Attachment device

Abstract

An attachment device (200) for arrangement on a handheld laser distance measuring device (100) is disclosed, comprising an attachment housing (202) which has a device-side coupling device (204) for reversible, mechanical and electrical arrangement on the laser distance measuring device (100). It is proposed that the attachment housing (202) shall have at least one attachment-side coupling device (206) for the reversible, mechanical and electrical arrangement of at least one further attachment device (300).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an attachment device for arrangement on a handheld laser distance measuring device. State of the art

[0002] An attachment device, such as EP 3 602 120 B1, is already known from the prior art. Disclosure of the invention

[0003] The present invention is based on an attachment device for mounting on a handheld laser distance measuring device, comprising an attachment housing that has a device-side coupling device for reversible, mechanical, and electrical mounting on the laser distance measuring device. It is proposed that the attachment housing have at least one attachment-side coupling device for reversible, mechanical, and electrical mounting of at least one further attachment device.

[0004] The invention provides an attachment device that provides extended functionality for the handheld laser distance measuring device. This enables additional functions that would not have been possible without the attachment device.

[0005] The attachment device is designed for placement on the handheld laser distance measuring device. A user can place and connect the attachment device to the laser distance measuring device. The handheld laser distance measuring device is designed for contactless distance measurement between the laser distance measuring device and a distant object using a laser beam emitted by the laser distance measuring device. The laser distance measuring device comprises a device housing, a coupling device, a control unit, and a power supply device. The device housing has the coupling device and at least partially forms it. The coupling device of the laser distance measuring device is designed to form the reversible, mechanical and electrical arrangement with the attachment device.For this purpose, the user can connect the attachment device to the laser distance measuring device using the coupling device of the laser distance measuring device. The control unit can be arranged in the device housing. The control unit is designed to control the laser distance measuring device. The control unit has an information input, an information processing unit, and an information output. In one embodiment, the control unit can have a processor and measurement modes and / or control routines and / or evaluation routines and / or calculation routines stored in a memory unit of the control unit. The energy supply device is designed to supply the laser distance measuring device with electrical energy. If the attachment device is connected to the laser distance measuring device, the energy supply device can also supply the attachment device with electrical energy.The power supply device can be designed as a permanently installed or removable power supply device. Furthermore, the power supply device can be designed as a rechargeable battery.

[0006] The attachment device has the attachment housing. The attachment housing comprises the device-side coupling device. The attachment housing can at least partially form the device-side coupling device. The coupling device of the attachment device is designed to reversibly, mechanically, and electrically connect the attachment device to the laser distance measuring device via the device-side coupling device of the attachment device and the coupling device of the laser distance measuring device. This allows the electrical energy to flow from the power supply device to the attachment device. The device-side coupling device of the attachment device and the coupling device of the laser distance measuring device are designed to complement one another, in the manner of a plug and a coupling. By arranging the attachment device on the laser distance measuring device, additional functionalities can be provided to the user.The attachment device may comprise an energy utilization unit to extract the electrical energy from the laser distance measuring device.

[0007] The attachment housing has the attachment-side coupling device. The attachment-side coupling device is designed to enable the arrangement of additional attachment devices with the attachment device. This then makes it possible to reversibly, mechanically, and electrically connect the additional attachment device to the attachment device via the attachment-side coupling device. Accordingly, a transmission of electrical energy via the attachment device to the additional attachment device would then also be possible. The additional attachment device has a device-side coupling device that can be connected to the attachment-side coupling device of the attachment device and / or the coupling device of the laser distance measuring device.The device-side coupling device of the additional attachment device and the attachment-side coupling device of the attachment device are designed to complement each other, for example, in the manner of a plug and a coupling. For example, the device-side coupling device of the additional attachment device can be designed in the manner of a plug, and the attachment-side coupling device of the attachment device can be designed in the manner of a coupling.

[0008] In one embodiment of the attachment device, the device-side coupling device and the attachment-side coupling device are arranged opposite each other on the attachment housing. This allows for a compact attachment device to be provided.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment, the device-side coupling device is arranged at an angle to the attachment-side coupling device on the attachment housing. The device-side coupling device and the attachment-side coupling device can be arranged at an angle of 5° to 170° to each other. Depending on the configuration of the attachment device's functional scope, a compact attachment housing can be achieved.

