Additional device

Abstract

The invention relates to an add-on device (200) for arrangement on a hand-held laser distance measuring device (100), comprising an add-on housing (202), which has a device-side coupling device (204), the device-side coupling device is used for being reversibly, mechanically and electrically arranged on the laser distance measuring device (100). It is proposed that the add-on housing (202) has at least one add-on-side coupling device (206) for reversibly, mechanically and electrically arranging at least one further add-on device (300).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an additional device for being arranged on a handheld laser distance measuring device. Background Art

[0002] An attachment device is known from the prior art, for example from EP 3 602 120 B1. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention proceeds from an attachment device for being arranged on a handheld laser distance measuring device, the laser distance measuring device having an attachment housing with an attachment-side coupling device for being arranged reversibly, mechanically and electrically on the laser distance measuring device. It is proposed that the attachment housing has at least one attachment-side coupling device for reversibly, mechanically and electrically arranging at least one further attachment device.

[0004] The invention provides an additional device, wherein an extended function is realized for a handheld laser distance measuring device. Thus, further functions that would not be possible without the additional device can be realized.

[0005] The additional device is configured to be arranged on a handheld laser distance measuring device. Here, the user can arrange and connect the additional device with the laser distance measuring device. The handheld laser distance measuring device is configured to measure the distance between the laser distance measuring device and a distant object without contact when using a laser beam emitted by the laser distance measuring device. The laser distance measuring device includes a device housing, a coupling device, a control unit, and an energy supply device. The device housing has a coupling device and at least partially constructs the coupling device. The coupling device of the laser distance measuring device is configured to construct a reversible, mechanical and electrical arrangement with the additional device. For this purpose, the user can connect the additional device to the laser distance measuring device with the coupling device of the laser distance measuring device. The control unit can be arranged in the device housing. The control unit is configured to control the laser distance measuring device. The control unit has an information input, a signal processing device, and an information output device. In one embodiment, the control unit can have a processor and a measurement mode and / or a regulation routine and / or an analysis and processing routine and / or a calculation routine stored in a memory unit of the control unit. The energy supply device is configured to supply electrical energy to the laser distance measuring device. When the additional device is connected to the laser distance measuring device, the energy supply device can also supply electrical energy to the additional device. The energy supply device can be configured as a fixedly installed or replaceable energy supply device. In addition, the energy supply device can be configured as a battery.

[0006] The additional device has an additional device housing. The additional device housing includes a coupling device on the device side. The additional device housing can at least partially construct the coupling device on the device side. The coupling device of the additional device is configured to reversibly, mechanically and electrically connect the additional device to the laser distance measuring device via the coupling device on the device side of the additional device and the coupling device of the laser distance measuring device. Then, electrical energy can reach the additional device from the energy supply device. The coupling device on the device side of the additional device and the coupling device of the laser distance measuring device are configured to complement each other in the type of plug and connector. By arranging the additional device on the laser distance measuring device, additional functions can be provided to the user. The additional device can have an energy utilization unit to obtain electrical energy from the laser distance measuring device.

[0007] The attachment housing has a coupling device on the attachment side. The coupling device on the attachment side is configured to enable the arrangement of another attachment together with the attachment. It is then possible to reversibly, mechanically and electrically connect the other attachment to the attachment via the coupling device on the attachment side. Accordingly, the transmission of electrical energy to the other attachment via the attachment can also be achieved. The other attachment has a coupling device on the device side, which can be connected to the coupling device on the attachment side of the attachment and / or the coupling device of the laser distance measuring device. The coupling device on the device side of the other attachment and the coupling device on the attachment side of the attachment are configured to complement each other, for example, in the form of a plug and a connector. For example, the coupling device on the device side of the other attachment can be configured in the form of a plug, and the coupling device on the attachment side of the attachment can be configured in the form of a connector.

[0008] In one embodiment of the attachment device, the coupling device on the appliance side and the coupling device on the attachment side are arranged opposite one another on the attachment housing. A compact attachment device can then be provided as a result.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment, the coupling device on the appliance side is arranged at an angle to the coupling device on the attachment side on the attachment housing. The coupling device on the appliance side and the coupling device on the attachment side can be arranged in an angle range of 5° to 170° relative to each other. In this case, a compact attachment housing can be achieved according to a configuration of the functional scope of the attachment.

