Abstract An improvement in an optical measuring instrument intended for the determination of the distance between two measuring points projected onto a basel plane. The basic device comprises a central optical element with a semi-transparent surface and a totally reflecting surface at a right angle thereto. The device also comprises an outer optical element, such as a mirror or a pentagonal prism, arranged in each beam path between the central optical element and each measuring point, which deflects each respective beam path at a right angle. According to the invention, the central optical element is rotatable about an axis which is parallel to the semi-transparent surface as well as to the totally reflecting surface. By rotating the central optical element one beam will sweep in a plane in space which is defined by the parallel beam paths from the outer optical elements to the measuring points. The device is therefore capable of being employed to determine the location of a random point relative to that plane.
Inventors
👤 E Niss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-26 08:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C3/00; G01C3/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
In a device for measuring the distance between two measuring points as projected onto a basal plane comprising a central optical element including a semi-transparent surface and a totally reflecting surface located at a right angle with respect to said semi-transparent surface, a first outer optical element present in the beam path between said semi-transparent surface and a first measuring point and deflecting said beam path at a right angle, a second outer optical element present in the beam path between said totally reflecting surface and a second measuring point and deflecting said beam path at a right angle, the improvement wherein said central optical element is rotatable about an axis parallel to said semi-transparent and totally reflective surfaces whereby said device is provided with the capability of optically determining the location of a given random point relative to a plane common to said first and second outer optical elements and said first and second measuring points, said axis being normal to said plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a device for measuring the distance between two measuring points as projected onto a basal plane comprising a central optical element including a semi-transparent surface and a totally reflecting surface located at a right angle with respect to said semi-transparent surface, a first outer optical element present in the beam path between said semi-transparent surface and a first measuring point and deflecting said beam path at a right angle, a second outer optical element present in the beam path between said totally reflecting surface and a second measuring point and deflecting said beam path at a right angle, the improvement wherein said central optical element is rotatable about an axis parallel to said semi-transparent and totally reflective surfaces whereby said device is provided with the capability of optically determining the location of a given random point relative to a plane common to said first and second outer optical elements and said first and second measuring points, said axis being normal to said plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said axis is located in said semi-transparent surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said central optical element comprises two three sided rectangular prisms, the hypotenuse of one prism being adjacent a side other than the hypotenuse of the second prism.