Novel laser electronic level meter

Abstract

The invention discloses a novel laser electronic level meter, and belongs to the technical field of horizontal measurement equipment. The control circuit board is integrated with an acceleration gyroscope sensor and an 8-bit or more single-chip microcomputer which realize data interaction; the stepping motor leveling mechanism comprises an X-axis stepping motor, a Y-axis stepping motor and corresponding connecting rods, and the laser emitting assembly is connected with the stepping motors through the connecting rods; the acceleration gyroscope sensor is parallel to the base and located in the center of the aluminum piece support. According to the invention, attitude data are collected through the acceleration gyroscope sensor, the single-chip microcomputer calculates a pitch angle and a roll angle through an attitude fusion algorithm, the stepping motor is driven to adjust the laser emission assembly according to attitude deviation, automatic and accurate leveling is realized, and the leveling precision can reach + / -0.005 degrees. The system has the characteristics of strong anti-interference capability, fast response speed, long service life and high flexibility, and is suitable for scenes of building construction, indoor decoration, precision installation and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of level measuring equipment technology, specifically a novel laser electronic level. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, with the continuous development of industries such as construction, interior decoration, and precision installation, people have placed higher demands on the accuracy and efficiency of level measurement. Levels are commonly used to check whether the levelness of working surfaces meets standards, and to measure the horizontal and vertical directions of equipment. Existing level technology mainly falls into two categories: mechanical and bubble leveling.

[0003] Mechanical laser levels primarily rely on a pendulum within the laser level itself. This pendulum contains both horizontal and vertical laser emitting units. Under gravity, the pendulum naturally falls until it reaches equilibrium, emitting horizontal and vertical laser lines as a standard for horizontal and vertical alignment during construction. The leveling accuracy is ±0.5 degrees horizontally. In mechanical laser levels, the pendulum relies entirely on gravity to maintain high precision in both horizontal and vertical laser beams. During use, if the level is shaken, the pendulum needs time to return to a vertical position. This process of returning to stability is called the pendulum's self-stabilization process. However, the self-stabilization process in existing mechanical levels is time-consuming and prone to exceeding swing limits. Furthermore, even when the level is not in operation, it continues to swing ineffectively. It lacks self-protection against external impacts, making it susceptible to damage. The mechanical parts of such devices are prone to wear and tear and gap accumulation during prolonged and repeated movement, leading to aging, decreased leveling accuracy, and a shorter lifespan. They are also significantly affected by external factors such as vibration, dust, and temperature changes, resulting in poor system stability.

[0004] Bubble level indicators determine horizontal and vertical positions by using photoelectric sensing and light refraction principles to determine whether an air bubble in a disc or cylinder of liquid is centered. The leveling accuracy is ±0.05 degrees horizontally. The basic principle is that a disc or cylinder bubble is embedded in the center of an aluminum support, ensuring the bubble is centered within the disc or cylinder. When placed on an inclined surface, the bubble moves in the direction of the incline. An infrared emitting diode is located at the bottom of the disc or cylinder, and an X, -X, Y, -Y cross-shaped photosensitive diode is located at the top to receive infrared light. As the bubble moves in one direction, the infrared light at the bottom is refracted within the bubble. The photosensitive diode at the top senses the light, and a current flows through it. This current is amplified by an operational amplifier and sent to a microcontroller. The microcontroller performs analog-to-digital conversion to determine if adjustment is needed. When no analog signal is received from the microcontroller, the stepper motor stops rotating, and the air bubble in the disc or cylinder will be centered within the disc. The laser emitter on the aluminum bracket emits light to determine whether the instrument is level or vertical. Bubble level instruments have a complex structure and installation. The leveling process, which involves switching from analog to digital, is susceptible to interference. Furthermore, the bubble is affected by temperature changes, vibrations, and liquid aging, leading to unstable light refraction. Long-term use can also reduce measurement accuracy and lifespan due to issues such as wear of seals and liquid evaporation.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a level measuring device with higher accuracy, stronger stability, better anti-interference ability and longer service life to solve the shortcomings of existing technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel laser electronic level that achieves high-precision automatic leveling, improves measurement stability and efficiency, and solves the problems of insufficient accuracy, poor anti-interference, and short service life of existing levels.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A novel laser electronic level includes a control circuit board, a stepper motor leveling mechanism, a laser emitting component, a display and prompting unit, and a base. The control circuit board includes an accelerometer circuit and an 8-bit or higher microcontroller circuit. The accelerometer circuit and the microcontroller circuit interact with each other. The stepper motor leveling mechanism includes an X-axis stepper motor, a Y-axis stepper motor, an X-axis stepper motor connecting rod, and a Y-axis stepper motor connecting rod. The X-axis and Y-axis stepper motors are respectively mounted on both sides of an aluminum bracket. The laser emitting component is connected to the stepper motors via connecting rods. The accelerometer sensor is arranged parallel to the base and located at the center of the aluminum bracket.

