Real estate 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.
Real estate claims
What is claimed is:
1. A real estate electro tape, comprising:
a. a sonic tape wherein said sonic tape is a conventional ultrasonic
laser ranging device whose output is the perpendicular distance
(H) to a wall whose length is to be measured;
b. a first steerable laser, mounted in close proximity to said
sonic tape, wherein the light beam from said first steerable laser
is aimed at one edge of said wall, such that the angle (.theta..sub.1)
between said light beam 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 said second steerable laser
is aimed at the opposite edge of said wall, such that the angle
(.theta..sub.2) between said light beam and said perpendicular can
be determined; so that the total length of the wall, L.sub.T can
be determined by the formula: L.sub.T =H tan .theta..sub.1 +H tan
.theta..sub.2 +2L' where L' is the distance, if any, between said
sonic tape and each of said steerable lasers.
2. A real estate electro tape, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
first and second steerable lasers have visible beams, and wherein
said beams are aimed at corners or edges of said walls by observing
the reflection of light off said corners when said steerable lasers
are properly aimed.
3. A real estate electro tape, as recited in claim 1, further comprising
calculating and display means for outputting said total length as
determined by the formula: L.sub.T =H tan .theta..sub.1 +H tan .theta..sub.2
+2L'.
4. A real estate electro tape, as recited in claim 3, 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.sub.T =H tan .theta..sub.1
+H tan .theta..sub.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.sub.T.
5. A real estate electro tape, as recited in claim 4, wherein said
output of said microprocessor further comprises the perpendicular
distance to the wall (H), the angle (.theta..sub.1) and the angle
(.theta..sub.2).
6. A real estate electro tape, as recited in claim 3, wherein said
display means comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) showing at
least total distance L.sub.T.
7. A real estate electro tape, as recited in claim 3, wherein said
display means comprises a light emitting diode display (LED) showing
at least total distance L.sub.T.
8. A real estate electro tape, 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, 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, as recited in claim 3, further
comprising laser locking/release buttons, attached to each of said
steerable lasers, such that said steerable lasers can be locked
into any position and can only be adjusted when said locking/release
buttons are in unlocked positions.
Real estate description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The instant inventions relates, generally, to the field of measurement
instruments, and, more specifically, to devices that measure the
length of an interior or exterior wall by indirect optical means.
In many fields of endeavor, such as real estate appraisal, architecture,
engineering, and building inspection, it is necessary to measure
the length of an interior or exterior wall. It is often difficult
to get close enough to the wall to use, for instance, a measuring
tape due to obstructions, vegetation, or jags in the direction of
the wall.
A number of measuring solutions have been suggested. M. Fox (U.S.
Pat. 3,908,281) suggests a real estate appraisal instrument and
method. However, this instrument requires that an object of known
dimension be observed and such an object is not always available.
R. Genho (U.S. Pat. 3,897,637) proposes a laser level and square
that does not provide any measuring means but merely provides a
laser-generated line that defines a level. J. Rando (U.S. Pat. 5,287,627)
provides an automatic plumb and level tool with acoustic measuring
capability. This device is very useful in providing a means for
measuring the distance to a laser-illuminated object but does not
provide means for measuring the length of the object itself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to
provide a real estate electro tape that can be used to measure the
length of an interior or exterior wall without direct contact with
the wall.
A further object is to provide a real estate electro tape which
uses optical methods to measure the length of an interior or exterior
wall.
Another object is to provide a real estate electro tape which measures
the length of an interior or exterior wall with a fairly high degree
of accuracy.
A further object is to provide a real estate electro tape which
measures the length of an interior or exterior wall quickly and
with little training.
A further object is to provide a real estate electro tape which
is simple and inexpensive to fabricate.
A yet further object is to provide a real estate electro tape that
has an easy to read display.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention
may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are
illustrative only and that changes may be made in the specific construction
illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
The figures in the drawings are briefly described as follows:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the invention shown in use measuring
the length of a wall.
FIG. 2 illustrates the algorithm used by the invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the invention showing the controls and
display thereof.
FIG. 5 is an electronic block diagram of the invention.
______________________________________ COMPONENT LIST Reference
Description ______________________________________ 10 REAL ESTATE
ELECTRO TAPE 12 Steerable Laser #2 14 Steerable Laser #1 16 Sonic
Tape 17 Wall to be Measured 18 Laser Steering Knob/Potentiometer
#1 20 Laser Steering Knob/Potentiometer #2 22 Laser Locking/Release
Button #2 24 Display 26 On/Off Power Switch 28 Calculate Button
30 Laser Locking Release Button #1 32 Algorithm Stored in Memory
34 Microprocessor ______________________________________
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates the real estate electro tape 10 in actual use.
The wall to be measured is numeral 17. In use, a sonic tape 16 is
aimed at wall 17 to establish the distance between the invention
10 and the wall 17. Sonic tape 16 is a conventional technology already
in use and available from various sources. The output of the sonic
tape 16 is the perpendicular distance (H) from the wall 17. Next,
steerable laser 12 is aimed at one corner of the wall. The user
can confirm that the laser is hitting the edge or corner of the
wall by observing the reflection of the laser. The beam from 12
makes an angle (.theta..sub.2) with the perpendicular. Similarly,
steerable laser 14 is aimed at the opposite wall edge or corner
to determine angle (.theta..sub.1). Note that .theta..sub.1 and
.theta..sub.2 are typically not equal. Since the steerable lasers
12 and 14 are not exactly coincident with the sonic tape 16, the
displacement L' from sonic tape 16 must be taken into consideration.
The total length of the wall 17 is determined, then, according to
the following formula (see FIG. 2):
The physical layout of the invention can best be understood with
reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Sonic tape 16 is centrally mounted on
the front of 10. Steerable lasers 12 and 14 are mounted at equal
distances from sonic tape 16 and are mounted so as to allow the
beams to scan in the horizontal plane. Laser steering knob/potentiometer
18 is used to adjust the horizontal position of steerable laser
14 and laser steering knob/potentiometer 20 is used to adjust the
horizontal position of steerable laser 12. The steering knobs are
locked and released using laser locking/release buttons 22 and 30.
Power to 10 is turned on and off using on/off power switch 26. When
the distance measurement is desired, calculate button 28 is depressed
causing information to be shown on display 24.
The electronic operation of the invention is best understood with
reference to FIG. 5. Microprocessor 34 processes data from a number
of sources according to algorithm 32. The inputs include: the output
.theta..sub.1 of laser steering knob/potentiometer 18, the output
.theta..sub.2 of laser steering knob/potentiometer 20, and the output
H of sonic tape 16. The output of microprocessor 34 is input to
display 24, which is typically a liquid crystal display (LCD) or
a light emitting diode display (LED). The information displayed
includes L.sub.T and, optionally H, .theta..sub.1, and .theta..sub.2.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown
and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will
be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes
in the forms and the details of the device illustrated and in its
operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing
from the spirit of the invention. |