Digital Spirit Level with Color-Coded LED Bar Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital spirit levels lack intuitive and precise methods for users to align workpieces relative to the earth's gravitational field, particularly for those without technical expertise, as they often rely solely on numerical displays that may not provide clear visual feedback on angular deviations.
Innovation Solution
A digital spirit level with a cuboid or prismatic housing featuring a digital display unit that includes bar displays with LED or LC segments, providing both qualitative and quantitative angular deviation feedback, along with adjustable color illumination and acoustic/haptic signals, allowing users to intuitively understand and achieve desired leveling or angular orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a digital spirit level uses only numerical displays to show angular deviation, then measurement precision is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates for technically inexperienced users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-coded LED segments (red, yellow, green) to represent different levels of angular deviation. Green segments indicate acceptable alignment, yellow indicates moderate deviation, and red indicates large deviation. This color-coding system transforms abstract numerical data into intuitive visual feedback that is immediately comprehensible to users regardless of their technical expertise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional numerical display to two-dimensional bar graph displays with multiple LED segments arranged vertically. This dimensional expansion provides both qualitative (color-coded segments) and quantitative (number of illuminated segments) information simultaneously, making angular deviation more comprehensible while preserving measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If a digital spirit level provides detailed numerical feedback on angular deviation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into multiple independent LED segments arranged in bar graphs. Each segment represents a specific angular deviation threshold, allowing the system to provide detailed quantitative feedback through simple on/off states of individual segments rather than requiring complex continuous display mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual bar graph representations that copy the concept of traditional analog level vials, where the illuminated segments visually represent the angular deviation in a manner analogous to liquid levels in traditional spirit levels. This familiar visual metaphor reduces perceived complexity while maintaining precise measurement capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If a digital spirit level uses traditional liquid-filled levels, then ease of operation is maintained for qualitative assessment, but measurement precision and digital feedback capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical liquid-filled level vial system with electronic acceleration sensors and digital processing. The sensor data is then visualized through LED bar graphs that replicate the intuitive visual feedback of traditional levels while providing precise digital measurement capabilities, combining the best of both approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of measurement from analog liquid position to digital acceleration data, then transforms it into visual bar graph representations. This parameter transformation allows the system to maintain the intuitive visual assessment of traditional levels while achieving superior measurement precision through digital sensing and processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables technically inexperienced users to achieve precise leveling and angular measurements with ease, as the visual and tactile feedback clearly indicates the necessary adjustments for aligning workpieces, improving usability and accuracy across various applications.
Implementation Method 1
the at least two digital displays are each designed with at least three, preferably with at least seven LED segments
Implementation Method 2
at least one accelerometer is assigned to the electronic control device, preferably a MEMS accelerometer, to detect the angular deviation
Data Source
AI summary
A digital spirit level has an at least substantially cuboid or prismatic housing, wherein at least one surface of the housing is designed as a supporting surface for placing the digital spirit level on a workpiece which is to be oriented with respect to the earth's gravitational field. A digital display unit, which is controlled by an electronic control device and is designed to display to a user the orientation of the housing with respect to the earth's gravitational field in an intuitively perceivable manner, is arranged at least in the region of a further surface of the housing.