Trimble Navigation Limited

Trimble Inc.

Spectra Precision, Inc.

Eric Keith Unger

Chris William Snyder

James Nelson Hayes

Ayman Hajmousa

Kevin Marc Morrissey

Chris W Snyder

Ayman Zuhdi Hajmousa

Brandon Scott Bayer

James N Hayes

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, 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.

Laser receiver and target with lighted indicators

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.

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

A point layout system is described that identifies points and their coordinates, using laser transmitters that are attached to at least three base units. The laser transmitters rotate about the azimuth and emit vertical laser planes. After being setup using control points, the projection lines of the laser planes will intersect on the floor of a jobsite at any point of interest, under command of the user with a remote unit. Once the first two base units are registered with the virtual floor plan, the third base unit can be automatically setup, using an automatic procedure that creates alignment axes with the first two base units. Once all three base units are registered with the floor plan, any one of the three base units can then be moved to a new physical location on the jobsite floor, and the automatic setup routine can be used to register its new position.

Point layout system with third transmitter

A laser light reflective target that effectively brightens a laser light line being produced by a laser fan beam emitter. The target is placed on a jobsite floor and when two laser fan beams strike the reflective surface of the target, the laser beams appear much brighter than otherwise. The laser fan beams, when properly aimed at a point of interest, will intersect and produce an 'X' shaped pattern of light on the target. The target can be used with a laser plumb beam pointer, which will aim its vertical beam downward directly at the specific point of interest if the target has been properly positioned. The laser plumb line pointer can additionally aim a second vertical beam upward, to produce a plumb line target point on the ceiling of an interior room that is being laid out.

Growing community of inventors

Tipp City, OH, United States of America

Eric Keith Unger