[0010] In one embodiment of the additional device, the additional device has a communication unit, which is configured to send, receive and / or forward data. The communication unit can be basically arranged in the housing of the add-on. The communication unit can send, receive and / or forward different data. It is possible that at least the coupling device on the device side has a communication interface so that communication is performed via the communication interface of the coupling device on the device side. In addition to the limited communication connection, the communication unit can also construct a wireless communication connection. The wireless communication connection can be in the form of Bluetooth, WLAN, infrared, near field communication (NFC) with the help of RFID technology, or other wireless communication connections familiar to those skilled in the art. Here, the communication protocol used can be Bluetooth Smart, GSM, UMTS, LTE, ANT, ZigBee, LoRa, SigFox, NB-IoT, BLE, IrDA, or other communication protocols familiar to those skilled in the art. With the help of the communication unit, for example, measured values, software updates and / or control instructions can be exchanged.

[0011] In one embodiment of the additional device, the communication unit is configured to receive data from the additional device and forward it to the laser distance measuring device. For this purpose, the coupling device on the side of the attachment can also have a communication interface. The communication interface of the coupling device on the side of the attachment can forward the data of the additional device to the communication interface of the coupling device on the device side, and vice versa. In this way, data can be transmitted from the additional device to the laser distance measuring device, and vice versa.

[0012] In one embodiment of the additional device, the communication unit is configured to forward data to an external electrical appliance. Here, the communication unit can establish a wireless communication connection with the external electrical appliance. It is also possible that the communication unit can communicate with the external electrical appliance in a wired manner, for example by means of a cable. For this purpose, the additional device has a mechanical data interface. By means of the communication connection, the additional device can exchange data with the external electrical appliance directly or via the laser distance measuring device.

[0013] In one embodiment of the additional device, the communication unit is designed to display data by means of an output unit of the laser distance measuring device. The device housing of the laser distance measuring device has an output unit. The device housing can at least partially surround the output unit. The output unit can be designed, for example, as a display. The communication unit of the additional device is designed to communicate with a user by means of the output unit. Information can then be transmitted to the user. It is also conceivable that the additional device has an output unit in order to display data directly via the output unit of the additional device.

[0014] In one embodiment of the additional device, the additional device has a checking unit, which is designed to check the additional device when the additional device is connected to the additional device. The checking unit can be arranged essentially in the attachment housing. The checking unit is designed to check whether the additional device can be used with the laser distance measuring device and / or the additional device. Based on the check by the checking unit, the checking device releases the additional device for use or prevents the use. The checking unit can be designed as a computing unit.

[0015] In one embodiment of the additional device, the attachment housing has at least one operating element for operating the additional device. The operating element is configured to receive user input. The operating element can be configured on the attachment housing. In addition, the attachment housing can at least partially surround the attachment housing. The operating element can be configured, for example, as a button, a switch, a sliding member, a regulator or the like. In addition, the attachment housing can also have a separate output unit, such as a display or an LED.

[0016] In one embodiment of the additional device, the other additional device is configured as an update adapter, a battery adapter, a logic adapter, a vernier caliper adapter, a gas bottle adapter, a soil quality adapter or a battery test adapter. The update adapter is configured to update the software and / or operating system of the laser distance measuring device. The battery adapter is configured to provide an additional source of electrical energy for the laser distance measuring device. The logic adapter is configured to provide an operating system for the laser distance measuring device. The vernier caliper adapter is configured to provide a digital vernier caliper function for small spacings and high precision, the small spacing is, for example, less than 15 cm, and the high precision is, for example, in the range of 0.1 mm. The gas bottle adapter is configured to determine the liquid level of a liquid gas bottle. The soil quality adapter is configured to determine the pH value in the case of soil moisture content. The battery test adapter is configured to display the expected service life of the battery.

[0017] The invention also proceeds from a handheld laser distance measuring device as described above, which has the above-mentioned additional device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In the following, the present invention is described according to a preferred embodiment. The following drawings show:

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view showing a handheld laser distance measuring device;

[0020] Figure 2 A laser distance measuring device is shown with an additional device according to the invention;

[0021] Figure 3A laser distance measuring device is shown with an additional device and a further additional device; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of a handheld laser distance measuring device 100 is shown, which is used for contactless measurement of the distance between the laser distance measuring device 100 and a remote object (not shown in greater detail). The handheld laser distance measuring device 100 has a device housing 102, a distance measuring unit 120 and an output unit 104, which is exemplarily in the form of a display, as well as an adjustment element 106. In order to measure the distance between the laser distance measuring device 100 and a target object (not shown in greater detail here), during operation of the laser distance measuring device 100, parallel laser radiation 108 is emitted in the direction of the target object by means of the distance measuring unit 120 via a transmission optical system (not shown in greater detail), which consists, for example, of a lens system (not shown in greater detail). The laser radiation 109 reflected by the surface of the target object is guided via a receiving optical system (not shown in greater detail) to a detector device (not shown in greater detail) and detected there. The light flight time can be determined from the phase comparison performed between the emitted laser radiation 108 and the laser radiation 109 reflected by the surface of a distant object, and the sought distance between the laser distance measuring device 100 and the target object in the corresponding distance measurement direction (direction of emission of the laser radiation 109) can be determined via the speed of light.

