Patents by Inventor James N. Hayes

James N. Hayes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8087176
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Ltd
    Inventors: James N. Hayes, Chris W. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20110314684
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: James N. Hayes, Chris W. Snyder
  • Patent number: 7954246
    Abstract: The transmitter has a generally flat, circuit board stator, a rotor including a plurality of magnets mounted in a ring around a central opening, and a bearing, supporting the rotor for rotation about an axis that extends through the central opening, A pentaprism assembly including an optics holder is mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith. The pentaprism assembly receives a beam of laser light through the central opening and redirects at least a portion of the laser light outward in a direction normal to the rotation axis. A laser source, mounted on the stator, provides a beam of laser light through the central opening to the pentaprism assembly. The beam of laser light is aligned with the rotation axis. The laser source includes a collimating lens positioned within the rotor. A shield plate of magnetic material beneath the stator exerts a force on the rotor in conjunction with the magnets, taking play out of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Ayman Hajmousa, Michael F. Glantz, James N. Hayes
  • Patent number: 7587832
    Abstract: The transmitter has a generally flat, circuit board stator, a rotor including a plurality of magnets mounted in a ring around a central opening, and a bearing, supporting the rotor for rotation about an axis that extends through the central opening, A pentaprism assembly including an optics holder is mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith. The pentaprism assembly receives a beam of laser light through the central opening and redirects at least a portion of the laser light outward in a direction normal to the rotation axis. A laser source, mounted on the stator, provides a beam of laser light through the central opening to the pentaprism assembly. The beam of laser light is aligned with the rotation axis. The laser source includes a collimating lens positioned within the rotor. A shield plate of magnetic material beneath the stator exerts a force on the rotor in conjunction with the magnets, taking play out of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Ayman Hajmousa, Michael F. Glantz, James N. Hayes
  • Publication number: 20090205212
    Abstract: The transmitter has a generally flat, circuit board stator, a rotor including a plurality of magnets mounted in a ring around a central opening, and a bearing, supporting the rotor for rotation about an axis that extends through the central opening, A pentaprism assembly including an optics holder is mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith. The pentaprism assembly receives a beam of laser light through the central opening and redirects at least a portion of the laser light outward in a direction normal to the rotation axis. A laser source, mounted on the stator, provides a beam of laser light through the central opening to the pentaprism assembly. The beam of laser light is aligned with the rotation axis. The laser source includes a collimating lens positioned within the rotor. A shield plate of magnetic material beneath the stator exerts a force on the rotor in conjunction with the magnets, taking play out of the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Ayman Hajmousa, Michael F. Glantz, James N. Hayes
  • Publication number: 20090067461
    Abstract: The transmitter has a generally flat, circuit board stator, a rotor including a plurality of magnets mounted in a ring around a central opening, and a bearing, supporting the rotor for rotation about an axis that extends through the central opening, A pentaprism assembly including an optics holder is mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith. The pentaprism assembly receives a beam of laser light through the central opening and redirects at least a portion of the laser light outward in a direction normal to the rotation axis. A laser source, mounted on the stator, provides a beam of laser light through the central opening to the pentaprism assembly. The beam of laser light is aligned with the rotation axis. The laser source includes a collimating lens positioned within the rotor. A shield plate of magnetic material beneath the stator exerts a force on the rotor in conjunction with the magnets, taking play out of the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Ayman Hajmousa, Michael F. Glantz, James N. Hayes
  • Patent number: 7213343
    Abstract: An arrangement for use in a light beam projection device for adjusting an orientation of a projected light beam is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a base frame, a support platform adapted to set the orientation of the projected light beam, and a pivot member pivotally mounting the support platform relative to the base frame. A tilting motor is provided to the base frame and has a pair of output shafts influencing the orientation of the support platform, whereby rotation of the output shafts in a first direction tilts the support platform only along a first axis, and rotation of the output shafts in a second direction tilts the support platform only along a second axis. A power supply is provided for driving the tilting motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Michael F. Glantz, James N. Hayes, Brian C. Kemp
  • Patent number: 7096591
    Abstract: An arrangement for use in a light beam projection device for adjusting an orientation of a projected light beam is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a base frame, a support platform adapted to set the orientation of the projected light beam, and a pivot member pivotally mounting the support platform relative to the base frame. A tilting motor is provided to the base frame and has a pair of output shafts influencing the orientation of the support platform, whereby rotation of the output shafts in a first direction tilts the support platform only along a first axis, and rotation of the output shafts in a second direction tilts the support platform only along a second axis. A power supply is provided for driving the tilting motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Michael F. Glantz, James N. Hayes, Brian C. Kemp
  • Patent number: 5335244
    Abstract: An assembly for use in a laser instrument which produces a plane of laser light by reflection from a cone. The assembly includes a weak focusing lens which improves the control over the planarity of the plane of light produced. Because it is weak, the weak focusing lens can be positioned over a relatively large distance to produce slight changes in the focus of the beam which is reflected to produce the plane of light. Critical, time consuming, and expensive manufacturing requirements can be relaxed, while improved performance results in superior laser instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Laserplane, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Dugan, James N. Hayes, Steve M. Elliott
  • Patent number: 5257279
    Abstract: An assembly for use in a laser instrument which produces a plane of laser light by reflection from a cone. The assembly includes a weak focusing lens which improves the control over the planarity of the plane of light produced. Because it is weak, the weak focusing lens can be positioned over a relatively large distance to produce slight changes in the focus of the beam which is reflected to produce the plane of light. Critical, time consuming, and expensive manufacturing requirements can be relaxed, while improved performance results in superior laser instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Laserplane, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Dugan, James N. Hayes, Steve Elliott
  • Patent number: 4776672
    Abstract: A multiple pane lighthouse assembly in a reference laser beam projecting apparatus includes a plurality of transparent panes disposed in an arrangement that defines a transparent window structure which permits transmission of laser light therethrough and has a generally polygonal cross-sectional shape. The window structure has spaced corners formed by pairs of adjacent ones of the opposite side edge portions of the panes. The side edge portions of the panes in each pair are offset relative to one another in forming a respective corner. The offset position of the side edge portions of each pair in forming a respective corner exposes only an interior edge on one of the adjacent side edge portions to laser light being transmitted through the window structure. The path of laser light through the adjacent side edge portions forming the corner is thereby affected only by one interior edge on the respective one of the adjacent side edge portions of the panels at each corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Rando, James N. Hayes