The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 27, 1999
Filed:
May. 30, 1997
Steven E Harris, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention relates to a portable, hand-held distance-measurement apparatus comprising a laser range finder which is aimed by an active viewfinder. The active viewfinder improves the accuracy of the range finder by giving the user more visual feedback and thus allowing the user better control over the ranging operation. Under user command, the viewfinder enters a targeting mode wherein the user is presented with a illuminated targeting indicator inside the viewfinder. The indicator is superimposed upon the field-of-view seen through the viewfinder. In the targeting mode, the user aims the range finder by placing the targeting indicator on the object to be ranged. Once the device is aimed, the user commands the distance-measurement device to execute a distance measurement cycle. In one embodiment, targeting indicator flashes in various ways to indicate the quality of the data being obtained during the distance measurement cycle. When enough data has been obtained to compute the distance, then the targeting indicator turns off, letting the user know that the display has been updated.