Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring system for measuring the relative positions of a first rotary component and a second rotary component relative to each other, comprising a first measuring unit adapted for mounting on the first rotary component, and a second measuring unit adapted for mounting on the second rotary component, wherein at least one of said measuring units comprises a detector unit for determining the positions of said rotary components. According to the invention, at least one of said measuring units comprises a gyro for detecting the current angular position of said measuring unit at rotation of said rotary components.

Abstract: A relative positioning system enabling a user to return to a starting position or some other point on the user's path. The system may include an array of accelerometers. The output from the accelerometers may be integrated to quantify movement of the array. The various movements of the array may be reconstructed to determine a net two or three dimensional translation. The current location of the array may be compared to a reference point to derive at trajectory directing the user to the reference point, such as an originating point. The trajectory may be continuously or periodically updated. Applications may include various displays presenting images, numbers, pointers, paths, vectors, or data by digital screens, watch faces, or other devices integrated with or remote from the processor calculating the vector back to the point of origin.

Abstract: A relative positioning system enabling a user to return to a starting position or some other point on the user's path. The system may include an array of accelerometers. The output from the accelerometers may be integrated to quantify movement of the array. The various movements of the array may be reconstructed to determine a net two or three dimensional translation. The current location of the array may be compared to a reference point to derive at trajectory directing the user to the reference point, such as an originating point. The trajectory may be continuously or periodically updated. Applications may include various displays presenting images, numbers, pointers, paths, vectors, or data by digital screens, watch faces, or other devices integrated with or remote from the processor calculating the vector back to the point of origin.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to determining a distance from a mobile device to a remote object or a size of the remote object.

Abstract: A relative positioning system enabling a user to return to a starting position or some other point on the user's path. The system may include an array of accelerometers. The output from the accelerometers may be integrated to quantify movement of the array. The various movements of the array may be reconstructed to determine a net two or three dimensional translation. The current location of the array may be compared to a reference point to derive at trajectory directing the user to the reference point The trajectory may be continuously or periodically updated. Another application may include an accelerometer array secured at various positions on a ski to monitor distortion of the ski and the skier's movements. Reconstructing the skier's movements may be accomplished by integrating the accelerometer output and transforming the integrated output into a two or three dimensional path or location.

Abstract: An improved apparatus generating light illuminated line provides a possibility to produce and propagate the light line along the reference surface under any desirable angle. The improved apparatus generating light illuminated line includes a circular scale means comprising a degree scale and two projections, each of which includes an aperture intended for an appropriate fixing means. Each fixing means comprises a handle rigidly connected to a pin and a back-moving spiral spring located in a spring opening of the appropriate projection. Also, the improved apparatus generating light illuminated line includes a pivotable light line generating portion hingedly coupled with the circular scale means.

Abstract: A virtual-tight-wire system is provided for determining a centerline in a large rotary machine (10). The virtual-tight-wire system includes a columnar light source (30) that is positioned at one end of the rotary machine (10). A columnar beam of light (32) is emitted from the light source (30) toward light receivers (26) in a first and second centering tool (24). The beam of light (32) is adjusted to impact the center of the light receivers (26). Once the beam (32) has been aligned, the beam acts as a virtual tight-wire for identifying a centerline of the rotary machine (10).

Abstract: This device is a handheld, battery-operated instrument that utilizes light beams to project visible lines for increasing the accuracy in determining angles. A linear potentiometer is incorporated at the pivot point between the two diodes and measures a voltage change based on the angle between the arms of the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in locating the eyes of a vehicle driver or passenger in a vehicle for controlling vehicle systems including the positioning of vehicle sideview mirrors in relation to the driver's eyes to maximize the view of traffic on either side of the vehicle or the characteristics of vehicle airbag deployment. The location of a driver's or passenger's eyes is derived from the adjustment by the driver (or passenger, if capable of doing so) of adjustable light beam(s) emanating from light source(s) or illuminated indicia, until it (or they) intersect the driver's or passenger's eyes. From the angles of adjustment of the light beam(s) and other known coordinates of the vehicle, the location of the driver's or passenger's eyes or the target may be computationally derived as a set of Cartesian coordinates.