[0010] In one embodiment of the attachment device, the attachment device has a communication unit designed to send, receive, and / or forward data. The communication unit can be arranged substantially within the attachment housing. The communication unit can send, receive, and / or forward various data. It is possible for at least the device-side coupling device to have a communication interface, so that communication takes place via the communication interface of the device-side coupling device. In addition to a wired communication connection, the communication unit can also form a wireless communication connection. The wireless communication connection can be in the form of Bluetooth, WLAN, infrared, near-field communication (NFC) using RFID technology, as well as other wireless communication connections familiar to those skilled in the art.The communication protocols used can include Bluetooth Smart, GSM, UMTS, LTE, ANT, ZigBee, LoRa, SigFox, NB-IoT, BLE, IrDA, as well as other communication protocols familiar to those skilled in the art. The communication unit can be used to exchange, for example, measured values, software updates, and / or control commands.

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

[0012] In one embodiment of the attachment device, the communication unit is designed to forward data to an external electrical device. The communication unit can establish a wireless communication connection with the external electrical device. It is also possible for the communication unit to communicate with the external electrical device via a wired connection, such as a cable. For this purpose, the attachment device has a mechanical data interface. Using the communication connection, the attachment device can exchange data with the external electrical device directly or via the laser distance measuring device.

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

[0014] In one embodiment of the attachment device, the attachment device has a checking unit configured to check the additional attachment device when it is connected to the attachment device. The checking unit can be arranged substantially within the attachment housing. The checking unit is configured to check whether the additional attachment device can be used with the laser distance measuring device and / or the attachment device. Depending on the check by the checking unit, the checking device enables the additional attachment device for use or blocks its use. The checking unit can be configured as a computing unit.

[0015] In one embodiment of the attachment device, the attachment housing has at least one operating element for operating the attachment device. The operating element is designed to receive inputs from the user. The operating element can be formed on the attachment housing. Furthermore, the attachment housing can at least partially enclose the operating element. The operating element can be designed, for example, as a button, a switch, a slider, a controller, or the like. Furthermore, the attachment housing can also have a separate output unit, such as a display or an LED.

[0016] In one embodiment of the attachment device, the additional attachment device is designed as an update adapter, a battery adapter, a logic adapter, a caliper adapter, a gas cylinder adapter, a soil quality adapter, or a battery test adapter. The update adapter is designed to update software and / or an operating system of the laser distance measuring device. The battery adapter is designed to provide an additional electrical energy source for the laser distance measuring device. The logic adapter is designed to provide an operating system for the laser distance measuring device. The caliper adapter is designed to provide a digital caliper function for small distances, such as less than 15 cm, and with high accuracy, such as in the range of 0.1 mm. The gas cylinder adapter is designed to determine the fill level of a liquid gas cylinder.The soil quality sensor is designed to determine a pH value based on a given soil water content. The battery test adapter is designed to indicate the expected lifespan of a battery.

[0017] The invention also relates to a hand-held laser distance measuring device as described above, with an attachment device as described above. Short description of the drawings

[0018] The invention is explained below using a preferred embodiment. The drawings show: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a handheld laser distance measuring device; Fig. 2 the laser distance measuring device with an attachment device according to the invention; Fig. 3 the laser distance measuring device with the attachment device and other attachment devices; Description of the embodiment

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a handheld laser distance measuring device 100 for contactless distance measurement between the laser distance measuring device 100 and a distant object (not shown in 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 embodied, for example, as a display, as well as an adjustment element 106. To measure the distance of the laser distance measuring device 100 from a target object (not shown in detail here), during operation of the laser distance measuring device 100, parallel laser radiation 108 is transmitted in the direction of the target object by means of the distance measuring unit 120 via a transmission optics (not shown in detail), which consists, for example, of a lens system (not shown in detail).The laser radiation 109 reflected from a surface of the target object is guided via a receiving optics (not shown in detail) to a detector device (not shown in detail), where it is detected. A phase comparison performed between the emitted laser radiation 108 and the laser radiation 109 reflected from the surface of the distant object can be used to determine the time of flight of the light, and the desired 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 108) can be determined using the speed of light.

