US 6,694,629 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`az United States Patent
`ric
`5)
`Date
`atent:
`eb.
`
`Goodrich
`45) Date of Patent:
`*Feb. 24, 2004
`
`US006694629B2
`
`(54) LASER PROJECTOR FOR PRODUCING
`INTERSECTING LINES ON A SURFACE
`
`(75)
`Inventor: Gary Goodrich, Union City, CA (US)
`.
`.
`.
`sate
`5
`(73) Assignee: came Navigation LLC, Sunnyvale,
`(
`)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`5,367,779 A * 11/1994 Lee cesessecssteeesssseeesseees 33/227
`.. 33/286
`5,539,990 A
`7/1996 Le .......
`
`5,588,216 A * 12/1996 Ranketal.
`.-. 33/286
`
`12/1999 Rando.....
`-- 33/286
`6,005,719 A
`.. 33/276
`6,065,217 A
`5/2000 Dong ...
`3/2001 Janet al... eee 33/286
`6,195,902 Bl *
`3/2001 Rando ................... 33/207
`6202312 B1
`6,502,319 Bl *
`1/2003 Goodrich etal. 1.0.0.0... 33/286
`
`—* “tled by examiner
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`Primary Examiner—Christopher W. Fulton
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—ThomasM.Freiburger
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A portable construction layout tool generates laser beams in
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/085,967
`two or more directions related by a specific angle, such as
`(22) Filed:
`Feb. 27, 2002
`90°. The instrumentemits two fansoflight in such a way as
`,
`to project a pair of lines on the floor, wall or other surface
`(65)
`Prior Publication Data
`on which the instrument is mounted or placed, with the
`.
`.
`.
`©
`5
`7°
`US 2003/0159299 Al Aug. 28, 2003
`intersection of the two being visible rather than being a
`me:
`o°,
`virtual intersection hidden beneath the instrumentitself,
`Int. Ch? oes GOIC 15/02; GO1B 11/26;
`enabling easier setup. Compared to rotating-beam
`B43L 13/00
`instruments, the disclosed device is simpler by avoiding
`(52) US. Che eee 33/286; 33/227; 33/DIG. 21
`movingparts and provides forbetter visibility. In a preferred
`(58) Field of Search .........cccccscees 33/286, 227, 228,
`33/276, 277, 282, DIG. 21 embodiment the non-collimated beam fromalaser diode is
`
`used, and is passed through a cylinder lens to converge the
`beam on the narrower axis to generate the desired fan of
`light to be projected asa line.
`
`(51)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,218,770 A
`
`6/1993 Toga ....essesceeeeneeeeseees 33/276
`
`10 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`Parhelion, Inc.
`EXHIBIT
`
`1007
`
`0000329
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2004
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 6,694,629 B2
`
`
`
`0000330
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2004
`
`US 6,694,629 B2
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`0000331
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2004
`
`Sheet3 of 3
`
`US 6,694,629 B2
`
`
`
`0000332
`
`

`

`US 6,694,629 B2
`
`2
`embodimenta single laser diode is employed, with opticsto
`produce the two fansoflight.
`It is thus a primary object of the invention to provide a
`rugged andreliable laser instrument, without movingparts,
`to produceat least two lines of light on the floor or other
`surface on which the instrumentis mounted or placed, with
`the intersection ofthe two lines visible to the user. These and
`other objects, advantages and features of the invention will
`be apparent from the following description of a preferred
`embodiment, considered along with the accompanying
`drawings.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an
`implementation according to one embodimentof the inven-
`tion.
`FIG. 1A is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with different
`optics.
`FIG. 2 is a similar schematic perspective view showing an
`implementation according to another embodiment of the
`invention.
`FIG. 3 is another schematic perspective view showing a
`further implementation of the invention involving a single
`laser diode.
`FIG. 3A is a schematic side elevation view showing
`another embodiment, wherein the lines at 180° are produced.
`FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the exterior of an
`instrument according to one preferred embodiment of the
`invention.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`30
`
`1
`LASER PROJECTOR FOR PRODUCING
`INTERSECTING LINES ON A SURFACE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`layout or measuring
`The invention concerns optical
`equipment, and in particular encompassesa laser projector
`tool mounted on or placed against a surface, that produces
`intersecting lines on that surface without moving parts to
`project the lines, and with a visible line intersection dis-
`placed from the instrument housing, for more convenient
`use.
