US3876309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatically adjustable laser beam positioning apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-10-01
•
Granted: 1975-04-08
•
Expires: 1993-10-01
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a laser beam positioning apparatus which may be used to automatically direct and maintain a laser beam at a preselected angle of inclination or declination. The invention fundamentally comprises a pivotally mounted laser beam source or other collimated light source which is operatively connected to a servo motor. A control circuit connected to the servo motor controls the pivotal movement of the light beam source in accordance with the aggregate of two input signals thereto. A first input signal is received from an inclinometer which is operatively attached to the light beam source; the output of the inclinometer being indicative of the degree of alignment or misalignment of the same with the horizon. A second input signal is provided from an operator controlled grade selection circuit. The application of these two input signals to the control circuit causes the servo motor to pivotally adjust the positional relationship of the light beam source with respect to the horizontal until the output of the inclinometer indicates that the light beam source is inclined at that grade preselected by the operator. This angle or grade is then maintained by means of the servo motor under the control of the control circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph P Zicaro
- 👤 Ronald G Kraus
- 👤 Jerry F Fraleigh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C15/00; G01C15/002; G05; G05D; G05D3/00; G05D3/12; G05D3/14; G05D3/1409
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
Apparatus for positioning and maintaining the projection of a collimated light beam, comprising: a collimated light source for projecting a beam; first circuit means calibrated for preselection by an operator of the angle of projection for the beam with respect to a reference; second means connected to the light source for producing an output signal indicative of the degree of alignment of the projected beam with said reference; and third means interconnected among the first and second means and the light source for controlling the angle of projection of the beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus for positioning and maintaining the projection of a collimated light beam, comprising: a collimated light source for projecting a beam; first circuit means calibrated for preselection by an operator of the angle of projection for the beam with respect to a reference; second means connected to the light source for producing an output signal indicative of the degree of alignment of the projected beam with said reference; and third means interconnected among the first and second means and the light source for controlling the angle of projection of the beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a laser tube and the second means comprises an inclinometer fixedly connected thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the third means comprises a summing amplifier, receiving and summing signals from the first and second means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the light source is pivotally mounted within a case and wherein the third means further comprises a servo motor in geared connection with one of the ends of the light sources, the servo motor being operatively connected to and receiving the output of the summing amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein the light source is connected to a rotatable threaded vertical shaft by means of a threaded sleeve, the shaft being in geared connection with the servo motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the first circuit means comprises a potentiometer connected to an operational amplifier, the potentiometer being calibrated and regulating the application of voltage to the operational amplifier according to the angle of projection which is pre-selected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the first circuit means comprises a plurality of thumbwheel switches having binary coded decimal outputs and connected through a resisor ladder to an operational amplifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 7 which further includes a potentiometer interconnected between the operational amplifier and the third means for compensating for inaccuracies resulting from the inter-connection between the second means and the light source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for projecting and maintaining a light beam in a controllable manner, comprising: a laser tube pivotally mounted within a housing and projecting a beam therefrom; an inclinometer fixedly connected to the tube and producing an output signal corresponding to the alignment of the tube with the horizon; first circuit means for producing an electrical signal indicative of a desired angle of projection; and a second circuit means interconnecting the laser tube, inclinometer, and first circuit means for pivotally adjusting the positional relationship of the laser tube with the horizontal, the second circuit means comprising a first summing amplifier receiving the summing the output signal of the inclinometer with the electrical signal of the first circuit means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for projecting and maintaining a light beam in a controllable manner, comprising: a laser tube pivotally mounted within a housing and projecting a beam therefrom; an inclinometer fixedly connected to the tube and producing an output signal corresponding to the alignment of the tube with the horizon; first circuit means for producing an electrical signal indicative of a desired angle of projection; and a second circuit means interconnecting the laser tube, inclinometer, and first circuit means for pivotally adjusting the positional relationship of the laser tube with the horizontal, the second circuit means comprising a first summing amplifier receiving the summing the output signal of the inclinometer with the electrical signal of the first circuit means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein the second circuit means further includes a servo motor operatively connected to the first summing amplifier and being in vertical moving connection with one end of the laser tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein the laser tube is operatively connected to the servo motor by apparatus, comprising: a rotatable threaded vertical shaft positioned behind the tube; a sleeve threaded upon the shaft and having support members extending horizontally therefrom; and, a connecting member having U-shaped recesses therein connected to the tube, the U-shaped recesses receiving and resting upon the horizontally extending support members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein the first circuit means comprises a potentiometer interposed between two voltage levels and adjustable to supply a voltage to the first summing amplifier corresponding to the angle of projection desired for the laser beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the first circuit means comprises a plurality of selector switches interposed between a voltage level and a resistor network and operative to apply the voltage level to certain of the resistors of the resistor network in accordance with operator-selected positions of the selector switches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the resistor network is connected to a second summing amplifier, the second summing amplifier supplying a signal to the first summing amplifier indicative of the desired angle of projection.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein a trimming potentiometer interconnects the first and second summing amplifiers, the trimming potentiometer providing compensation means for any inherent errors existing from the connection between the inclinometer and laser tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |