Method of measuring a distance

Claim 1

A method of measuring a distance, comprising the steps of: generating at least one starting pulse in the form of a radio-wave between a reference position and a position to be measured from said reference position; receiving said radio-wave at said position to be measured while simultaneously generating an ultra-sonic wave from said position to be measured, wherein a generally vertically upstanding pin is located at said position to be measured, said pin having an elongated bodyportion and a top end, said top end comprising an ultrasonic generator adapted to generate ultra-sonic waves downwardly, said pin further comprising a tapered reflector located directly below at least a portion of said ultra-sonic generator and comprising means for reflecting said ultra-sonic waves generated by said generator horizontally; determining a time difference between the moment of generating said starting pulse and another moment when said ultra-sonic wave is received; and multiplying said time difference by the velocity of sound in air.

Claim 2

A method of measuring a distance, comprising the steps of: generating at least one starting pulse in the form of a radio-wave between a reference position and a position to be measured from said reference position; receiving said radio-wave at said position to be measured while simultaneously generating an ultra-sonic wave from said position to be measured, wherein a generally vertically upstanding pin is located at said position to be measured, said pin having an elongated bodyportion and a top end, said top end comprising an ultrasonic generator adapted to generate ultra-sonic waves downwardly, said pin further comprising a tapered reflector located directly below at least a portion of said ultra-sonic generator and comprising means for reflecting said ultra-sonic waves generated by said generator horizontally; determining a time difference between the moment of generating said starting pulse and another moment when said ultra-sonic wave is received; and multiplying said time difference by the velocity of sound in air.

Claim 3

A method of measuring a distance with respect to a reference position comprising the steps of: simultaneously generating, from a position to be measured, a single pulse for a predetermined interval in the form of a radio-wave, said single pulse being generated towards a reference position, and an ultra-sonic wave in the form of a pulse at an interval equal to said predetermined interval; determining the difference in time taken by the radio-wave and the ultra-sonic wave to reach said reference position; and multiplying said time difference by the velocity of sound in air.

Claim 4

A method of measuring a distance with respect to a reference position comprising the steps of: simultaneously generating, from a position to be measured, a single pulse for a predetermined interval in the form of a radio-wave, said single pulse being generated towards a reference position, and an ultra-sonic wave in the form of a pulse at an interval equal to said predetermined interval; determining the difference in time taken by the radio-wave and the ultra-sonic wave to reach said reference position; and multiplying said time difference by the velocity of sound in air.

Claim 7

A method of measuring a distance, comprising the steps of: generating at least one starting pulse in the form of a radio-wave from a reference position so that each said starting pulse will travel between said reference position and a position to be measured; inputting said starting pulse into a time-counter thereby starting measurement of a time period; receiving said radio-wave at said position to be measured and simultaneously generating an ultra-sonic wave from said position to be measured, wherein a substantially vertical pin having a body portion and a top end is located at said position to be measured, said top end comprising an ultra-sonic wave generator for generating said ultra-sonic wave in a substantially downwardly vertical direction, said pin further comprising at least one tapered reflector located directly below at least a portion of said ultra-sonic generator, said tapered reflector comprising means for reflecting said downwardly generated ultra-sonic wave so that said wave will travel in a substantially horizontal path; receiving said ultra-sonic wave at said reference position and inputting said ultra-sonic wave into said time-counter as an electric pulse signal thereby stopping measurement of said time period; determining the time delay between the moment at which said starting pulse is generated from said reference position and the moment that said ultra-sonic wave is generated from said pin and said position to be measured; determining the time difference between the moment of generating said starting pulse and the moment that said ultra-sonic wave is received; adjusting said time difference with said time delay; and multiplying said adjusted time difference by the velocity of sound in air.

