Wall-Mounted Height Measurement Using Laser Time-of-Flight

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional height-measuring devices are cumbersome, prone to parallax errors, and require complex setups, often failing to accurately measure height without a clear line of sight to a vaulted ceiling and a floor, with a higher probability of improper calculations due to device slippage.

Innovation Solution

A wall-mounted height-measuring device using a retractable tape and time-of-flight laser distance sensor, where the foot-platform is pulled atop an object/user to capture calibration and operation-mode distances, providing high-resolution and accurate height measurements without the need for balancing on the head or complex setups, and featuring a safe barrier for UV laser beams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a retractable tape and laser distance sensor are used to measure height, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight measurement accuracyVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical measurement systems (tape measures, sliding planks) with a laser distance sensor that uses optical fields to measure distances. The laser sensor emits laser beams and calculates distances based on time-of-flight or phase difference, eliminating the need for mechanical contact and complex mechanical structures while achieving high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct mechanical distance reading to optical parameter measurement. By using laser beams and measuring parameters such as time-of-flight or phase difference of light waves, the system achieves non-contact, high-precision height measurement without requiring complex mechanical assemblies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a foot-platform is pulled atop a user to activate the device, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential slippage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice activationVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical contact-based activation (foot-platform balancing) with an optical field-based measurement system. The laser distance sensor measures heights by emitting and detecting laser beams, eliminating the need for physical contact and balancing on the user's head, thereby maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If a wall-mounted device is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision worsens without clear line of sight to ceiling and floor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesetup complexityVSAvoidheight measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional mechanical measurement (requiring contact with floor and ceiling) to three-dimensional optical field measurement. The laser distance sensor can measure distances in space without requiring physical contact with reference surfaces, enabling accurate height measurement from a single wall-mounted position without needing clear line of sight to both ceiling and floor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The device offers high accuracy, ease of use, and safety by eliminating parallax errors and the need for complex setups, providing reliable height measurements and predictive height calculations for users and objects, with data displayed on various screens including smartphones and scales.

Implementation Method 1

time-of-flight laser distance sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Implementation Method 2

laser-device are generated as a means to measure both calibration-mode and operation-mode distances

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Data Source

PatentUS9964400B1Height measuring device

Publication Date: 2018.05.08 JONES MARK CONRAD

AI summary

An apparatus, method, and system for height-measurement are provided. The apparatus, and method includes initiating, and calibrating a height-measuring-device to capture and store a one-time calibration-mode distance. Then, in operation-mode, a foot-platform connected to a retractable-tape is pulled atop an object/user. Electronic signals from a laser-device are generated as a means to measure both calibration-mode and operation-mode distances. These distances are then resolved and stored as a height-measurement for a user/object, and the resulting height-measurement is displayed on a screen.The height-measurement data from each object/user are compared to one another. The height-measuring-device also includes a predictive algorithm that determines the future height of users.