Abstract: A laser protractor comprising two laser pointers fixed in a body to point exactly 90° apart in the same plane and a third laser pointer mounted on a movable arm rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the intersection of the first two laser pointers (as extended). The laser protractor includes leveling bubbles and degree scales on the body permitting the protractor to be accurately positioned with both fixed lasers in a horizontal plane, in a vertical plane or in any other plane as required. The laser protractor, because of its simple rugged construction, can be made inexpensively with simple off-the-shelf pointers, each battery powered with inexpensive batteries.

Abstract: An eyeglasses measuring system comprises a fixed light source which projects a light beam onto two reflecting mirrors. The reflecting mirrors split the light beam into two separate light beams. One of the beams is positioned so that it tangentially illuminates the patient's cornea. A target mirror is then moved, by turning an adjustment screw. This adjustment positions the projection path of the second light beam tangentially onto the front surface of the patient's eyeglasses. The distance between the two beams of light is then determined by reading a scale.

Abstract: Measuring systems for making underwater measurements of relative positions and distances between a plurality of objects positioned on an ocean or lake floor basically include (a) at least one laser or other light source capable of projecting a collimated light beam therefrom, (b) a pan and tilt unit for moving the source light beam both angularly in vertical planes and in horizontal arcs, (c) a protractor or equivalent for measuring vertical angles through which the longitudinal axis of the light beam is moved by the pan and tilt unit, and (d) a compass unit for determining bearings of vertical plane positions of the light beam relative to magnetic or true north or other azimuth position. The system may include a plurality of lasers and a variety of methods of making measurements with both single and plural laser containing systems are disclosed.

Abstract: An optical range indicating device, having no moving parts, having a pair of mirrors arranged to embody the principle of triangulation, one of the mirrors being positioned to sight the object to be viewed and having thereon distance indicating indicia, the other mirror being positioned to provide a view of the image of the sighted object and of the distance indicating indicia the mirrors being unitarily pivoted about an axis to align a direct line of sight view of the sighted object with the reflected image of the sighted object superposed upon the reflected image of the distance indicating indicia as seen on the other mirror to indicate the distance to the sighted object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for carrying out a survey of the basal area of a forest stand and the distribution of the individual trees with respect to diameter classes.The device of the invention comprises a caliper combined with a relascope in such a way that a certain position of the caliper corresponds to a certain sighting-angle. Furthermore the device comprises a sight field located at an observation point. When practicing the method of the invention the tree to be measured is calipered. Then the sighting-angle of the relascope is compared to the sight field and by checking if the sight field is within the sighting-angle it is determined whether the measured tree is within its border line circle or not.

Abstract: A measuring instrument particularly adapted to making accurate measurements of portions of the eye and contact lenses is characterized by a split mirror system in which one mirror is fixed and a second mirror rotates upon movement of handle-pointer associated with a scale. The object to be measured is magnified, and the magnified image is split by the mirror system until opposite edges of the split image coincide, whereby a correlated linear measurement is indicated on the scale. The instrument includes a light to illuminate the work area and an attachment for measuring the diameter of contact lenses.

Abstract: A portable navigational instrument has edge portions which are adjusted so that the instrument's orientation with respect to a vessel can be maintained constant in different positions within the vessel's wheelhouse. Bearings of objects are determined by a sighting arrangement which co-operates with a scale which is set in accordance with the vessel's steering compass bearing, corrected for deviation, whereby the need for a compass on the instrument is avoided. The sighting arrangement can comprise a single visible sight, and/or three such sights enabling horizontal angles between objects to be determined from a further scale, and/or a radio direction finding aerial.