[0008] Furthermore, the novel laser electronic level of the present invention includes an accelerometer circuit comprising a three-axis accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope, which integrates temperature sensing and compensation circuitry, supports synchronous sampling and multiple sampling rates, and has a first-in-first-out buffer mechanism.

[0009] Furthermore, in the novel laser electronic level of the present invention, the microcontroller circuit has a unified clock source and timestamp management function, which constrains the timing of accelerometer sensor data sampling, fusion calculation and motor control.

[0010] Furthermore, in the novel laser electronic level of the present invention, the control circuit board includes an accelerometer circuit and a microcontroller circuit. If the accelerometer circuit and the microcontroller circuit are on a single circuit board and fixed to the top of the aluminum bracket, the accelerometer is positioned at the center of the aluminum bracket. If the accelerometer circuit and the microcontroller circuit are on two separate circuit boards, the individual accelerometer circuit board is mounted parallel to the base and positioned at the center of the aluminum bracket, and fixed at any position on the aluminum bracket. The microcontroller circuit board is mounted parallel to the base or fixedly mounted on any side of the level where there is space.

[0011] Furthermore, in the novel laser electronic level of the present invention, the microcontroller circuit has a built-in attitude fusion algorithm to fuse the acceleration and angular velocity data collected by the accelerometer gyroscope sensor, calculate the pitch angle and roll angle of the instrument, and generate a stepper motor drive signal based on the deviation between the attitude angle and the reference angle.

[0012] Furthermore, the novel laser electronic level of the present invention is equipped with an initialization module. During the startup phase, it completes a power-on self-test and determines a horizontal or vertical reference surface and records it as a leveling reference by connecting to a computer or manually setting a reference.

[0013] Furthermore, in the novel laser electronic level of the present invention, when the tilt angle of the bottom of the instrument exceeds 5 degrees, the system issues an alarm and stops leveling; when the tilt angle is within a safe range, the leveling control module controls the X-axis and Y-axis motors to adjust their directions according to the magnitude of the angle error, and when the deviation is less than the set threshold for several consecutive cycles, the leveling is determined to be complete.

[0014] Furthermore, in the novel laser electronic level of the present invention, the display and prompting unit includes a buzzer, a voice output port, a touch panel output port, and a Bluetooth module, etc. When leveling is completed, the buzzer emits a short prompt sound, and the display panel emits a red light prompt.

[0015] This invention proposes an electronic laser level based on inertial measurement and data fusion for automatic leveling. It uses an accelerometer to collect real-time attitude change information of the instrument and combines this with the gravity direction to establish an attitude fusion model, which is used to calculate the pitch and roll angles of the device, thereby determining the horizontal state of the laser emitting surface. During the system startup phase, the initialization module completes a power-on self-test and allows for manual reference setting to determine the current horizontal or vertical reference surface of the device, recording this state as the subsequent leveling reference. The accelerometer detects the acceleration of the device, and the measured data is transmitted to the data processing module via the data acquisition interface. This module uses a special filtering algorithm to fuse acceleration and angular velocity information and suppress noise to maintain data stability, outputting the pitch and roll angles in real time. The processed data is then transmitted to the leveling control module, which calculates the control quantity based on the deviation between the attitude angle and the reference angle, generating a drive signal that is transmitted to the stepper motor drive unit. After receiving the signal, the stepper motor makes minor adjustments to the support structure, gradually restoring the laser emitting surface of the instrument to a horizontal and vertical state. During the leveling process, the microcontroller continuously monitors attitude changes. When the data errors between the pitch angle and roll angle and the reference setting storage unit remain within the set range and stabilize for a certain period of time, the system determines that the leveling is complete.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are: Significantly improved accuracy: By combining an accelerometer gyroscope sensor with a high-performance microcontroller and using an attitude fusion algorithm for digital processing, the leveling accuracy can reach ±0.005 degrees in both the horizontal and vertical directions, far exceeding that of traditional mechanical and bubble level instruments.