[0020] The laser distance measuring device 100 has, within the device housing 102, the distance measuring unit 120, a control unit 110, a communication unit 130, a coupling device 140, and a power supply device 112. The distance measuring unit 120 comprises a laser diode for generating the laser radiation 108 and a detector device, which are not shown in detail. The communication unit 130 is designed to establish a communication connection with another electrical device and thereby exchange data. The coupling device 140 is formed on the device housing 102. The coupling device 140 of the laser distance measuring device 100 is provided to form a reversible, mechanical and electrical arrangement with an attachment device 200, 300, see also Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. The energy supply device 112 serves to supply the laser distance measuring device 100 with electrical energy. In one exemplary embodiment, the energy supply device comprises a battery or an accumulator, preferably a lithium-ion accumulator. Here, the energy supply device 112 is designed as a permanently installed rechargeable battery. In this exemplary embodiment, the detector device has at least one single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), preferably a SPAD array. The control unit 110 is provided at least to determine a light propagation time from a phase comparison performed between the emitted laser radiation 108 and the laser radiation 109 returning from the surface of the target object, and to determine the desired distance between the laser distance measuring device 100 and the target object using the speed of light.Furthermore, the control unit 110 is provided to enable the operation of the laser distance measuring device 100, in particular to control and / or regulate components used in the laser distance measuring device 100. A determined distance measurement value—and / or a piece of data information provided by an arranged external adapter 200, for example, a measured value—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 via the output unit 104. The control unit 110 comprises a processor (not shown in detail). The device housing 102 at least partially encloses the output unit 104.

[0021] The adjustment element 106 is arranged on the device housing 102 and is designed to be operable by the user. Furthermore, the device housing 102 at least partially encloses the adjustment element 106. Here, the adjustment element 106 is designed as a push-button element. The adjustment element 106 is signal-connected to the control unit 110. Using the adjustment element 106, the user can at least switch the laser distance measuring device 100 on and / or off.

[0022] Fig. Figure 2 illustrates the laser distance measuring device 100 with an attachment device 200. The attachment device 200 is designed for mounting on the handheld laser distance measuring device 100. The attachment device 200 comprises an attachment housing 202, which includes a device-side coupling device 204 for reversible, mechanical, and electrical mounting on the laser distance measuring device 100. The attachment housing 202 has gripping areas 210 designed to be grasped by the user. The attachment housing 202 includes an attachment-side coupling device 206 for reversible, mechanical, and electrical mounting of at least one further attachment device 300, see also Fig. 3. For electrical connection, the device-side coupling device 204 and the attachment-side coupling device 206 each have an electrical contact element 214, whereby only the electrical contact element 214 of the attachment-side coupling device 206 is shown here. In the attachment device 200, the device-side coupling device 204 and the attachment-side coupling device 206 are arranged opposite one another on the attachment housing 202. When the attachment device 200 is connected to the laser distance measuring device 100, the power 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 shaped to complement one another, in the manner of a plug and a coupling.The attachment device 200 includes an energy utilization unit 208 for extracting electrical energy from the laser distance measuring device 100. The attachment-side coupling device 206 is provided to enable the arrangement of the additional attachment devices 300 with the attachment device 200.

[0023] The additional attachment devices 300 can be reversibly, mechanically, and electrically connected to the attachment device 200 via the attachment-side coupling device 206. This also enables the transmission of electrical energy via the attachment device 200 to the additional attachment device 300, see also Fig. 3.

[0024] The attachment device 200 comprises a communication unit 220. The communication unit 220 is designed to send, receive, and / or forward data. The communication unit 220 is arranged substantially within the attachment housing 202. The device-side coupling device 204 comprises a communication interface (not shown in detail), so that communication can be carried out via the communication interface of the device-side coupling device 204. In addition, the communication unit 220 of the attachment device is designed to forward data to an external electrical device (not shown). The communication unit 220 is additionally designed to establish a wireless communication connection with the external electrical device. The communication unit 220 is designed to display data by means of the output unit 104 of the laser distance measuring device 100.The attachment device 200 comprises a checking unit 230 which is intended to check the further attachment device 300 when it is connected to the attachment device 200, see also . Fig. 3. The verification unit 230 is arranged essentially within the attachment housing 202 and is designed to check whether the additional attachment device 300 can be used with the laser distance measuring device 100 and / or the attachment device 200. The attachment housing 202 comprises an operating element 212 for operating the attachment device 200, which is intended to receive inputs from the user. The operating element 212 is formed on the attachment housing 202, and the attachment housing 202 at least partially encloses the operating element 212. The operating element 212 is formed here as a button.

