Laser Receiver Acceleration Sensor Beam Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The precise localization of a laser light plane generated by a rotating construction laser is a time-consuming process, especially when using conventional hand-held laser receivers that require multiple sweeps to align with the laser beam, which can be dim and defocused at distances, making it difficult to maintain accurate positioning on construction sites.

Innovation Solution

A laser receiver system that incorporates an acceleration sensor and a laser light photo sensor, where the circuitry correlates the output signals to determine the movement direction relative to the laser beam, allowing for efficient localization by reducing the number of beam strikes needed and enabling faster sweep speeds, and includes communication means for wireless communication with the laser emitter to adjust the beam focus and orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional hand-held laser receivers are used to locate the laser beam, then the laser beam can be precisely indicated at nearby walls, but the beam becomes dimmer and defocused at further distances, making localization time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelaser beam localization precisionVSAvoidtime for localization
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The acceleration sensor performs preliminary detection of movement direction and velocity before the laser beam actually strikes the photo sensor. This allows the system to predict where the beam will hit next and pre-position the measurement, eliminating the need for multiple slow sweeps to find the beam.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors acceleration sensor output to detect movement direction and velocity, then uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the expected beam strike position on the photo sensor array. This real-time feedback loop allows the system to track a moving laser beam without requiring multiple manual sweeps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the laser receiver is swept slowly through the laser light plane to catch multiple beam strikes, then precise localization can be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelaser beam localization precisionVSAvoidlocalization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical sweeping motion with an electronic prediction system. Instead of physically moving the receiver through multiple positions to find the beam, the acceleration sensor electronically predicts the beam's position based on detected movement patterns, substituting mechanical search with computational prediction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The acceleration sensor performs preliminary detection of movement characteristics before the laser beam strike occurs. This preliminary action allows the system to calculate the expected strike position in advance, eliminating the need for slow, methodical sweeping to locate the beam.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the laser receiver loses optical contact with the laser beam, then positioning accuracy is maintained only through iterative manual adjustment, but this reduces efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The acceleration sensor provides continuous feedback about the receiver's movement state, allowing the system to detect when optical contact is lost and automatically initiate recovery procedures. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for manual intervention to restore positioning accuracy after contact loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own acceleration sensor data to automatically detect and respond to loss of optical contact. Instead of requiring external manual adjustment, the receiver self-diagnoses the problem and self-corrects by predicting the new beam position based on detected movement patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This system enables more efficient localization of the laser beam and light plane, reducing the time required for alignment and allowing for precise positioning of construction machines, even when the laser receiver loses optical contact, by automatically adjusting the laser emitter's rotation speed and beam orientation.

Implementation Method 1

an acceleration sensor (4) designed to provide an electrical output signal indicating a movement and at least a movement direction of the laser receiver (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcceleration sensing: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

The laser light photo sensor (1) having a zero position and provides electrical output signal to the circuitry (3) when illuminated by the reference laser beam (22)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2825842B1Laser system
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
  • EP2825842B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2825842B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2825842B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a laser system comprising a laser receiver (10) collaborating with a laser emitter (20, 20'). The laser emitter (20, 20') is designed to provide a laser light plane (23, 23') and comprise a control unit (25) connected to a communication signal receiver (21) in order to work and compute incoming communication signals from the laser receiver (10). The laser receiver (10) comprising a communication signal transmitter (6) for communicating with the laser emitter (20, 20'), a linear laser light photo sensor (1) and an acceleration sensor (4) both connected to a circuitry (3), which is designed to derive a movement of the laser receiver (10) with respect to the detected laser beam (22, 22') of the laser emitter (20, 20') from computing and correlating the signals of the acceleration senor (4) and the laser light photo sensor (1). The control unit (25) of the laser emitter (20, 20') is provided with an adjustment unit (24) and adjustment is carried out by the adjustment unit (24) in dependence of the worked and computed incoming communication signals of the laser receiver (10). The invention also relates to a laser system comprising a laser emitter and such a laser receiver (10) and the use of such a system for guiding and controlling a construction machine.