Flagpole reflectors for laser range finders
A system and method are provided for determining a distance to a target. The method includes sending light, at a first time, to a light reflector mounted in a reflector device, receiving light reflected from the light reflector at a second time, and determining the distance to the reflector device using the difference between the first time and the second time. The reflector device has a first lateral surface, a second lateral surface parallel to the first lateral surface, and a rod surface extending from the first lateral surface to the second lateral surface. The reflector device includes sockets arranged in the rod surface with a light reflector mounted in each socket. The sockets may be arranged in a plurality of rows with possibly a plurality of sockets in each row. The reflector device may be mounted as an insert to or at the top of a target to determine the distance to the target.
1. A method for determining a distance to a target, the method comprising:
sending laser light at a first time from a device to a reflector device, the reflector device mounted to a pole, wherein the reflector device comprises:
a first lateral surface having a first exterior peripheral edge;
a second lateral surface having a second exterior peripheral edge;
a rod surface extending from the first exterior peripheral edge to the second exterior peripheral edge;
two to four sockets, the two to four sockets formed in the rod surface and arranged in a plurality of rows; and
a light reflector mounted in one of the two to four sockets, the light reflector receiving a portion of the laser light and reflecting the received portion of the laser light back to the device;
receiving laser light reflected from the light reflector at the device at a second time; and
determining the distance from the device to the reflector device using the first time and the second time.
2. A device for reflecting laser light back to a laser range finder, the device comprising:
a first lateral surface having a first exterior peripheral edge;
a second lateral surface having a second exterior peripheral edge;
a rod surface extending from the first exterior peripheral edge to the second exterior peripheral edge;
two to four sockets, the two to four sockets formed in the rod surface and arranged in a plurality of rows; and
a light reflector mounted in each of the two to four sockets, whereby a portion of laser light directed at the device from a laser is reflected back to the laser by at least one light reflector.
3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a first mounting socket, the first mounting socket extending from the first lateral surface, wherein a first stem at an end of a first pole is capable of insertion in the first mounting socket.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein an interior surface of the first mounting socket is threaded.
5. The device of claim 3 , further comprising a second mounting socket, the second mounting socket extending from the second lateral surface, wherein a first stem at an end of a second pole is capable of insertion in the second mounting socket.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein an interior surface of the second mounting socket is threaded.
7. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a first stem, the first stem extending from the first lateral surface in a direction opposite the first lateral surface, wherein the first stem is capable of insertion in a first socket at an end of a first pole.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein an exterior surface of the first stem is threaded.
9. The device of claim 7 , further comprising a second stem, the second stem extending from the second lateral surface in a direction opposite the second lateral surface, wherein the second stem is capable of insertion in a first socket at an end of a second pole.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein an exterior surface of the second stem is threaded.
11. A device for reflecting laser light back to a laser range finder, the device comprising:
a pole; and
a reflector device, the reflector device mounted to the pole and comprising:
a first lateral surface having a first exterior peripheral edge;
a second lateral surface having a second exterior peripheral edge;
a rod surface extending from the first exterior peripheral edge to the second exterior peripheral edge;
two to four sockets, the two to four sockets formed in the rod surface and arranged in a plurality of rows; and
a light reflector mounted in each of the two to four sockets, whereby a portion of laser light directed at the device from a laser is reflected back to the laser by at least one light reflector.
12. A system for determining a distance to a target, the system comprising:
a laser range finder, the laser range finder configured to:
send laser light at a first time to a reflector device;
receive a portion of the laser light reflected from the reflector device at a second time; and
determine the distance from the laser range finder to the reflector device using the first time and the second time;
a pole; and
the reflector device mounted to the pole and comprising:
a first lateral surface having a first exterior peripheral edge;
a second lateral surface having a second exterior peripheral edge;
a rod surface extending from the first exterior peripheral edge to the second exterior peripheral edge;
two to four sockets, the two to four sockets formed in the rod surface and arranged in a plurality of rows; and
a light reflector mounted in each of the two to four sockets, whereby a portion of the laser light directed at the reflector device from the laser range finder is reflected back to the laser range finder by at least one light reflector.