[0017] Strong anti-interference capability: The microcontroller uses a special filtering algorithm to suppress vibration and noise interference, and the accelerometer gyroscope sensor integrates a temperature compensation circuit, which can automatically correct temperature drift error and reduce the influence of external factors such as temperature change and vibration on the measurement.

[0018] Fast response speed: The hardware and software architecture adopts strict timing constraints and synchronous sampling design to achieve real-time attitude detection and rapid leveling without manual intervention, which greatly improves the efficiency of operation.

[0019] Long service life: It eliminates the wear and tear problems of traditional mechanical structures, electronic control reduces parts wear, and sealed design avoids liquid evaporation and other problems, thus extending the service life of the equipment.

[0020] High flexibility: By connecting to a computer and supporting manual benchmark setting and parameter adjustment, it can adapt to measurement needs in different scenarios, and has the ability to perform on-site calibration and firmware upgrades, which facilitates continuous performance optimization. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is the automatic leveling control logic diagram of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a top view of the structure of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 Side view of the structure of the present invention Figure 1 .

[0025] Figure 5 Side view of the structure of the present invention Figure 2 .

[0026] Figure 6 Side view of the structure of the present invention Figure 3 .

[0027] Figure 7 Side view of the structure of the present invention Figure 4 .

[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 9. Control board microcontroller N32G031; 10. Control board accelerometer / gyroscope sensor ICM42682; 11. Control board voice output port; 12. Control board buzzer; 13. Control board laser emitter power output port; 14. Control board X-axis stepper motor output port; 15. Control board Y-axis stepper motor output port; 16. Control board power input port; 17. Control board microcontroller programming port; 18. Control board touch panel output port; 19. Control circuit board integrating gyroscope chip and microcontroller, etc.; 21. Aluminum bracket; 22. X-axis stepper motor connecting rod; 23. Y-axis stepper motor connecting rod; 24. X-axis stepper motor; 25. Base. Detailed Implementation

[0029] This invention proposes an electronic laser leveling method combining an accelerometer / gyroscope sensor and an 8-bit or higher microcontroller. It fully utilizes real-time attitude information from the accelerometer and gyroscope, and establishes an attitude estimation model based on changes in gravity direction and angular velocity to correct the instrument's tilt. Through a fusion algorithm of sensor data acquisition and microcontroller input, it judges the horizontal deviation in real time, drives a stepper motor, and achieves automated attitude correction, realizing fully electronic control. This method can continuously monitor instrument attitude changes in different environments. The microcontroller's internal data processing employs a special data processing method to effectively suppress vibration and noise interference, thereby improving leveling accuracy and stability. Compared with traditional mechanical or bubble leveling methods, this invention can achieve dynamic maintenance of the laser level plane with higher stability and intelligence, significantly improving the reliability and efficiency of the measuring equipment.

[0030] This invention abstracts the test platform as a rigid plane. A microcontroller continuously collects acceleration and angular velocity data from a gyroscope chip, performs calibration and coordinate alignment, and then calculates the pitch and roll angles in real time using a fusion algorithm. Within each control cycle, the system compares the current attitude deviation with a preset safety threshold. If the bottom tilt angle exceeds 5 degrees, an alarm is issued and leveling is stopped. Conversely, if the tilt is within the safe range, it is marked as leveling in progress. The leveling control module sends commands to the stepper motors, determining the adjustment direction of the x-axis and y-axis motors based on the magnitude of the angle error. When the deviation remains below a certain threshold for several consecutive cycles, it is considered to have recovered and maintained horizontality, indicating the end of leveling, achieving a rapid and stable leveling effect without manual intervention.

