Laser level with selectable constant or pulsed beam output

• US 20060280212A1
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• 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: Xu, Yifei, Lu, Jianhong, Zhang, Minli
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 372/38.20
• 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 capable of providing power;

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

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.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the oscillating device is capable of modulating the state of the power from the power source between a constant power state and a pulsed power state.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a switch operably connected to the oscillating device and capable of changing the operation of the oscillating device.

4. The device of claim 3 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.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the switch is a manually operable switch.

6. 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.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a control device operably connected between the power source and the oscillating device.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the control device comprises a power switch operable to selectively connect the power source and the oscillating device.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the control device further includes an igniter.

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

11. 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.

12. The device of claim 11 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.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the detector is disposed within an aperture in the housing.

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

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

16. A method for changing the mode of operation of a laser marking device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a laser marking device including a power source capable of providing power, a laser generator operably connected to the power source and capable of emitting a laser beam from the device and 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

b) selecting the mode of operation for the oscillating device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of selecting the mode of operation of the oscillating device comprises moving a switch operably connected to the oscillating device between a position in which the oscillating device modulates the power from the power source to a constant power source state and a position in which the oscillating device modulates the power from the power source to a pulsed power state.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of determining the position of the laser beam generated when the oscillating device is operating to modulate the power to a pulsed power state with a detector, after selecting the mode of operation of the oscillating device.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of activating the device to generate at least one laser line from the laser beam prior to selecting the mode of operation of the oscillating device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of activating the device comprises:

a) activating a control switch to supply power from the power source to the oscillating device and the laser generator; and

b) selecting one or more laser lines to be emitted from the device.