and a power source further electrically connects said distance sensors.

17. The electronic alignment device according to claim 16, further comprising means for projecting lines of visible light from said device,

wherein said light projecting means are aligned with said distance sensors.

18. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic alignment device further comprises three distance sensors, said distance sensors being mutually perpendicular,

said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for initializing said distance sensors, determining a distance from each of said distance sensors, and determining a volume from the product of said determined distances, and

wherein said means for electrically connecting said accelerometers, said computing and processing device, said feedback device, said memory device and a power source further electrically connects said distance sensors.

19. The electronic alignment device according to claim 18, further comprising means for projecting lines of visible light from said device,

wherein said light projecting means are aligned with said distance sensors.

20. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said power source is a battery.

21. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said feedback device comprises an audible feedback device.

22. The electronic alignment device according to claim 21, wherein said audio feedback device comprises a buzzer.

23. The electronic alignment device according to claim 21, wherein said audio feedback device comprises a tone.

24. The electronic alignment device according to claim 21, wherein said audio feedback device comprises a synthesized voice.

25. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said feedback device comprises a video feedback device.

26. The electronic alignment device according to claim 25, wherein said video feedback device comprises a liquid crystal display.

27. The electronic alignment device according to claim 25, wherein said video feedback device comprises at least one light emitting diode.

28. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said feedback device comprises a tactile feedback device.

29. The electronic alignment device according to claim 28, wherein said tactile feedback device comprises a Braille pad.

30. The electronic alignment device according to claim 28, wherein said tactile feedback device comprises coded vibrations.

31. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for establishing a zero point for said reference frame.

32. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for operating menu functions for a user to control said device.

33. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for converting a measurement from a first system of units to a second system of units.

34. The electronic alignment device according to claim 33, wherein said first system of units is the System International (SI) system of units and said second system of units is the English system of units.

35. The electronic alignment device according to claim 33, wherein said first system of units is the English system of units and said second system of units is the System International (SI) system of units.

36. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for performing calculations on measurements from said accelerometers.

37. The electronic alignment device according to claim 4, wherein said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for performing calculations on measurements from said accelerometers and said first distance sensor.

38. The electronic alignment device according to claim 8, wherein said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for performing calculations on measurements from said accelerometers, said first distance sensor, and said second distance sensor.

39. The electronic alignment device according to claim 12, wherein said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for performing calculations on measurements from said accelerometers and said gyroscope.

40. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said device is removeably mounted to a tool.

41. The electronic alignment device according to claim 40, wherein said power supply is shared with said tool.

42. The electronic alignment device according to claim 40, wherein said tool is a drill.

43. The electronic alignment device according to claim 40, wherein said tool is a saw.

44. The electronic alignment device according to claim 40, wherein said tool is a level.

45. The electronic alignment device according to claim 40, wherein said tool is a protractor.

46. The electronic alignment device according to claim 40, wherein said tool is a stud sensor.

47. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said device is integral to a tool.

48. The electronic alignment device according to claim 47, wherein said power supply is shared with said tool.

49. The electronic alignment device according to claim 47, wherein said tool is a drill.

50. The electronic alignment device according to claim 47, wherein said tool is a powder activated driver.

51. The electronic alignment device according to claim 47, wherein said tool is a saw.

52. The electronic alignment device according to claim 47, wherein said tool is a level.

53. The electronic alignment device according to claim 47, wherein said tool is a protractor.

54. The electronic alignment device according to claim 47, wherein said tool is a stud sensor.

55. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises means for projecting at least one line of visible light from said device.

56. The electronic alignment device according to claim 55, wherein said means for projecting at least one line of visible light from said device comprises a laser.

57. The electronic alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises at least one conventional bubble level.

58. An electronic alignment device comprising:

at least two distance sensors, said distance sensors being mutually perpendicular,

a computing and processing device, said computing and processing device having computer implemented means for initializing said electronic alignment device, initializing said distance sensors, calibrating said distance sensors, determining a distance from each of said distance sensors, determining an area from the product of said determined distances, reading and writing data from and to a memory device, and sending data to a feedback device, and

means for electrically connecting said distance sensors, said computing and processing device, said feedback device, said memory device and a power source.

59. The electronic alignment device according to claim 58, wherein said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for performing calculations on measurements from said distance sensors.

60. The electronic alignment device according to claim 58, wherein said device further comprises means for communicating with an external computing device.

