US 6,694,629 132
`(16) Patent N0.:
`(12) United States Patent
`
`Goodrich *Feb. 24, 2004 (45) Date of Patent:
`
`
`U8006694629B2
`
`(54)
`
`IASER PROJECTOR FOR PRODUCING
`INTERSECTING LINES ON A SURFACE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Gary Goodrich, Union City, CA (US)
`-
`.
`-
`-
`-
`‘
`(73) Asslgnee. 31mg: Navigation LIL, Sunnyvale,
`(
`)
`
`5,367,779 A * 11/1994 L66 ............................. 33/227
`7/1996 Le -------
`-- 33/286
`5,539,990 A
`5,588,216 A * 12/1996 Rank et al.
`33/286
`
`12/1999 Rando -----
`-- 33/286
`
`.. 33/276
`5/2000 Dong
`...................... 33/286
`3/2001 Jan et al.
`3,2001 Rando IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 33,227
`1/2003 Goodrich et al.
`............. 33/286
`
`6,005,719 A
`6,065,217 A
`6,195,902 B1 *
`5,202,312 Bl
`6,502,319 B1 *
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`*
`
`.
`.
`Cited by examiner
`
`This patent is subject 10 a terminal diS-
`claimer.
`
`(21) APPL N05 10/085,967
`(22) Filed:
`Feb. 27 2002
`’
`(65)
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2003 0159299 A1 A . 28 2003
`/
`ug
`’
`Int. Cl.7 ........................ G01C 15/02; 601B 11/26;
`B43L 13/00
`_______________________ 33/286; 33/227; 33/DIG. 21
`(52) us, (:1,
`(58) Field of Search __________________________ 33/286, 227’ 228,
`33/276, 277’ 282, DIG. 21
`
`(51)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Primary Examiner—Christopher W. Fulton
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Thomas M. Freiburger
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Aportable construction layout tool generates laser beams in
`two or more directions related by a specific angle, such as
`90°. The instrument emits two fans of light in such a way as
`to project a pair of lines on the floor, wall or other surface
`on which the instrument is mounted or placed, with the
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
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`intersection of the two be1ng v151ble rather than be1ng a
`virtual intersection hidden beneath the instrument itself,
`enabling easier setup. Compared to rotating-beam
`instruments, the disclosed device is simpler by avoiding
`moving partsand provides for better visibility. In a preferred
`embodiment the non-collimated beam from a laser 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 as a line.
`
`5,218,770 A
`
`6/1993 Toga ........................... 33/276
`
`10 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`ParheHon,| 0.
`EXHIBIT
`
`1007
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`0000329
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 24, 2004
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`Sheet 1 0f3
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`US 6,694,629 B2
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`0000330
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 24, 2004
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`Sheet 2 0f3
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`US 6,694,629 B2
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`000033 1
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 24, 2004
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`Sheet 3 0f3
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`US 6,694,629 B2
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`0000332
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`US 6,694,629 BZ
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`1
`IASER PROJECTOR FOR PRODUCING
`INTERSIKITING LINES ON A SURFACE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`layout or measuring
`The invention concerns optical
`equipment, and in particular encompasses a 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 known in 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 shown as prior 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 of light 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 of prior art.
`There have been laser tools that produce two lines with a
`visible intersection, such as described in U.S. Pat. No.
`5,539,990, but with an important diflerence 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 instrument rests.
`Other laser reference tools have produced spots of light on
`a surface, rather than solid lines of light. For example, see
`U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,719.
`See also copending application Ser. No. 09/684,696, now
`U.S. 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
`eflicient portable laser reference tool that generates at least
`two intersecting lines of laser light on a floor or other surface
`against which the tool is placed, with the intersection being
`displaced from the instrument and visible.An accompanying
`object is to generate such light beams and lines without the
`use of moving parts, such as spinning lasers or mirrors.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A portable construction layout tool generates laser beams
`in two directions related by a specific angle, such as 90°. The
`instrument emits two fans of light in such a way as to project
`a pair of lines on a floor, wall or other surface on which the
`tool is mounted, with the intersection of the two fans being
`visible rather than being a “virtual” intersection inside or
`below the instrument, thus enabling easier setup. Compared
`to rotating-beam instruments, the disclosed device is simpler
`by avoiding moving parts, and provides for better visibility.
`In a preferred embodiment the non-collimated beam from a
`laser 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 as a line.
`In one embodiment two diflerent laser diodes and lenses
`are used to generate the two fans of light, and in another
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`embodiment a single laser diode is employed, with optics to
`produce the two fans of light.
`It is thus a primary object of the invention to provide a
`rugged and reliable laser instrument, without moving parts,
`to produce at least two lines of light on the floor or other
`surface on which the instrument is mounted or placed, with
`the intersection of the 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 embodiment of the inven-
`tion.