13. A method for determining a distance to a target, the method comprising:
sending laser light at a first time from a device to a reflector device, the reflector device mounted to a pole, wherein the reflector device comprises:
a first lateral surface having a first exterior peripheral edge;
a second lateral surface having a second exterior peripheral edge;
a rod surface extending from the first exterior peripheral edge to the second exterior peripheral edge;
a plurality of sockets, the plurality of sockets formed in the rod surface and arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein two or more sockets are arranged in at least one row of the plurality of rows; and
a light reflector mounted in one of the plurality of sockets, the light reflector receiving a portion of the laser light and reflecting the received portion of the laser light back to the device;
receiving laser light reflected from the light reflector at the device at a second time; and
determining the distance from the device to the reflector device using the first time and the second time.
14. A device for reflecting laser light back to a laser range finder, the device comprising:
a first lateral surface having a first exterior peripheral edge;
a second lateral surface having a second exterior peripheral edge;
a rod surface extending from the first exterior peripheral edge to the second exterior peripheral edge;
a plurality of sockets, the plurality of sockets formed in the rod surface and arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein two or more sockets are arranged in at least one row of the plurality of rows; and
a light reflector mounted in each of the plurality of sockets, whereby a portion of laser light directed at the device from a laser is reflected back to the laser by at least one light reflector.
15. The device of claim 14 , further comprising a first mounting socket, the first mounting socket extending from the first lateral surface, wherein a first stem at an end of a first pole is capable of insertion in the first mounting socket.
16. The device of claim 15 , wherein an interior surface of the first mounting socket is threaded.
17. The device of claim 15 , further comprising a second mounting socket, the second mounting socket extending from the second lateral surface, wherein a first stem at an end of a second pole is capable of insertion in the second mounting socket.
18. The device of claim 17 , wherein an interior surface of the second mounting socket is threaded.
19. The device of claim 14 , further comprising a first stem, the first stem extending from the first lateral surface in a direction opposite the first lateral surface, wherein the first stem is capable of insertion in a first socket at an end of a first pole.
20. The device of claim 19 , wherein an exterior surface of the first stem is threaded.
21. The device of claim 19 , further comprising a second stem, the second stem extending from the second lateral surface in a direction opposite the second lateral surface, wherein the second stem is capable of insertion in a first socket at an end of a second pole.
22. The device of claim 21 , wherein an exterior surface of the second stem is threaded.
23. A device for reflecting laser light back to a laser range finder, the device comprising:
a pole; and
a reflector device, the reflector device mounted to the pole and comprising:
a first lateral surface having a first exterior peripheral edge;
a second lateral surface having a second exterior peripheral edge;
a rod surface extending from the first exterior peripheral edge to the second exterior peripheral edge;
a plurality of sockets, the plurality of sockets formed in the rod surface and arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein two or more sockets are arranged in at least one row of the plurality of rows; and
a light reflector mounted in each of the plurality of sockets, whereby a portion of laser light directed at the device from a laser is reflected back to the laser by at least one light reflector.
24. A system for determining a distance to a device, the system comprising:
a laser range finder, the laser range finder configured to:
send laser light at a first time to a reflector device;
receive a portion of the laser light reflected from the reflector device at a second time; and
determine the distance from the laser range finder to the reflector device using the first time and the second time;
a pole; and
the reflector device mounted to the pole and comprising:
a first lateral surface having a first exterior peripheral edge;
a second lateral surface having a second exterior peripheral edge;
a rod surface extending from the first exterior peripheral edge to the second exterior peripheral edge;
a plurality of sockets, the plurality of sockets formed in the rod surface and arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein two or more sockets are arranged in at least one row of the plurality of rows; and
a light reflector mounted in one of the plurality of sockets, whereby a portion of the laser light directed at the reflector device from the laser range finder is reflected back to the laser range finder by at least one light reflector.