[0031] 1) Hardware and software combined architecture.

[0032] This invention uses angle as the core criterion and employs a tightly coupled architecture of microcontroller local calculation and inertial measurement. In a static state, the device uses an accelerometer to provide an absolute reference for the direction of gravity, while in a dynamic state, a gyroscope provides a short-term response to changes in angular velocity. The two are fused and processed within the microcontroller to obtain a stable and sensitive real-time angle output.

[0033] The design of this invention utilizes an accelerometer and gyroscope sensor chip, featuring a three-axis accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope. This chip boasts high resolution, low noise, and high temperature stability, enabling synchronous sampling in hardware. This significantly reduces latency and jitter during dynamic measurements, improving the accuracy of angle fusion. The chip exhibits high zero-bias stability and minimal angular velocity drift, maintaining consistent attitude output over extended periods. The integrated temperature sensing and compensation circuit automatically corrects temperature drift errors, ensuring the level maintains high accuracy even under extreme temperatures or prolonged operating conditions. Any sensor chip possessing these characteristics, such as the ICM-42682, can be used in the level design proposed in this invention.

[0034] At the system architecture level, an 8-bit or higher microcontroller chip, such as the N32G031 series from National Technologies Corporation, is used. This chip features a unified clock source and timestamp management, strictly constraining the timing of data sampling, fusion calculation, and motor control for accelerometer and gyroscope chips. This ensures that each module completes high-frequency calculations within a defined period while maintaining low latency. Furthermore, the sensor supports multiple sampling rates and a first-in-first-out buffer mechanism. Combined with the microcontroller's periodic scheduling, stable data transmission and real-time attitude updates are achieved, avoiding angle errors caused by sampling jitter or interruptions. Compared to mechanical leveling and bubble reading (converting analog signals to digital signals), this hardware and software combination is entirely digital, simultaneously improving accuracy, repeatability, and response speed. It also possesses the ability to be continuously optimized through field calibration and firmware upgrades. The leveling solution proposed in this invention uses the TDK ICM-42682 sensor and the National Technologies Corporation's N32G031 series microcontroller. Actual testing has verified that it fully realizes all the leveling functions of the new leveling instrument.

[0035] 2) Leveling control.

[0036] In this invention, the attitude fusion algorithm of the microcontroller software fuses accelerometer and gyroscope data, enabling real-time acquisition of the device's current pitch and roll angles, thereby determining the attitude state of the measurement surface. The leveling control module, based on this, achieves precise control of the stepper motor, allowing the level to automatically adjust its level according to real-time attitude information. The system continuously predicts and updates the attitude angles to obtain the level's attitude change trend over a short period, and calculates the number and direction of motor correction steps to be executed. The overall process is as follows: Figure 3 As shown.

[0037] In each control cycle, this system compares the fused pitch and roll angles with the set target horizontal angle to calculate the current attitude error. When the error exceeds the allowable range, the control module begins executing leveling control commands. The control algorithm calculates the required motion and rotation direction of the motor based on the magnitude of the error, its rate of change, and historical deviations.

[0038] This invention achieves fully electronic and intelligent leveling, with leveling accuracy within ±0.005 degrees for both horizontal and vertical alignment. It eliminates reliance on visual observation and subjective judgment, significantly reducing interference from environmental factors such as light, viewing angle, temperature difference, and vibration. In complex working conditions such as construction, equipment installation, and mobile platforms, the system can continuously and stably provide a laser line reference under the established baseline, facilitating standardized thresholds and handling procedures. In factory production, only computer-based parameter setting and calibration are required, avoiding the installation of complex mechanical parts and thus achieving consistency and reproducibility in mass production.