`FIG. 1A is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with diflerent
`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
`
`The invention involves the use of two light beams com-
`bined to draw intersecting lines on the surface which the
`instrument is mounted or placed. The visible lines can be at
`a 90° angle or any other desired angle.
`In FIG. 1, two lasers 10 and 12 produce collimated beams
`14 and 16 which are passed through cylinder lenses 18 and
`20 to generate fans of light 22 and 24 which produce lines
`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 housed in or fixed to
`a single structure and are mechanically aligned to the desired
`angle between the fans 22, 24 and the intersecting lines 26,
`28. The lines 26, 28 intersect at a point 32 visible to the user,
`projected outside the instrument. Note that in the implemen-
`tation of FIG. 1 the beams approaching the cylinder lenses
`are collimated.
`FIG. 2 is an arrangement similar to FIG. 1, again utilizing
`two cylinder lenses 18, 20 to produce fans of light 22, 24 that
`project as intersecting lines 26, 28 on the surface 30.
`However, in this embodiment the fans of light are produced
`by a single laser 35 producing a single collimated laser beam
`36. The beam 36 encounters a beam splitter 38 which
`partially reflects the beam at 40 and partially transmits the
`beam at 42. The reflected beam 40 is twice more reflected ofl
`mirrors 44 and 46, to pass through the cylinder lens 20 as
`shown (this could be done with only one reflection beyond
`the beam splitter by directing the beam 40 directly at the
`mirror 46, properly directed). In this embodiment, as in FIG.
`1, the positions and orientations of the cylinder lenses, 20,
`can be manipulated relative to the axes of the approaching
`beams, 40 and 42, so as to optimize the projected lines, 26
`and 28, for brightness and general quality on the projection
`surface, 30, the same surface on which the instrument may
`rest.
`
`000033 3
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`

`US 6,694,629 B2
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`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 of light 14a,
`wider on a long axis which is arranged perpendicular to the
`work surface, i.e. in a plane perpendicular to the surface 30.
`Similarly, a laser projector 12a produces a like beam 16a. In
`this case, the laser diodes’ naturally widely diverging beams
`are employed to produce fans of light 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. Acylinder 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 of light as it was in FIG. 1, but to
`converge the beam in the smaller axis of divergence. Thus,
`if the raw beam is diverging at an angle of about 10° (at full
`width half maximum) on the minor axis, thisdiverging 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 dimension of the approxi-
`mately elliptical beam (the parallel direction in the far field
`of the diode beam), due to the positioning of the 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 diode and the lens 50 varies, 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-
`priately tilting 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 angular eflects the
`cylinder lens creates a varying focal length eflect in any
`event, even if not tilted. The tilt is set to produce the highest
`quality projected line possible. If desired a lens with built-in
`variation in focal length throughout the lens’ length could be
`used.
`the diodes and optical
`In all of FIGS. 1, 1A, and 2,
`components are mounted in a housing or flame such that the
`intersection point 32 is projected on a surface 30 (such as a
`floor) outside the instrument (and preferably on which the
`instrument is placed), for clear visibility of the intersection
`point 22 by the user. It should be understood that the 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 beam is sufliciently short
`so that the reflectors and the second cylindrical lens need not
`be inordinately large due to the diverging beam.
`FIG. 3 shows in schematic perspective a preferred
`arrangement in which one laser diode 60 is used to produce
`two intersecting lines of light 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 66 straddles an angled mirror or pair of mirrors 68 in
`roof like configuration as shown, with the wider beam
`divergence angle, i.e.
`the perpendicular-to-junction beam
`intensity distribution indicated extending left 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 which the diverging fan of light, approximately half
`an ellipse in cross section at each side, is directed through a
`cylinder lens 74, 76 at each side. The cylinder lenses, as in
`FIG. 1A, do not aflect divergence in the wide-divergence
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`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 be tilted 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 diflerent 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 shown in FIG. 3. Further, by
`rotating the mirrors 70 and 72 and repositioning the cylinder
`lenses 74, 76, any angle of intersection between the 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, i.e. 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 through cylinder lenses to
`generate lines. This generates the desired lines 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 of this invention uses two separately
`aimed lines 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
`mirror or mirror pair 68 as in FIG. 3, but no further reflection
`is made on the two beam halves. Opposing fans of light 66a,
`66b are focused in 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-
`ment as a reference.