`
`Laser-projecting instruments are well knownin the field
`of surveying and construction layout and as measuring
`devices. Prior patents show several examples of such tools
`that project lines, primarily by rotating a beam to make an
`apparently solid line on a surface. Some such instruments
`have included two rotating projected beams to produce
`intersecting lines at right angles to each other. See, for
`example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,218,770 and 6,202,312 in which
`such devices are shownasprior art. See also U.S. Pat. No.
`6,065,217.
`It has also been known to form lines on a surface by
`placing a cylindrical lens in the path of a collimated laser
`beam,thus spreading a narrow beam oflight into a planar
`fan of light that forms a line on a surface. Again, see U.S.
`Pat. No. 6,202,312 showing such instruments, and the dis-
`closure of that patent is incorporated herein by reference,
`particularly as to discussion ofpriorart.
`There have beenlasertools that produce twolines with a
`visible intersection, such as described in U.S. Pat. No.
`5,539,990, but with an important difference from the device
`of this invention. The prior tools produced the intersecting
`lines on a surface that is generally perpendicular to the
`surface on which the instrumentrests.
`Otherlaser reference tools have producedspots oflight on
`a surface, rather than solid lines of light. For example, see
`US. Pat. No. 6,005,719.
`See also copending application Ser. No. 09/684,696, now
`US. Pat. No. 6,502,319, owned by the assignee of this
`invention, showing generation of lines on a surface on which
`the instrument is placed.
`It is among the objects of this invention to produce an
`efficient portable laser reference tool that generates at least
`twointersecting lines of laser light on a floor or other surface
`against whichthe toolis placed, with the intersection being
`displaced from the instrumentand visible. An accompanying
`object is to generate such light beamsand lines without the
`use of moving parts, such as spinning lasers or mirrors.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`0000333
`
`The invention involves the use of two light beams com-
`bined to draw intersecting lines on the surface which the
`instrumentis mountedorplaced. Thevisible lines can beat
`a 90° angle or any other desired angle.
`In FIG. 1, twolasers 10 and 12 produce collimated beams
`14 and 16 which are passed through cylinder lenses 18 and
`20 to generate fans oflight 22 and 24 which producelines
`of light 26 and 28 on a surface 30, which is the surface
`against which the instrument’s housing (not shown in FIG.
`1) is placed. The lasers and optics are housedin orfixed to
`a single structure and are mechanically alignedto the desired
`angle between the fans 22, 24 andthe intersecting lines 26,
`28. Thelines 26, 28 intersect at a point 32 visible to the user,
`projected outside the instrument. Notethat in the implemen-
`tation of FIG. 1 the beams approaching the cylinder lenses
`are collimated.
`FIG. 2 is an arrangementsimilar to FIG.1, again utilizing
`two cylinderlenses 18, 20 to producefansoflight 22, 24 that
`project as intersecting lines 26, 28 on the surface 30.
`A portable construction layout tool generates laser beams
`However, in this embodimentthe fans oflight are produced
`in twodirectionsrelated by a specific angle, such as 90°. The
`by a single laser 35 producing a single collimated laser beam
`instrumentemits two fansoflight in such a wayasto project
`36. The beam 36 encounters a beam splitter 38 which
`a pairof lines onafloor, wall or other surface on which the
`partially reflects the beam at 40 and partially transmits the
`beam at 42. Thereflected beam 40 is twice more reflected off
`tool is mounted, with the intersection of the two fans being
`visible rather than being a “virtual” intersection inside or
`mirrors 44 and 46,to pass through the cylinder lens 20 as
`below the instrument, thus enabling easier setup. Compared
`shown(this could be done with only onereflection beyond
`to rotating-be am instruments, the disclosed device is simpler
`the beam splitter by directing the beam 40 directly at the
`by avoiding movingparts, and providesfor better visibility.
`mirror46, properly directed). In this embodiment, as in FIG.
`In a preferred embodimentthe non-collimated beam from a
`1, the positions and orientations of the cylinder lenses, 20,
`laser diodeis used, and is passed through a cylinderlens to
`can be manipulated relative to the axes of the approaching
`converge the beam on the narrower axis to generate the
`beams, 40 and 42, so as to optimize the projected lines, 26
`desired fan oflight to be projected as a line.
