Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficiently generating a visible line of light on a surface such as a wall or a floor for the purpose of facilitating the layout process used in construction. The apparatus comprises a light beam generator projecting a beam of visible light on a surface. Reference marking elements on the instrument correspond to the light beam's position. One or more level vials may also be included for indicating vertical and horizontal, as well as a magnet for mounting and a reference bracket for a stud-finder instrument.

Abstract: A system which is preferably employed in a laser alignment instrument produces up to five orthogonal beams from a single laser diode beam. In one embodiment the optics take advantage of the elliptical shape of the beam from a laser diode which when collimated produces a plurality of orthogonal beams by reflection off a plurality of 45°-angled reflective surfaces intercepting outer portions of the beam. In one preferred embodiment a solid reflective element was four 45°-angled facets to produce four beams from outer portions of a preferably non-elliptical beam, and a fifth orthogonal beam is produced by transmission of a central portion of the beam through the element. The element can be solid glass, or it can be glass or other material with a central hole.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating two or more visible lines of light on a floor for the purpose of facilitating the layout process used in construction. The apparatus comprises a light beam generator producing two or more beams of light at 90° to each other and in a plane parallel to the plane of the floor. Subsequently cylinder lenses on the apparatus spread the beams and position them on the floor or target providing visible reference lines.

Abstract: A system which is preferably employed in a laser alignment instrument produces up to five orthogonal beams from a single laser diode beam. In one embodiment the optics take advantage of the elliptical shape of the beam from a laser diode which when collimated produces a plurality of orthogonal beams by reflection off a plurality of 45.degree.-angled reflective surfaces intercepting outer portions of the beam. In one preferred embodiment a solid reflective element was four 45.degree.-angled facets to produce four beams from outer portions of a preferably non-elliptical beam, and a fifth orthogonal beam is produced by transmission of a central portion of the beam through the element. The element can be solid glass, or it can be glass or other material with a central hole.

Abstract: An instrument for use in alignment, plumb and leveling functions includes a laser diode projecting a beam through a liquid contained in a vessel. Floating in the liquid is a compensator float which includes telescope optics so as to diminish the angle of rays leaving the telescope as compared to rays entering the telescope. The laser beam passes through the liquid and through the telescope, exiting from a window at the top or side of the instrument. By selecting the proper relationship between the telescope's magnification and the index of refraction of the liquid, the instrument is made to correct for small tilt angles of its housing. Various embodiments are disclosed for projecting upward or downward plumb beams, level beams or both.

Abstract: A system for checking alignment of laser beam projecting instruments, and for enabling accurate calibration of an instrument, includes a high resolution video camera positioned to receive a laser beam from the instrument. The spot from the detected laser beam is compared on a video monitor to a spot or target position showing the location corresponding to accurate alignment of the beam. Multiple orthogonal beams from an instrument may be directed to the same video sensor using mirrors. By use of the described system the need for long beam paths to check beam alignment accuracy is avoided.

Abstract: A tool resembling a carpenter's level is used in establishing a precise level line and projecting an existing line using a visible laser beam projector in the same instrument. A manual selector device is provided for switching from a laser beam parallel to a reference surface to one which self-levels in one axis. Methods for switching between modes are described as well as a tilt compensator.

Abstract: Accessories are disclosed for use with a laser tool which may or may not be self-leveling. The accessories include one or more diffraction elements, effective to receive the incoming beam and produce a plane of diverging laser beams. In preferred embodiments the diffraction elements are self-leveling. When the diverging beams are directed against a surface such as a floor, wall or ceiling, a series of discrete spots define a visible reference line useful in construction layout. The spots themselves may each locate the position of a fastener to be installed, for example, by giving the approximately correct spacing for reference of the user. In another embodiment, lenticular arrays are used to create beams which diverge in a plane and overlie one another to form a visible reference line on a wall or other surface. The line preferably is plumb or level and in one embodiment the user can select among two or more arrays to form a plumb or level line of selected length.

Abstract: A system which is preferably employed in a laser alignment instrument produces up to five orthogonal beams from a single laser diode beam. The optics take advantage of the elliptical shape of the beam from a laser diode to produce a plurality of masked, parallel collimated beams which are then reflected by combinations of 45.degree.-angled and 90.degree.-angled mirrors, some fully reflective and some partially transmissive, to produce the orthogonal beams.

Abstract: A beam angle adjustment element for a measurement instrument projecting a collimated beam, such as a laser construction layout instrument, utilizes a single optic at the beam exit of the instrument for final tilt adjustment. The optic, a low magnification telescope formed of a single, integral optical component, has an annular edge in contact with a frame of the instrument. Tilting of the weak telescope in the frame seat adjusts the angularity of the collimated light beam for very finely tuning the beam direction. For example, with a particular weak telescope the telescope can be tilted 5 degrees to obtain a 3.6 minute adjustment. The optical element may be fixed in place in the seat with glue, or a screw threaded mechanism can be provided for adjustment and retention of the optic in place.