`
`FIG. 4 shows an example of the 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 diflerent 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 two lines of light at 90° on a surface
`on which the base 84 rests. An appropriate mechanism can
`be employed as 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 of light, having
`one (or more) intersections. A typical embodiment would be
`an instrument producing lines 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 assigned to the assignee of
`
`0000334
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`

`US 6,694,629 B2
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`5
`the this invention, showing reflective elements for producing
`three, four or five beams,
`The above described preferred embodiments are intended
`to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit
`its scope. Other embodiments and variations to this pre-
`ferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art
`and may be made without departing from the spirit and
`scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
`We claim:
`1. A device for layout of objects or installations on a floor
`or other surface, along angularly related lines on said floor
`or surface, comprising:
`a platform or housing having a reference surface for
`engaging a floor or other surface against which the
`device is to be placed,
`a light beam generator mounted in the platform or
`housing, producing and projecting from the device two
`fans of visible light at a desired angle relative to one
`another, the fans of light projecting so as to produce
`light lines on said floor or other surface, and the two
`fans of light being intersecting, said production and
`projection of the fans of visible light being without
`moving parts,
`wherein the light beam generator includes a laser diode
`producing a beam diverging at different rates on two
`perpendicular axes, a wide axis and a narrow axis, and
`the laser diode beam being left diverging on the wide
`axis and focused on the narrow axis so as to produce at
`least one fan of light, said one fan of light converging
`so as to produce one of said light lines essentially in
`focus on said floor or surface, and
`the fans of light projected from the device being so
`positioned as to produce a visible intersection of said
`light lines on said floor or other surface, spaced away
`from the instrument’s platform or housing.
`2. The device of the claim 1, wherein the light beam
`generator includes two such laser diodes, providing said two
`fans of light.
`3. The device of 2, including a plurality of cylindrical
`lenses, one positioned in the path of each of the laser diode
`beams and oriented so as to tend to focus the uncollimated
`beam by converging the beam on the narrow axis but
`substantially not to aflect the beam’s divergence along the
`wide axis.
`4. The device of claim 1, including a cylindrical lens
`positioned in the path of the laser diode beam, oriented so as
`to tend to focus the uncollimated beam by converging the
`beam on the narrow axis but substantially not to affect the
`beam’s divergence along the wide axis.
`5. The device of claim 4, wherein the cylindrical lens is
`tilted in the path of the laser diode beam so as to produce an
`essentially focused line along the length of said light line.
`6. A device for layout of objects or installations on a floor
`or other surface, along angularly related lines on said floor
`or surface, comprising:
`a platform or housing having a reference surface for
`engaging a floor or other surface against which the
`device is to be placed,
`a light beam generator mounted in the platform or
`housing, producing and projecting from the device two
`fans of visible light at a desired angle relative to one
`another, the fans of light projecting so as to produce
`light lines on said floor or other surface, and the two
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`fans of light being intersecting, said production and
`projection of the fans of visible light being without
`moving parts,
`the fans of light projected from the device being so
`positioned as to produce a visible intersection of said
`light lines on said floor or other surface, spaced away
`from the instrument’s platform or housing, and
`wherein the light beam generator includes a laser diode
`producing a beam diverging at diflerent rates on two
`perpendicular axes, a wide axis and a narrow axis, and
`including a roof mirror against which the diverging
`light beam is directed,
`the roof mirror having two
`reflective surfaces and being positioned to divide the
`diverging beam across its wide axis to produce two
`beam portions directed in generally opposed directions,
`and including a cylinder lens in the path of each
`diverging beam portion and arranged to focus the
`diverging beam on the narrow axis but to leave the
`beam portion diverging on the wide axis, and further
`including a reflector in the path of each of the beam
`portions, either before or after
`the cylinder lens,
`arranged such that two fans of light resulting from the
`cylinder lenses and reflectors are directed toward said
`surface so as to produce said light lines on said floor in
`essential focus and with a visible intersection.
`7. The device of claim 6, wherein said reflectors are
`positioned before the cylinder lenses.
`8. The device of claim 6, wherein the cylinder lenses are
`positioned before said reflectors.
`9. The device of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical lenses
`are tilted in the paths of the beams so as to produce an
`essentially focused line along the length of each of said light
`lines.
`10. An instrument for use in layout of objects or instal-
`lations on a floor or other surface, along essentially collinear
`and oppositely directed lines on said floor or surface, com-
`prising:
`a platform or housing having a reference surface for
`engaging a floor or other surface against which the
`device is to be placed, and
`a light beam generator mounted in the platform or
`housing, producing and projecting from the device two
`fans of visible light at essentially 180° to one another,
`the fans of light projecting so as to produce light lines
`on said floor or other surface, said production and
`projection of the fans of visible light being without
`moving parts, and
`wherein the light beam generator includes a laser diode
`producing a beam diverging at different rates on two
`perpendicular axes, a wide axis and a narrow axis, and
`the laser diode beam being left diverging on the wide
`axis and focused on the narrow axis, with a roof mirror
`positioned in the path of the diverging beams such as to
`divide the diverging beam through its wide axis to
`produce two essentially oppositely-directed diverging
`beam portions, and including a cylinder lens in the path
`of each diverging beam portion, arranged to leave each
`beam portion diverging on the wide axis, but so as to
`focus the beam on the narrow axis to produce fans of
`light which converge to produce said light lines gen-
`erally in focus throughout their length on said surface.
`*****
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`000033 5
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