[0039] The reference benchmark can be set via computer connection, or users can manually set parameters or adjust the laser reference line to a specified position and save the data, offering high flexibility. During operation, key data and parameters are automatically recorded, facilitating verification, traceability, and quality retention, while maintaining a clear and controllable maintenance process. Compared to mechanical leveling and bubble reading, this invention offers comprehensive advantages in accuracy, response speed, stability, and maintainability, effectively reducing human error and misjudgment risks, and improving on-site operational efficiency and safety.

[0040] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0041] like Figure 1 , Figure 3-7 As shown, the novel laser electronic level of the present invention mainly consists of a control circuit board 19, a stepper motor leveling mechanism, a laser emitting assembly, a display and prompting unit, and a base 25. The control circuit board 19 integrates an accelerometer gyroscope sensor 10 and a microcontroller 9, which are connected by a circuit to achieve data interaction; the stepper motor leveling mechanism includes an X-axis stepper motor 23, a Y-axis stepper motor 24, an X-axis stepper motor connecting rod 21, and a Y-axis stepper motor connecting rod 22. The X-axis stepper motor 23 and the Y-axis stepper motor 24 are respectively mounted on both sides of the aluminum bracket 20, and the laser emitting assembly is connected to the stepper motors through the connecting rods; the accelerometer gyroscope sensor 10 is arranged parallel to the base 25 and located at the center of the aluminum bracket 20.

[0042] The control circuit board 19 can be set as a single integrated board, in which case the accelerometer gyroscope sensor 10 and the microcontroller 9 are fixed on the top of the aluminum bracket 20; or it can be set as two separate boards, with the separate accelerometer gyroscope circuit board installed parallel to the base 25 and located at the center of the aluminum bracket 20, and the microcontroller circuit board installed parallel to the base 25 or fixed in an empty position on the side of the level.

[0043] The display and prompt unit includes a buzzer 12, a voice output port 11, and a touch panel output port 18. The control circuit board 19 is also equipped with a laser emitter power output port 13, an X-axis stepper motor output port 14, a Y-axis stepper motor output port 15, a power input port 16, and a microcontroller program burning port 17.

[0044] This invention relates to a novel laser electronic level. The device mainly consists of an ICM42682 accelerometer-gyroscope sensor, an N32G031 series microcontroller, a stepper motor leveling mechanism, a laser emitting assembly, and a display and prompt unit. By detecting the device's attitude angle and automatically correcting it, it maintains the laser-emitting surface in a precise horizontal or vertical direction, thereby achieving calibration and measurement of external targets. Combined with... Figure 2 The laser electronic level of the present invention is used as follows: In use, the operator places the electronic level of this invention on a stable support surface or tripod and aligns it with the wall, ground, or component to be measured. Press the power button to turn it on. After power-on, the system automatically performs initialization and benchmark calibration. The inertial measurement unit (ICM-42682) begins real-time acquisition of triaxial acceleration and triaxial angular velocity data, accurately reflecting the instrument's current pitch and roll angles. The N32G031 microcontroller constrains the sampling sequence through a unified clock and timestamp mechanism, ensuring that each data acquisition and attitude calculation is completed within a fixed period, guaranteeing high real-time performance and low latency.

[0045] The system uses acceleration signals to determine the direction of gravity as a horizontal reference, and gyroscope signals to reflect short-term angular velocity changes. An attitude fusion algorithm is used to obtain the current pitch and roll angles. When the system detects that the instrument's attitude deviates from the horizontal reference by a certain angle, the microcontroller generates a control signal based on the direction and magnitude of the error, driving a stepper motor to adjust the internal suspension platform, restoring the laser emission assembly to a horizontal or vertical state. After calibration, a short beep is emitted, and the display panel glows red.

[0046] During construction, users can place the instrument on the ground or a support frame at the construction site. Once activated, the instrument automatically levels itself, emitting a horizontal beam of light and a vertical beam of light. Workers can determine whether components are level by observing the projection of the light onto the wall or floor. If the edge of the wall-mounted component is higher or lower than the laser line, it indicates a deviation, which can be adjusted accordingly. For interior ceiling installations, floor leveling, door and window installations, etc., this device can quickly provide a precise level reference with an accuracy of 0.005 degrees.

