Laser optical measuring apparatus

Abstract

A real estate electro tape is provided that measures the length of an interior or exterior wall or other similar structure using optical means. A sonic tape is used to measure the perpendicular distance from the device to the interior or exterior wall. Two steerable lasers are then used to determine the angles between the perpendicular and the beams aimed at the wall edges. An algorithm is applied to the angular and perpendicular distance data to obtain the length of the wall. A microprocessor performs the calculations, the results of which are displayed on an electro optical display.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A . .real estate electro tape.!. .Iadd.measuring apparatus.Iaddend., comprising: a. a . .sonic tape wherein said sonic tape is a conventional ultrasonic laser ranging device.!. .Iadd.means for measuring distance .Iaddend.whose output is the perpendicular distance (H) to . .a wall.!. .Iadd.an object .Iaddend.whose length is to be measured;   b. . .a first.!. .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.steerable . .laser.!. .Iadd.means for aiming a line of sight.Iaddend., mounted in close proximity to said . .sonic tape.!. .Iadd.means for measuring.Iaddend., wherein . .the light beam from.!. .Iadd.when .Iaddend.said . .first.!. steerable . .laser.!. .Iadd.means for aiming .Iaddend.is aimed at one edge of said . .wall.!. .Iadd.object.Iaddend., . .such that.!. the angle (θ 1 ) between said . .light beam.!. .Iadd.line of sight .Iaddend.and said perpendicular can be determined; and,   c. . .a second steerable laser, mounted in close proximity to said sonic tape,.!. wherein . .the light beam from.!. .Iadd.when .Iaddend.said . .second.!. steerable . .laser.!. .Iadd.means for aiming .Iaddend.is aimed at the opposite edge of said . .wall.!. .Iadd.object.Iaddend., . .such that.!. the angle (θ 2 ) between said . .light beam.!. .Iadd.line of sight .Iaddend.and said perpendicular can be determined; so that the total length of the . .wall.!. .Iadd.object.Iaddend., L T  can be determined by the formula: L T  =H tan θ 1  +H tan θ 2  +. .2L'.!..Iadd.L'.Iaddend. where L' is the distance, if any, between said . .sonic tape.!. .Iadd.means for measuring .Iaddend.and . .each of.!. said steerable . .lasers.!. .Iadd.means for aiming.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. A . .real estate electro tape.!. .Iadd.measuring apparatus.Iaddend., as recited in claim 1, wherein said .Iadd.at least one steerable means for aiming comprises .Iaddend.first and second steerable lasers . .have.!. .Iadd.having .Iaddend.visible beams, and wherein said beams are aimed at corners or edges of said . .walls.!. .Iadd.object .Iaddend.by observing the reflection of light off said corners when said steerable lasers are properly aimed.Iadd., and wherein the total length of the object, L T  can be determined by the formula L T  =H tan θ 1  +H tan θ 2  +2L' where L'0 is the distance, if any, between said means for measuring and each of said steerable lasers.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       3. A . .real estate electro tape.!. .Iadd.measuring apparatus.Iaddend., as recited in claim 1, further comprising calculating and display means for outputting said total length as determined by the formula: L T  =H tan θ 1  +H tan θ 2  +. .2L'.!..Iadd.L'.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       4. A . .real estate electro tape.!. .Iadd.measuring apparatus.Iaddend., as recited in claim 3, wherein said calculating means comprise: a. a potentiometer attached to .Iadd.each .Iaddend.said . .first.!. .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.steerable . .laser.!. .Iadd.means for aiming .Iaddend.such that the output of said potentiometer is proportional to the angle between said . .first steerable laser.!. .Iadd.line of sight .Iaddend.and the perpendicular;   . .b. a potentiometer attached to said second steerable laser such that the output of said potentiometer is proportional to the angle between said second steerable laser and the perpendicular,.!.   . .c..!. .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.a memory containing the algorithm: L T  =H tan θ 1  +H tan θ 2  +. .2L'.!..Iadd.L'.Iaddend.; and,   . .d..!. .Iadd.c. .Iaddend.a microprocessor whose data inputs are the outputs of each . .of.!. said . .potentiometers.!. .Iadd.potentiometer .Iaddend.and the output of said . .sonic tape.!. .Iadd.means for measuring.Iaddend., wherein said microprocessor has as its output the total length L T .   
     
     
       5. A . .real estate electro tape.!. .Iadd.measuring apparatus.Iaddend., as recited in claim 4, wherein said output of said microprocessor further comprises the perpendicular distance to the wall (H), the angle (θ 1 ) and the angle (θ 2 ). 
     
     
       6. A . .real estate electro tape.!. .Iadd.measuring apparatus.Iaddend., as recited in claim 3, wherein said display means comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) showing at least total distance L T . 
     
     
       7. A . .real estate electro tape.!. .Iadd.measuring apparatus.Iaddend., as recited in claim 3, wherein said display means comprises a light emitting diode display (LED) showing at least total distance L T . 
     
     
       8. A . .real estate electro tape.!. .Iadd.measuring apparatus.Iaddend., as recited in claim 3, further comprising a power switch to turn said calculating and display means on and off. 
     
     
       9. A . .real estate electro tape.!. .Iadd.measuring apparatus.Iaddend., as recited in claim 3, further comprising a calculate button to reset said microprocessor and initiate processing according to said algorithm. 
     
     
       10. A . .real estate electro tape.!. .Iadd.measuring apparatus.Iaddend., as recited in claim 3, further comprising . .laser.!. locking/release buttons, attached to each of said steerable . .lasers.!. .Iadd.means for aiming.Iaddend., such that said steerable . .lasers.!. .Iadd.means for aiming .Iaddend.can be locked into any position and can only be adjusted when said locking/release buttons are in unlocked positions. .Iadd.11. A measuring apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for measuring distance comprises a sonic tape comprising a conventional 
     
     
        ultrasonic laser ranging device..Iaddend..Iadd.12.  A measuring apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for aiming comprises a laser..Iaddend..Iadd.13. A measuring apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for aiming comprises two steerable means for aiming disposed on opposite sides of said means for measuring..Iaddend..Iadd.14. A measuring apparatus, as recited in claim 2, further comprising calculating and display means for outputting said total length as determined by the formula: L T  =H tan θ 1  +H tan θ 2  +2L', wherein said calculating means comprise: a. a potentiometer attached to said first steerable laser such that the output of said potentiometer is proportional to the angle between said first steerable laser and the perpendicular;   b. a potentiometer attached to said second steerable laser such that the output of said potentiometer is proportional to the angle between said second steerable laser and the perpendicular;   c. a memory containing the algorithm: L T  =H tan θ 1  +H tan θ 2  +2L'; and,   d. a microprocessor whose data inputs are the outputs of each of said potentiometers and the output of said sonic tape, wherein said microprocessor has as its output the total length L T ..Iaddend.