Trimble Navigation Limited

Trimble Inc.

Chris William Snyder

James Nelson Hayes

Eric Keith Unger

Ayman Hajmousa

Kevin Marc Morrissey

Jamin Michael Turner

Brandon Scott Bayer

A laser controller having an electronic distance measuring instrument and a laser light transmitter creating a vertical laser plane is used with a remote controller and a movable target for point layout tasks. The electronic distance measurer and laser transmitter are mounted on the same vertical pivot axis. Once the system is set-up for a particular jobsite, the laser plane can be aimed at a specific point of interest on the jobsite floor, and a visible laser light line will then appear on the floor, from the laser controller, all the way to that point of interest. The distance measuring instrument is aimed along the same heading as the laser plane, and it gives the distance to the movable target, which is moved along the visible laser light line, until reaching the specified distance, and thereby find the point of interest.

Point layout system using single laser transmitter

A movable accessory for an automatic point layout system includes a laser receiver and an array of LEDs. Two laser controllers aim vertical laser light planes toward any desired point on the jobsite. The user moves the accessory into a first laser light plane, thereby impacting a photosensor on the laser receiver. The accessory's electronic controller translates that laser light impact and illuminates a corresponding LED in a first color. The user then moves the accessory into a second laser light plane, thereby impacting a photosensor on the laser receiver. The accessory's electronic controller translates that impact and illuminates a corresponding LED in a second, different color. The user then moves the accessory until the two LED colors intersect. When the intersect occurs, the accessory's electronic controller translates these impacts and illuminates a corresponding LED in a third, different color.

Laser receiver and target with lighted indicators

A movable accessory for an automatic point layout system includes a laser receiver, target screen, and an array of LEDs. A laser controller aims a vertical laser light plane toward any desired point on the jobsite. The user moves the accessory into the laser light plane, thereby impacting a photosensor on the laser receiver. The accessory's electronic controller translates that laser light impact and illuminates a corresponding LED. The illuminated LED indicates the desired point of interest on the jobsite floor for the user to mark. An electronic distance measuring instrument (an LDM) aims along the same laser plane, and the target screen reflects the LDM signal to provide a distance reading, which is sent to a remote controller operated by the user. Alternatively, the LED array indicates where the laser plane strikes the photosensor, allowing the user to quickly move the accessory to the null position of the photosensor.

A two-dimension layout system identifies points and their coordinates, and transfers identified points on a solid surface to other surfaces in a vertical direction. Two leveling laser light transmitters are used with a remote unit to control certain functions. The laser transmitters rotate about the azimuth, and emit vertical (plumb) laser planes. After being set up using benchmark points, the projected lines of the laser planes will intersect on the floor of a jobsite at any point of interest in a virtual floor plan, under control of a user with the remote unit. An 'active target' can be used to more automatically create benchmarks. A laser distance meter can be installed on base units to automatically scan a room or a wall to determine certain key features.

Automated layout and point transfer system

An automatic point layout system identifies points and their coordinates using vertical planes of laser light. Laser controllers aim vertical laser light planes that will cross at any desired point on the jobsite floor. The user views a virtual jobsite illustration on a remote controller touchscreen display, and selects a point of interest. Commands are sent to the two laser controllers, which aim their laser transmitters at that point of interest, showing visible laser light lines that intersect directly at the point of interest, for staking. The user selects a second point of interest on the touchscreen display, commanding the laser transmitters to rotate to a new set of coordinates. The user performs these functions seamlessly; the remote controller allows the user to quickly move from one point of interest to the next, without having changing to any other operating mode between the identifying and staking of each new point.

Automatic point layout and staking system

An omnidirectional lens is disclosed of the type which captures light from virtually all angles of incidence, and also emits light in all directions. Embodiments are specifically disclosed as a two-way lens that receives light beams from all directions of the compass and directs those light beams to a photosensor. The same two-way lens acts in a 'beacon mode' to produce light beams from one or more LEDs, and to emit such light beams (again) in all directions of the compass. The emitted light beams can also be used to signal various functions as visible signals to users on a jobsite.

Two way omnidirectional lens

A two-dimension layout system identifies points and their coordinates, and transfers identified points on a solid surface to other surfaces in a vertical direction. Two leveling laser light transmitters are used with a remote unit to control certain functions. The laser transmitters rotate about the azimuth, and emit vertical (plumb) laser planes. After being set up using benchmark points, the projected lines of the laser planes will intersect on the floor of a jobsite at any point of interest in a virtual floor plan, under control of a user with the remote unit. The laser light planes also project lines that will intersect along the ceiling at a point that is truly plumb above the crossing point on the floor. The laser planes also provide an 'implied' plumb line that is projected in space, which is visible along a solid vertical surface between the intersecting floor and ceiling points.

Two dimension layout and point transfer system

A laser light receiver used to detect pulsed laser light that is produced by a rotating laser light source on a construction jobsite is disclosed. In this manner, the laser receiver acts as an elevation detector and provides an equipment operator, or a construction worker, with the current elevation status with respect to the plane of laser light. The laser receiver is a unitary device that can detect multiple light frequencies/wavelengths, including laser beams that are in the green, red, and infrared spectra. The laser receiver also is capable of discriminating between such laser beams and other interference light sources, particularly fluorescent light sources.

Multiple-wavelength capable laser receiver

A two-dimension layout system identifies points and their coordinates, and transfers identified points on a solid surface to other surfaces in a vertical direction. Two leveling laser light transmitters are used with a remote unit to control certain functions. The laser transmitters rotate about the azimuth, and emit vertical (plumb) laser planes. After being set up using benchmark points, the projected lines of the laser planes will intersect on the floor of a jobsite at any point of interest in a virtual floor plan, under control of a user with the remote unit. The laser light planes also project lines that will intersect along the ceiling at a point that is truly plumb above the crossing point on the floor. The laser planes also provide an 'implied' plumb line that is projected in space, which is visible along a solid vertical surface to between the intersecting floor and ceiling points.

Growing community of inventors

Union City, OH, United States of America

Chris William Snyder