[0047] The laser electronic level of this invention achieves complete automation from factory calibration to on-site measurement. The device undergoes automatic calibration at the factory; upon powering on, the system automatically detects posture, corrects errors, and performs laser leveling, ensuring the emitted light remains precisely horizontal and vertical. The entire process requires no manual intervention; the instrument autonomously adjusts the light plane according to posture changes, continuously outputting a stable and reliable measurement benchmark. This transforms level detection from traditional manual operation into an automated and intelligent process, significantly improving measurement accuracy and efficiency.

[0048] This invention achieves fully electronic intelligence for the level, avoiding reliance on visual observation and subjective judgment, significantly reducing the interference of environmental factors on the readings, and providing a continuous and stable laser line reference in complex working conditions such as building construction, equipment installation, and mobile platforms, facilitating the standardization of thresholds and handling standards. At the same time, during factory production, only computer-based parameter setting and calibration are required, achieving consistency and reproducibility for mass production.

[0049] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A new type of laser electronic level, characterized in that, It comprises a control circuit board, a stepping motor leveling mechanism, a laser emitting assembly, a display and prompt unit and a base; the control circuit board comprises an acceleration gyroscope circuit and an 8-bit or above single-chip microcomputer circuit, the acceleration gyroscope circuit and the single-chip microcomputer circuit realize data interaction, the stepping motor leveling mechanism comprises an X-axis stepping motor, a Y-axis stepping motor, an X-axis stepping motor connecting rod and a Y-axis stepping motor connecting rod, the X-axis stepping motor and the Y-axis stepping motor are respectively installed on both sides of an aluminum support, the laser emitting assembly is connected with the stepping motor through the connecting rod, and the acceleration gyroscope sensor is arranged in parallel to the base and at a central position of the aluminum support.

2. The new laser electronic level according to claim 1, characterized in that, The acceleration gyroscope circuit comprises a three-axis accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope, integrates a temperature sensor and a compensation circuit, supports synchronous sampling and multiple sampling rates, and has a first-in-first-out buffer mechanism.

3. The new laser electronic level of claim 1, wherein, The single-chip microcomputer circuit has unified clock source and time stamp management functions, and constrains acceleration gyroscope sensor data sampling, fusion calculation and motor control timing.

4. The new laser electronic level of claim 1, wherein, The control circuit board comprises an acceleration gyroscope circuit and a single-chip microcomputer circuit, if the acceleration gyroscope circuit and the single-chip microcomputer circuit are on one circuit board and fixed on the top of the aluminum support, the acceleration gyroscope is at the central position of the aluminum support; if the acceleration gyroscope circuit and the single-chip microcomputer circuit are on two circuit boards, the separate acceleration gyroscope circuit board is installed in parallel to the base and at the central position of the aluminum support and fixed on the aluminum support at any position, and the single-chip microcomputer circuit board is installed in parallel to the base or fixedly installed on any space side of the level meter.

5. The new laser electronic level of claim 1, wherein, The single-chip microcomputer circuit has a built-in attitude fusion algorithm, which fuses the acceleration and angular velocity data collected by the acceleration gyroscope sensor, calculates the instrument pitch angle and roll angle, and generates a stepping motor driving signal according to the deviation of the attitude angle and the reference angle.

6. The new laser electronic level of claim 1, wherein, An initialization module is arranged, power-on self-test and manual reference setting are completed in the starting stage, a horizontal or vertical reference surface is determined and recorded as a leveling reference.

7. The new laser electronic level of claim 1, wherein, When the inclination angle of the bottom of the instrument exceeds 5 degrees, the system issues an alarm and stops leveling; when the inclination angle is within a safe range, the leveling control module controls the adjustment direction of the X-axis and Y-axis motors according to the angle error, and when the deviation of a plurality of continuous periods is less than a set threshold, it is determined that the leveling is completed.

8. The new laser electronic level of claim 1, wherein, The display and prompt unit comprises a buzzer, a voice output port and a touch panel output port, the buzzer emits a short prompt sound when the leveling is completed, and the display panel emits a red light prompt.

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