[0023] The laser distance measuring device 100 has a distance measuring unit 120, a control unit 110, a communication unit 130, a coupling device 140 and an energy supply device 112 in a device housing 102. The distance measuring unit 120 includes a laser diode for generating laser radiation 108 and a detector device, which is not shown in more detail. The communication unit 130 is designed to establish a communication connection with another electrical appliance and to exchange data therewith. The coupling device 140 is constructed on the device housing 102. In this case, the coupling device 140 of the laser distance measuring device 100 is provided to form a reversible, mechanical and electrical arrangement with the additional devices 200, 300, see also Figure 2 and 3. The energy supply device 112 is used to supply the laser distance measuring device 100 with electrical energy, wherein, in one embodiment, the energy supply device includes a battery or a storage battery, preferably a lithium-ion storage battery. Here, the energy supply device 112 is formed as a fixedly installed storage battery. In this embodiment, the detector device has at least one single photon avalanche diode (SPAD), preferably a SPAD array. The control unit 110 is configured at least to determine the light flight time from a phase comparison performed between the emitted laser radiation 108 and the laser radiation 109 returned from the surface of the target object and to determine the distance sought between the laser distance measuring device 100 and the target object through the speed of light. In addition, the control unit 110 is configured to realize the operation of the laser distance measuring device 100, in particular to control and / or regulate the components used by the laser distance measuring device 100. The determined distance measurement values ​​- and / or the data information, such as measurement values, provided by the arranged external adapter 200 - can be further processed by the control unit 110 of the laser distance measuring device 100 and / or output to a user of the laser distance measuring device 100 by means of the output unit 104. The control unit 110 includes a processor, which is not shown in more detail. The device housing 102 at least partially surrounds the output unit 104.

[0024] The adjustment element 106 is arranged on the device housing 102 and is designed to be operable by a user. In addition, the device housing 102 at least partially surrounds the adjustment element 106. Here, the adjustment element 106 is formed as a pressure element. The adjustment element 106 is connected to the control unit 110 in terms of signal technology. With the help of the adjustment element 106, the user can at least switch on and / or switch off the laser distance measuring device 100.

[0025] Figure 2 The laser distance measuring device 100 is shown with an additional device 200. The additional device 200 is designed to be arranged on the handheld laser distance measuring device 100. The additional device 200 comprises an additional device housing 202, which comprises a device-side coupling device 204, which is used to be reversibly, mechanically and electrically arranged on the laser distance measuring device 100. The additional device housing 202 has a handle area 210, which is designed to be grasped by a user. The additional device housing 202 comprises an additional device-side coupling device 206, which is used to reversibly, mechanically and electrically arrange at least one further additional device 300, see also Figure 3For electrical connection, the device-side coupling device 204 and the attachment-side coupling device 206 each have an electrical contact element 214, wherein only the electrical contact element 214 of the attachment-side coupling device 206 is shown here. At the attachment device 200, the device-side coupling device 204 and the attachment-side coupling device 206 are arranged opposite each other on the attachment housing 202. When the attachment device 200 is connected to the laser distance measuring device 100, the energy supply device 112 supplies the attachment device 200 with electrical energy. The device-side coupling device 204 of the attachment device 200 and the coupling device 140 of the laser distance measuring device 100 are formed complementary to each other, in the manner of a plug and a connector. The attachment device 200 comprises an energy utilization unit 208 in order to obtain electrical energy from the laser distance measuring device 100. The attachment-side coupling device 206 is provided to enable the arrangement of a further attachment device 300 together with the attachment device 200. In this case, the further auxiliary device 300 can be reversibly mechanically and electrically connected to the auxiliary device 200 via the auxiliary device-side coupling device 206. This also enables the transmission of electrical energy via the auxiliary device 200 to the further auxiliary device 300, see also Figure 3 .

