Increment measuring device and process
View Patent ↗A device for measuring an increment on a surface comprises a housing having a left light source, a right light source and center light source each configured to project a light beam onto a target surface. Each light source is independently rotatable, and in communication with a rotation measuring element configured to measure a degree of rotation of each respective light source. A computing unit is configured to receive a measured degree of rotation value from the rotation measuring element for each of the left light source and the right light source, and to calculate a rotation target value for the center light source corresponding to a desired incremental point on the target surface between a projected left light beam from the left light source and a projected right light beam from the right light source, such that the center light source can be rotated according to the rotation target value and project a center light beam at the desired incremental point.
1. A device comprising:
a housing comprising a left light source, a right light source, and a center light source, each light source configured to project a light beam onto a target surface;
wherein each light source is independently rotatable, and wherein each light source is in communication with a rotation measuring element configured to measure a degree of rotation of each respective light source; and
a computing unit configured to receive a measured degree of rotation value from the rotation measuring element for each of the left light source and the right light source, and to calculate a rotation target value for the center light source corresponding to a desired incremental point on the target surface between a projected left light beam from the left light source and a projected right light beam from the right light source, such that the center light source can be rotated according to the rotation target value and project a center light beam at the desired incremental point.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a display unit on a face of the housing configured to indicate when the center light source has been rotated to match the rotation target value.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the display unit further indicates an angle of rotation of each light source.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the center light source is automatically rotated according to the rotation target value.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the incremental point is a midpoint between the projected left light beam and the projected right light beam.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the left light source, the right light source, and the center light source comprise a laser.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein each rotation measuring element comprises a potentiometer.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the left light source, the right light source, and the center light source are at least partially enclosed by the housing.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein each surface of the housing is substantially planar and without protrusions.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the left light source, the right light source, and the center light source comprise a beam splitter.