Abstract: A plumb laser beam generator includes an internal self-leveling feature to assure the projection of a substantially plumb beam despite tilt of the instrument's housing. Tilt compensation is achieved in preferred embodiments using the angular deflection of a spring due to gravity along with the compensating angular magnification of a telescope which moves pendulously by support on the spring. A laser diode of the instrument is mounted fixedly in the housing, and the telescope resides above the diode and collimating optics, the telescope either hanging by a spring or supported at its base by a spring. The pendulous telescope preferably is motion-damped and includes motion limiting and shock absorbing devices to prevent damage due to sudden acceleration or dropping.

Abstract: A system preferably in the form of an accessory module corrects for tilt angles of a distance measuring laser projecting instrument. The housing of the module includes a compensating mirror mounted on a pendulum which bends with tilt angle by one-half the amount of the housing tilt, so as to reflect the outgoing beam to truly horizontal. In a preferred embodiment a fixed mirror is also included so that the distance measuring instrument can be laid or held approximately horizontally so that its generally horizontal beam is first reflected by the fixed mirror up to the pendulous compensating mirror. The distance measuring instrument preferably has an internal correction to subtract the additional optical path length induced by the use of the accessory module. This may be activated by a switch on the module or automatically when the module is attached to the distance measuring instrument.

Abstract: Accessories are disclosed for use with a laser tool which may or may not be self-leveling. The accessories include one or more diffraction elements, effective to receive the incoming beam and produce a plane of diverging laser beams. In preferred embodiments the diffraction elements are self-leveling. When the diverging beams are directed against a surface such as a floor, wall or ceiling, a series of discrete spots define a visible reference line useful in construction layout. The spots themselves may each locate the position of a fastener to be installed, for example, by giving the approximately correct spacing for reference of the user. The generation of discrete spots rather than a solid line, as would be generated by a cylindrical lens, better allocates laser power by providing brighter, more visible reference elements on the wall or ceiling.

Abstract: A construction laser tool which projects a plumb beam is provided with a marking template, movable and separate from the tool's housing but securable to the housing, for transferring a point on a floor to the laser beam or, in another case, for transferring the beam to locate a point on the floor. The template has a marker such as a hole to receive a pencil, and the marker is positioned under the laser tool housing, on the vertical line of the plumb beam where the floor point of interest cannot be seen, when the plumb beam is projected at a point on the ceiling. To accurately mark the floor point, the user holds the template in place on the floor and moves the laser tool away to gain access to mark the point. The reverse procedure is used to align the plumb beam over a known point on the floor. Several arrangements involving sliding templates are disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic plumb, level and pointing tool uses a visible laser diode to project light beams in two modes through two windows. In the first mode of operation, the unit is able to project a plumb-up beam and a level beam of light while resting on a surface which is as much as 5.degree. out of level. In the second mode of operation the unit is able to project two orthogonal beams or light both approximately in the horizontal plane for aligning one or more reference lines. Accurate, low cost methods of generating level and plumb beams and planes of light are disclosed. One method uses an approximately or partially leveled platform combined with a refractive correction as a second stage.

Abstract: Efficient and cost-effective generation of two co-linear laser beams or two or more intersecting beams, for the purpose of alignment as in the construction industry, takes advantage of the unequal divergence of light from a typical laser diode that produces a beam of elliptical cross section. Two roughly equal co-linear beams of light, or two or more intersecting beams, can be generated by reflecting the collimated elliptical beam from preferably two mirror surfaces oriented obliquely to the beam and so as to divide the elliptical beam in two. If one of the reflective surfaces is a beam splitter, three essentially intersecting beams can be generated. In preferred embodiments these three beams are at right angles to each other, particularly for use in construction layout.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a compact self-leveling construction laser for the purpose of allowing the user to remotely call or page the measurement beam to his location using a retroreflector. The apparatus uses an auxiliary plumb beam provided by the construction laser for scanning the job site in search of the cooperative reflector. The invention consists of a construction laser, motor driven turntable assembly to which the construction laser is attached and a cooperative reflector carried by the operator.

Abstract: A quick action bar clamp has provision for mounting an alignment laser instrument on one jaw of the clamp. The mounting provision allows manual pointing of the laser to facilitate projecting a level line or plane of light with a self-leveling laser instrument. By engagement of the clamp on a fixed structure such as a column, wall stud or door frame, the operator can quickly bring the laser instrument into its self-leveling range and easily adjust the beam height. The attachment of the laser instrument to the clamp is via a threaded rod or a magnetic attachment retention. An L-shaped magnetic attachment can be used in another procedure, to connect the laser to the steel slide bar of the clamp.

Abstract: A self-leveling plumb, level and pointing tool uses a visible laser diode to project light beams in two modes through two windows. Accurate, low cost structures for generating level and plumb beams and planes of light are disclosed. In principal embodiments, all leveling is accomplished using a very flexible coil spring as a pendulum element, a chain link connection in combination with such a spring, or a point contact suspension. Several accessories are disclosed for use with the laser tool, as well as other embodiments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the efficient and cost-effective generation of two co-linear laser beams for the purpose of alignment, particularly in the construction industry. The unequal divergence of the light from a typical laser diode produces a beam of elliptical cross section. Two roughly equal co-linear beams of light can be generated by reflecting the collimated elliptical beam from two mirror surfaces at 90.degree. to each other or a single element dividing the elliptical beam in two. Techniques are described for generating offset parallel beams, and for correcting for inherent knife-edge diffraction effects due to division of the beam.