`and 28, for brightness and general quality on the projection
`In one embodimenttwodifferent laser diodes and lenses
`surface, 30, the same surface on which the instrument may
`rest.
`are used to generate the two fans of light, and in another
`
`35
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`

`

`US 6,694,629 B2
`
`3
`In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, a laser projector
`10a produces a beam which is not collimated and which
`projects a generally elliptical diverging beam oflight 14a,
`wider on a long axis whichis arranged perpendicular to the
`work surface, i.e. in a plane perpendicular to the surface 30.
`Similarly, a laser projector 12a producesa like beam 16a. In
`this case, the laser diodes’ naturally widely diverging beams
`are employedto produce fansoflight 22a, 24a. A cylindrical
`lens 50 is used for the beam 14a, arranged with its axis
`essentially at right angles to the position of the cylinder lens
`18 of FIG. 1, and generally perpendicular to the work
`surface 30. A cylinder lens 52 is used for the beam 16a in a
`similar arrangement. The purpose of the cylinder lenses 50,
`52 is not to produce a fan oflightas it was in FIG. 1, but to
`converge the beam in the smaller axis of divergence. Thus,
`if the raw beamis divergingat an angle of about 10° (atfull
`width half maximum)on the minoraxis, this diverging angle
`will be focused so that the beam after the lens 50 will be
`converging to form a substantially focused line 28a on the
`surface. The beam 22a exiting the cylinder lens 50 is
`converging as regards the narrow dimensionofthe approxi-
`mately elliptical beam (the parallel direction in the farfield
`of the diode beam), dueto the positioning ofthe lens 50 in
`the path of the beam, toward the approximate focus at the
`line 28a. The line 28a has a length along which the distance
`from the diodeandthe lens 50varies, partially depending on
`the height of the diode from the projection surface. To
`achieve a high quality projected line the focus must be
`adjusted accordingly. This can be accomplished by appro-
`priatelytilting the cylinder lens 50, which in essence creates
`a lens with variable focal length. The situation is the same
`at the other cylindrical lens 52, receiving and focusing the
`light from the diode 12a. Note that due to angulareffects the
`cylinder lens creates a varying focal length effect in any
`event, even if nottilted. The tilt is set to produce the highest
`quality projected line possible. If desired a lens with built-in
`variation in focal length throughoutthe lens’ length could be
`used.
`the diodes and optical
`In all of FIGS. 1, 1A, and 2,
`components are mounted in a housing or frame suchthat the
`intersection point 32 is projected on a surface 30 (such as a
`floor) outside the instrument (and preferably on which the
`instrumentis placed), for clear visibility of the intersection
`point 22 bytheuser. It should be understoodthatthe optical
`arrangements shown in FIGS. 1, 1A and 2 can produce any
`angular relationship desired between the two lines on the
`surface, between 0° and 180°. Also,it should be understood
`that
`the configuration shown in FIG. 1A can also be
`employed in FIG. 2, provided the optical path of the
`reflected portion of the laser diode beamis sufficiently short
`so that the reflectors and the second cylindricallens need not
`be inordinately large due to the diverging beam.
`FIG. 3 shows in schematic perspective a preferred
`arrangementin which onelaser diode 60 is used to produce
`two intersectinglinesoflight 62, 64 on a surface 65. In this
`implementation,like that of FIG. 1A, the laser diode beam
`66 is not collimated. The diode is positioned such that the
`beam 66straddles an angled mirrororpair of mirrors 68 in
`roof like configuration as shown, with the wider beam
`divergence angle, ie. the perpendicular-to-junction beam
`intensity distribution indicated extendingleft to right in FIG.
`3. Thus,essentially one-half of the light is projected from the
`roof mirror 68 at each of two secondary mirrors 70 and 72,
`beyond whichthe diverging fan of light, approximately half
`an ellipse in cross section at eachside, is directed through a
`cylinder lens 74, 76 at each side. The cylinderlenses, as in
`FIG. 1A, do not affect divergence in the wide-divergence
`
`20
`
`30
`
`40
`
`55
`
`60
`
`4
`axis, or perpendicular axis, but only act to converge the light
`spreading along the smaller axis, or parallel axis. As noted
`above,the lenses 74, 76 can betilted appropriately so as to
`adjust focus so that the entire lines 62, 64 within a useful
`range of length, are approximately in focus.