[0026] The additional device 200 comprises a communication unit 220. The communication unit 220 is configured to send, receive and / or forward data. The communication unit 220 is essentially arranged in the attachment housing 202. The coupling device 204 on the appliance side comprises a communication interface, not shown in greater detail, so that communication can be performed via the communication interface of the coupling device 204 on the appliance side. Additionally, the communication unit 220 of the additional device is configured to forward data to an external electrical appliance, not shown. The communication unit 220 is additionally configured to establish a wireless communication connection with an external electrical appliance. The communication unit 220 is configured to display data by means of the output unit 104 of the laser distance measuring device 100. The additional device 200 comprises a checking unit 230, which is configured to check a further additional device 300 when the further additional device 300 is connected to the additional device 200, see also. Figure 3 The checking unit 230 is basically arranged in the attachment housing 202 and is configured to check whether the additional attachment device 300 can be used together with the laser distance measuring device 100 and / or the attachment device 200. The attachment housing 202 includes an operating element 212 for operating the attachment device 200, which is configured to receive user input. The operating element 212 is formed on the attachment housing 202, and the attachment housing 202 at least partially surrounds the operating element 212. The operating element 212 is formed as a button here.

[0027] Figure 3The laser distance measuring device 100 is shown with an additional device 200 and further additional devices 300, wherein three further additional devices 300 are shown here by way of example. The additional device 200 is hereby embodied as an intermediate adapter by way of example. The further additional devices 300 each comprise a housing 302 and a coupling device 304 on the device side and at least one handle region 308. The coupling device 304 on the device side can be connected to a coupling device 206 on the attachment side of the additional device 200 and / or a coupling device 140 of the laser distance measuring device 100. Here, the coupling device 304 on the device side of the further additional device 300 and the coupling device 206 on the attachment side of the additional device 200 are embodied complementary to one another, for example in the manner of a plug and a coupling. The coupling device 304 on the device side of the further additional device 300 is embodied by way of example in the manner of a plug, and the coupling device 206 on the attachment side of the additional device 200 is embodied in the manner of a coupling.

[0028] Here, the further additional devices 300 are designed as external additional device adapters. Each of the further additional devices has an additional device housing 302, which at least substantially surrounds, surrounds and / or holds important functional components of the novel further additional device 300, such as electronic components and / or optical components. Each of the further additional devices 300 is designed to be reversibly arranged on the additional device 200 and / or the laser distance measuring device 100, wherein at least one additional function can be provided by arranging the respective further additional device 300 on the additional device 200 and / or the laser distance measuring device 100.

[0029] The three further additional devices 300 shown are designed, for example, as follows: a further additional device 310, which is designed to provide a route measuring function when arranged on the additional device 200 and / or the laser distance measuring device 100. A further additional device 320, which is designed to provide a tape measure function when arranged on the additional device 200 and / or the laser distance measuring device 100. A further additional device 330, which is designed to provide a leveling function when arranged on the additional device 200 and / or the laser distance measuring device 100.

[0030] The communication unit 220 of the additional device 200 is configured to receive data from the corresponding other additional device 300. Furthermore, the communication unit 220 of the additional device 200 is configured to forward the data to the laser distance measuring device 100 and / or an external electrical appliance. For this purpose, the coupling device 206 of the additional device 200 on the additional device side comprises a communication interface 222, see also Figure 2 .

Claims

1. An additional device (200) for being arranged on a handheld laser distance measuring device (100), the laser distance measuring device having an additional device housing (202), the additional device housing having a device-side coupling device (204), the device-side coupling device being for being reversibly mechanically and electrically arranged on the laser distance measuring device (100), It is characterized in that The adapter housing (202) has at least one adapter-side coupling device (206) for reversibly mechanically and electrically arranging at least one further adapter (300).

2. The additional device (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that The device-side coupling device (204) and the adapter-side coupling device (206) are arranged opposite one another on the adapter housing (202).

3. The additional device (200) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that A communication unit (220) is configured to send, receive and / or forward data.

4. The additional device (200) according to claim 3, characterized in that The communication unit (220) is designed to receive data from the further auxiliary device (300) and forward the data to the laser distance measuring device (100).

5. The additional device (200) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The communication unit (220) is designed to forward data to an external electrical appliance.

6. The additional device (200) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that The communication unit (220) is designed to display data by means of an output unit (104) of the laser distance measuring device (100).

7. The additional device (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A checking unit (230) is designed to check the further auxiliary device (300) when the further auxiliary device (200) is connected to the auxiliary device (200).

8. The additional device (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The adapter housing (202) has at least one operating element (212) for operating the attachment device (200).

9. The additional device (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The further additional device (300) is designed as a refresh adapter, a battery adapter, a logic adapter, a vernier caliper adapter, a gas bottle adapter, a soil quality adapter or a battery test adapter.

10. A handheld laser distance measuring device (100) having an additional device (200) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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