[0025] Fig. 3 shows the laser distance measuring device 100 with the attachment device 200 and the additional attachment devices 300, wherein three additional attachment devices 300 are shown here by way of example. The attachment device 200 is designed here as a type of intermediate adapter. The additional attachment devices 300 each comprise a housing 302 and a device-side coupling device 304 as well as at least one handle area 308. The device-side coupling device 304 can be connected to the attachment-side coupling device 206 of the attachment device 200 and / or the coupling device 140 of the laser distance measuring device 100. The device-side coupling device 304 of the additional attachment device 300 and the attachment-side coupling device 206 of the attachment device 200 are designed to complement one another, like a plug and socket.The device-side coupling device 304 of the further attachment device 300 is, for example, shaped in the manner of a plug and the attachment-side coupling device 206 of the attachment device 200 is shaped in the manner of a coupling.

[0026] The additional attachment devices 300 are configured here as external attachment adapters. Each of the additional attachment devices has the attachment housing 302, which at least substantially surrounds, encloses, and / or holds the essential functional components of the respective additional attachment devices 300—for example, electronic and / or optical components. Each of the additional attachment devices 300 is configured for reversible arrangement on the attachment device 200 and / or the laser distance measuring device 100, wherein at least one additional functionality can be provided by arranging the respective additional attachment device 300 on the attachment device 200 and / or the laser distance measuring device 100.

[0027] The three additional attachment devices 300 shown are configured, for example, as: A further attachment device 310, which is configured to provide a distance measuring functionality when arranged on the attachment device 200 and / or the laser distance measuring device 100. A further attachment device 320, which is configured to provide a measuring tape functionality when arranged on the attachment device 200 and / or the laser distance measuring device 100. A further attachment device 330, which is configured to provide a leveling functionality when arranged on the attachment device 200 and / or the laser distance measuring device 100.

[0028] The communication unit 220 of the attachment device 200 is configured to receive data from the respective additional attachment device 300. Furthermore, the communication unit 220 of the attachment device 200 is configured to forward the data to the laser distance measuring device 100 and / or to the external electrical device. For this purpose, the attachment-side coupling device 206 of the attachment device 200 comprises a communication interface 222, see also Fig. 2. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 3 602 120 B1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Attachment device (200) for arrangement on a hand-held laser distance measuring device (100) with an attachment housing (202) which has a device-side coupling device (204) for reversible, mechanical and electrical arrangement on the laser distance measuring device (100), characterized by that the attachment housing (202) has at least one attachment-side coupling device (206) for the reversible, mechanical and electrical arrangement of at least one further attachment device (300). [2] Attachment device (200) according to claim 1, characterized by that the device-side coupling device (204) and the attachment-side coupling device (206) are arranged opposite one another on the attachment housing (202). [3] Attachment device (200) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a communication unit (220) configured to send, receive and / or forward data. [4] Attachment device (200) according to claim 3, characterized by that the communication unit (220) is designed to receive data from the further attachment device (300) and to forward it to the laser distance measuring device (100). [5] Attachment device (200) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by that the communication unit (220) is designed to forward data to an external electrical device. [6] Attachment device (200) according to at least one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by 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] Attachment device (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a checking unit (230) configured to check the further attachment device (300) when it is connected to the attachment device (200). [8] Attachment device (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the attachment housing (202) has at least one operating element (212) for operating the attachment device (200). [9] Attachment device (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the further attachment device (300) is designed as an update adapter, a battery adapter, a logic adapter, a caliper adapter, a gas bottle adapter, a soil quality adapter or a battery test adapter. [10] Handheld laser distance measuring device (100) with an attachment device (200) according to one of the preceding claims.

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