`Other arrangements, with different numbers of mirrors,
`are possible to produce a result similar to that of FIG. 3.
`Also, the cylinder lenses 74, 76 can be positioned between
`the folded mirror 68 and the second reflectors 70, 72 if
`desired, rather than the position shownin FIG.3. Further, by
`rotating the mirrors 70 and 72 and repositioning the cylinder
`lenses 74, 76, any angle of intersection betweenthe lines 62
`and 64, between 0° and 180° can be generated (at 180° the
`second mirrors 70, 72 are not needed—see FIG. 3A). The
`beam path is simplest if the beam portions 66a, 66b are
`approximately coplanar, ie. defining planes generally per-
`pendicular to the surface 65.
`The conventional approach to generating two lines at 90°,
`projecting parallel to a surface, has been to pass a single
`collimated beam through a beam splitter. Beyond the beam
`splitter, the beams are then passed throughcylinderlenses to
`generate lines. This generates the desiredlines at 90°,at high
`accuracy, but has the drawback of hiding the point of
`intersection of the lines, which is in the beam splitter. In
`contrast, the approach ofthis invention uses two separately
`aimedlines to allow the drawing of the intersection on the
`desired surface.
`
`FIG. 3A shows a variation in which two oppositely
`directed lines,i.e. lines at 180°, are produced on a surface
`65. Here, the diverging beam is again divided by a roof
`mirroror mirrorpair 68 as in FIG.3, but nofurtherreflection
`is made on the two beam halves. Opposingfansoflight 66a,
`66d are focusedin the lesser angle of divergence by cylinder
`lenses 76, 78. Again, these are tilted appropriately to pro-
`duce lines of light on the surface 65 that are essentially
`focused throughout their length. In this case, there is no
`visible intersection, but the purpose is to produce lines of
`light in opposite directions, with the position of the instru-
`mentas a reference.
`
`FIG. 4 shows an example ofthe exterior of an instrument
`80 of the invention. This is an instrument with optics such
`as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 1A, using two separate laser
`diodes. Separate housings 81 and 82 are mounted on a base
`84. As can be envisioned from FIG. 4, the two housings 81
`and 82 could be repositioned at different angles relative to
`each other on the base 84, thus enabling the integration of a
`protractor into the instrument. In FIG. 4, the two housings
`are arranged to produce twolines oflight at 90° on a surface
`on which the base 84 rests. An appropriate mechanism can
`be employedas a base, providing for rotation of one housing
`relative to the other, preferably about the point of intersec-
`tion.
`
`The principles of the invention can also be applied to an
`instrument producing more than two beams oflight, having
`one (or more) intersections. A typical embodiment would be
`an instrument producinglines on a surface at right angles to
`one another, with a visible intersection as described above,
`and with an additional line projected at 45°, intersecting the
`other two lines at the visible intersection point. This can be
`achieved with three separate laser diodes, e.g. with another
`housing such as shown at 81 and 82 positioned at the 45°
`position in FIG. 4. It can also be done with a beam divider
`to produce three separate beam portions by spatial beam
`division, with further reflection of these beam segments to
`achieve the angularly related three fans of light. See, for
`example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,319 assignedto the assignee of
`
`0000334
`
`

`

`US 6,694,629 B2
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`30
`
`25
`
`5
`6
`fans of light being intersecting, said production and
`the this invention, showingreflective elements for producing
`three, four or five beams.