Claim 8

A method of measuring a distance, comprising the steps of: generating at least one starting pulse in the form of a radio-wave from a reference position so that each said starting pulse will travel between said reference position and a position to be measured; inputting said starting pulse into a time-counter thereby starting measurement of a time period; receiving said radio-wave at said position to be measured and simultaneously generating an ultra-sonic wave from said position to be measured, wherein a substantially vertical pin having a body portion and a top end is located at said position to be measured, said top end comprising an ultra-sonic wave generator for generating said ultra-sonic wave in a substantially downwardly vertical direction, said pin further comprising at least one tapered reflector located directly below at least a portion of said ultra-sonic generator, said tapered reflector comprising means for reflecting said downwardly generated ultra-sonic wave so that said wave will travel in a substantially horizontal path; receiving said ultra-sonic wave at said reference position and inputting said ultra-sonic wave into said time-counter as an electric pulse signal thereby stopping measurement of said time period; determining the time delay between the moment at which said starting pulse is generated from said reference position and the moment that said ultra-sonic wave is generated from said pin and said position to be measured; determining the time difference between the moment of generating said starting pulse and the moment that said ultra-sonic wave is received; adjusting said time difference with said time delay; and multiplying said adjusted time difference by the velocity of sound in air.

Claim 11

An apparatus for measuring a distance comprising: a. first distance-measuring device to be carried by an operator and a second distance-measuring device positioned at a target location from which the distance is being measured; said first distance-measuring device comprising a start pulse modulator, a radio transmitter for sending pulse-signals corresponding to a predetermined location number, and an antenna; said second distance-measuring device comprising a receiving antenna, a radio-wave generator comprising means for amplifying each of said pulse-signals, and a decoder, said decoder comprising means for decoding each of said pulse-signals and for feeding said decoded pulse-signals into an ultra-sonic generator device as pulses in the form of a wave, wherein each of said pulse-signals corresponds to said predetermined location number; and said ultra-sonic generator is located in a substantially vertical pin having a body portion and a top end, said ultra-sonic generator being positioned in the top end of said pin, said body portion of said pin further comprising a tapered reflector positioned directly below at least a portion of said ultra-sonic generator, said ultra-sonic generator comprising means for emitting ultra-sonic waves in a substantially downwardly vertical revertical direction, said tapered reflector comprising means for reflecting said ultra-sonic waves away from second distance-measuring device in a substantially horizontal fashion towards said first distance-measuring device, said ultra-sonic generator further comprises means for generating an electric signal modulated by said decoded pulse signals and for energizing an ultra-sonic oscillator located in said second distance-measuring device, said ultra-sonic oscillator further comprising means for generating said ultra-sonic waves, said first distance-measuring device further comprising means for receiving said ultra-sonic waves and means for determining the time elapsed between a time when one of sai dpulse-signals is sent by said first distance-measuring device and a time when a corresponding ultra-sonic wave is received by said first distance-measuring device.

Claim 12

An apparatus for measuring a distance comprising: a. first distance-measuring device to be carried by an operator and a second distance-measuring device positioned at a target location from which the distance is being measured; said first distance-measuring device comprising a start pulse modulator, a radio transmitter for sending pulse-signals corresponding to a predetermined location number, and an antenna; said second distance-measuring device comprising a receiving antenna, a radio-wave generator comprising means for amplifying each of said pulse-signals, and a decoder, said decoder comprising means for decoding each of said pulse-signals and for feeding said decoded pulse-signals into an ultra-sonic generator device as pulses in the form of a wave, wherein each of said pulse-signals corresponds to said predetermined location number; and said ultra-sonic generator is located in a substantially vertical pin having a body portion and a top end, said ultra-sonic generator being positioned in the top end of said pin, said body portion of said pin further comprising a tapered reflector positioned directly below at least a portion of said ultra-sonic generator, said ultra-sonic generator comprising means for emitting ultra-sonic waves in a substantially downwardly vertical revertical direction, said tapered reflector comprising means for reflecting said ultra-sonic waves away from second distance-measuring device in a substantially horizontal fashion towards said first distance-measuring device, said ultra-sonic generator further comprises means for generating an electric signal modulated by said decoded pulse signals and for energizing an ultra-sonic oscillator located in said second distance-measuring device, said ultra-sonic oscillator further comprising means for generating said ultra-sonic waves, said first distance-measuring device further comprising means for receiving said ultra-sonic waves and means for determining the time elapsed between a time when one of sai dpulse-signals is sent by said first distance-measuring device and a time when a corresponding ultra-sonic wave is received by said first distance-measuring device.