61. The electronic alignment device according to claim 58, wherein said distance sensors comprise an infrared distance sensor.

62. The electronic alignment device according to claim 58, wherein said distance sensors comprise an ultrasonic distance sensor.

63. The electronic alignment device according to claim 58, wherein said distance sensors comprise a laser distance sensor.

64. The electronic alignment device according to claim 58, wherein said device comprises three distance sensors, said distance sensors being mutually perpendicular,

said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means determining a volume from the product of said determined distances.

65. The electronic alignment device according to claim 64, wherein said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for performing calculations on measurements from said distance sensors.

66. The electronic alignment device according to claim 64, wherein said distance sensors comprise an infrared distance sensor.

67. The electronic alignment device according to claim 64, wherein said distance sensors comprise an ultrasonic distance sensor.

68. The electronic alignment device according to claim 64, wherein said distance sensors comprise a laser distance sensor.

69. A method for aligning a device relative to a reference frame, comprising:

calculating an angle relative to an axis of said reference frame from output signals from at least two perpendicularly mounted accelerometers, and

providing feedback to a user of said device based on said angle.

70. The method for aligning a device relative to a reference frame according to claim 69, further comprising determining a first distance to an object using a first distance sensor, and

providing feedback to said user based on said first distance.

71. The method for aligning a device relative to a reference frame according to claim 69, further comprising determining a second distance to said object using a second distance sensor, and determining an angle of rotation about an axis of said reference frame from said first distance and said second distance.

72. An electronic alignment apparatus comprising:

a housing,

input and control means externally mounted on said housing,

a feedback device operatively mounted in said apparatus,

at least two accelerometers, said accelerometers being mutually perpendicular to one another, said accelerometers internally mounted in said housing,

first and second distance sensors pointed in the same direction, said distance sensors operatively mounted in said housing,

a computing and processing device, said computing and processing device having computer implemented means for initializing said apparatus, initializing said accelerometers, initializing said sensors, calibrating said accelerometers, calculating first and second distances, calculating an angle of rotation about a first axis in a reference frame, calculating an angle of rotation about a second axis in said reference frame, reading and writing data from and to a memory device, receiving input from input and control means, and sending data to said display device, said computing and processing device internally mounted in said housing, and

means for electrically connecting said accelerometers, said distance sensors, said computing and processing device, said memory device, said display and a power source, said electrically connecting means internally mounted in said housing.

73. The electronic alignment apparatus according to claim 72, wherein said apparatus further comprises means for communicating with an external computing device.

76. The electronic alignment apparatus according to claim 72, wherein said apparatus comprises three accelerometers, said accelerometers being mutually perpendicular to one another, and

said computing and processing device further comprises computer implemented means for calculating an angle of rotation about a third axis in said reference frame.

77. The electronic alignment apparatus according to claim 72, wherein said housing further comprises means for attaching said apparatus to an object.

78. The electronic alignment apparatus according to claim 77, wherein said attachment means comprises a magnet.

79. The electronic alignment apparatus according to claim 77, wherein said attachment means comprises a threaded portion for receiving a threaded member.

80. The electronic alignment apparatus according to claim 72, wherein said apparatus further comprises means for projecting at least one line of visible light from said apparatus.

81. The electronic alignment apparatus according to claim 80, wherein said means for projecting at least one line of visible light from said apparatus comprises a laser.

82. The electronic alignment apparatus according to claim 72, wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one conventional bubble level.

74. An electronic alignment apparatus comprising:

a housing,

input and control means externally mounted on said housing,

a feedback device operatively mounted in said apparatus,

at least two accelerometers, said accelerometers being mutually perpendicular to one another, said accelerometers internally mounted in said housing,

a gyroscope, said gyroscope operatively mounted in said housing,

a computing and processing device, said computing and processing device having computer implemented means for initializing said apparatus, initializing said accelerometers, initializing said gyroscope, calibrating said accelerometers, calculating an angle of rotation about a first axis in a reference frame, calculating an angle of rotation about a second axis in said reference frame, reading and writing data from and to a memory device, receiving input from said input and control means, and sending data to said display device, said computing and processing device internally mounted in said housing, and

means for electrically connecting said accelerometers, said gyroscope, said computing and processing device, said memory device, said display and a power source, said electrically connecting means internally mounted in said housing.

75. The electronic alignment apparatus according to claim 74, wherein said apparatus further comprises means for communicating with an external computing device.