`projection of the fans of visible light being without
`moving parts,
`The above described preferred embodiments are intended
`to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit
`the fans of light projected from the device being so
`its scope. Other embodiments and variations to this pre-
`positioned as to produce a visible intersection of said
`ferred embodimentwill be apparentto those skilled in the art
`light lines on said floor or other surface, spaced away
`and may be made without departing from the spirit and
`from the instrument’s platform or housing, and
`scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
`wherein the light beam generator includes a laser diode
`We claim:
`producing a beam diverging at different rates on two
`1. Adevice for layout of objects orinstallations on a floor
`perpendicular axes, a wide axis and a narrow axis, and
`or other surface, along angularly related lines on said floor
`including a roof mirror against which the diverging
`or surface, comprising:
`light beam is directed,
`the roof mirror having two
`a platform or housing having a reference surface for
`reflective surfaces and being positioned to divide the
`engaging a floor or other surface against which the
`diverging beam across its wide axis to produce two
`device is to be placed,
`beam portionsdirected in generally opposeddirections,
`a light beam generator mounted in the platform or
`and including a cylinder lens in the path of each
`housing, producing and projecting from the device two
`diverging beam portion and arranged to focus the
`fansofvisible light at a desired angle relative to one
`diverging beam on the narrow axis but to leave the
`another, the fans of light projecting so as to produce
`beam portion diverging on the wide axis, and further
`light lines on said floor or other surface, and the two
`including a reflector in the path of each of the beam
`fans of light being intersecting, said production and
`portions, either before or after
`the cylinder lens,
`projection of the fans of visible light being without
`arranged such that two fansoflight resulting from the
`movingparts,
`cylinderlenses andreflectors are directed toward said
`surface so as to producesaid lightlines on said floor in
`wherein the light beam generator includes a laser diode
`essential focus and with a visible intersection.
`producing a beam diverging at different rates on two
`7. The device of claim 6, wherein said reflectors are
`perpendicular axes, a wide axis and a narrow axis, and
`positioned before the cylinderlenses.
`the laser diode beam beingleft diverging on the wide
`8. The device of claim 6, wherein the cylinderlenses are
`axis and focused on the narrow axis so as to produceat
`positioned before said reflectors.
`least one fan oflight, said one fan of light converging
`9. The device of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical lenses
`so as to produce one ofsaid light lines essentially in
`focus on said floor or surface, and
`are tilted in the paths of the beams so as to produce an
`essentially focused line along the length of each ofsaid light
`the fans of light projected from the device being so
`lines.
`positioned as to produce a visible intersection of said
`35
`10. An instrument for use in layout of objects or instal-
`light lines on said floor or other surface, spaced away
`lations onaflooror other surface, along essentially collinear
`from the instrument’s platform or housing.
`and oppositely directed lines on said floor or surface, com-
`2. The device of the claim 1, wherein the light beam
`prising:
`generatorincludes two suchlaser diodes, providing said two
`fans oflight.
`a platform or housing having a reference surface for
`3. The device of 2, including a plurality of cylindrical
`engaging a floor or other surface against which the
`lenses, one positioned in the path of each of the laser diode
`device is to be placed, and
`beams andoriented so as to tend to focus the uncollimated
`a light beam generator mounted in the platform or
`beam by converging the beam on the narrow axis but
`housing, producing andprojecting from the device two
`substantially not to affect the beam’s divergence along the
`fans ofvisible light at essentially 180° to one another,
`wide axis.
`the fans of light projecting so as to produce light lines
`4. The device of claim 1, including a cylindrical lens
`on said floor or other surface, said production and
`positionedin the path of the laser diode beam,oriented so as
`projection of the fans of visible light being without
`to tend to focus the uncollimated beam by converging the
`moving parts, and
`beam on the narrow axis but substantially not to affect the
`wherein the light beam generator includes a laser diode
`beam’s divergence along the wide axis.
`producing a beam diverging at different rates on two
`5. The device of claim 4, wherein the cylindrical lens is
`perpendicular axes, a wide axis and a narrow axis, and
`tilted in the path of the laser diode beam so as to produce an
`the laser diode beam beingleft diverging on the wide
`essentially focused line along the length of said light line.
`axis and focused on the narrow axis, with a roof mirror
`6. A device for layout of objects orinstallations on a floor
`positionedin the path of the diverging beams suchas to
`or other surface, along angularly related lines on said floor
`divide the diverging beam through its wide axis to
`or surface, comprising:
`produce two essentially oppositely-directed diverging
`a platform or housing having a reference surface for
`beam portions, and including a cylinderlens in the path
`engaging a floor or other surface against which the
`of each diverging beam portion, arranged to leave each
`device is to be placed,
`beam portion diverging on the wide axis, but so as to
`a light beam generator mounted in the platform or
`focus the beam on the narrow axis to produce fans of
`housing, producing and projecting from the device two
`light which converge to producesaid light lines gen-
`fansofvisible light at a desired angle relative to one
`erally in focus throughouttheir length on said surface.
`another, the fans of light projecting so as to produce
`kok ok
`ek
`OF
`light lines on said floor or other surface, and the two
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`0000335
`
`