Trimble Navigation Limited

Michael A Stickelman

Kevin Marc Morrissey

A laser beam transmitter and a method of calibrating such a transmitter result in a beam of laser light that is projected in a desired direction with respect to a transmitter body. The transmitter and a beam target are positioned such that a properly calibrated beam will illuminate a desired point on the target, such as for example the target center. The transmitter is activated and the offset of the point illuminated on the target from the target center measured. A plurality of optical wedge correction elements having varying wedge angles is provided, and the appropriate one of these optical wedge correction elements that will correct for the measured offset is selected. The selected optical wedge correction element is positioned in the transmitter body in the path of the beam. The optical wedge correction element is rotated until the beam is substantially aligned to illuminate the target center. The optical wedge element is then affixed in place in the transmitter body.

Optical correction of a laser beam

The level device includes a level body having a pair of orthogonal reference surfaces. A vial carrier on the level body holds the level vial such that it can be calibrated with respect to the reference surfaces by rotation about a pair of orthogonal axes, each of the orthogonal axes being perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the level vial. Adhesive fixes the position of the level vial with respect to the vial carrier and fixing the position of the vial carrier with respect to the level body. The vial carrier includes a vial support and a pivot for engaging the level body. When the vial is calibrated, it is rotated about a first axis perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the level vial, and about a second axis perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the level vial and perpendicular to the first axis.

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Vandalia, OH, United States of America

Michael A Stickelman