JP2000249546A - Portable small-sized electronic measure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact small-sized electronic measure which is suitable for use in general homes and offices. SOLUTION: A portable small-sized electronic measure uses a light-wave phase difference system using laser light as an electronic range finding means EMD. The means EMD is housed in a case main body having a detecting window and provided with a display panel composed of switches (S1)-(S4) operated from the outside and a liquid panel 3 on one side so as to display ranged-found results, etc. In addition, the means EMD can be switched so as to use the front or rear end face of the case main body as a range finding reference by operating the switches (S1)-(S4) from the outside and, at the same time, the range- finding range of the means EMD is made switchable in accordance with the range-finding object or purpose. In order to minimize the power consumption of a battery power source to the necessary minimum, the driving condition of the laser light source 4 of the means EMD is changed in accordance with the switched range-finding range.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable small-sized electronic measure having an electronic distance measuring means using a distance signal of a light wave or a sound wave accompanied by a wave.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a home or office, when measuring the distance between two points from a certain position to another position, generally, a scale having a scale made of a metal or cloth band is placed in a case. A tape measure that is freely stored in and out is used.

[0003] In the field of civil engineering surveying, large and expensive surveying instruments having an electronic distance measuring means using a measuring signal of a light wave or a sound wave accompanied by a wave have already been put into practical use.

[0004]

The tape measure used in ordinary households and the like is convenient to carry and use since the scale is compactly stored in a state in which the scale is wound up in a case. When trying to measure, there is a case where it is difficult to measure by itself, or it is necessary to add while adding measurement points, and the measurement result is inevitably inaccurate. Further, the scale must be wound up after the measurement, which is troublesome.

On the other hand, a large and expensive surveying instrument having an electronic distance measuring means using a measuring signal of a light wave or a sound wave (for example, a laser beam) accompanied by a wave known in the field of civil engineering surveying, etc. There is only one criterion, and there is no design considering use in ordinary households. Even if it is simply reduced in size for ordinary households, it has a problem of lack of convenience.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, in the present invention, a device having an electronic distance measuring means using a distance measuring signal by a light wave or a sound wave accompanied by a wave is miniaturized so as to be used in a general home or office. In this case, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable small electronic measure that is easy to use and practical in consideration of the mode of use, and switches the mode of the distance measuring means to change the front end face or the rear end face of the case. Switching can be performed as a distance measurement reference.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A portable small-sized electronic measure according to the present invention has an electronic distance measuring means using laser light inside a case body provided with a detection window. The main feature is that the means can be switched by an external operation so that the front end face or the rear end face of the case body is used as a distance measurement reference. The electronic distance measuring means is preferably capable of switching a distance measuring range by an external operation. More preferably, the driving conditions of the electronic distance measuring means are changed according to the range of distance to be switched. More preferably, the case main body is provided with a display panel for displaying a distance measurement result and the like.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, a case body 1 in the shape of a handy-sized rectangular parallelepiped which can be held by one hand has an electronic distance measuring means E using a light wave or sound wave distance measuring signal accompanied by wave motion.
An MD (see FIG. 2) is housed therein. In this embodiment, a laser beam is employed as a distance measurement signal as an example of a light wave, and the distance measurement signal is applied to a front end face 1a of the laser beam toward a measurement object. Detection window 2 separated by translucent plate to make it possible
Is provided.

On one side 1b of the case body 1, a switch group including a power switch S1, a mode changeover switch S2, a distance measurement range changeover switch S3 and a distance measurement start switch S4, and a display panel 3 including a liquid crystal panel are provided. It is.
Each switch S1 to S4 itself or one side 1 of the case body 1
In the vicinity of each of the switches S1 to S4 of b, a notation (not shown) indicating the function of each switch, which will be described in detail later, is provided.

[0010]

[Explanation of electronic distance measuring means EMD] As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic distance measuring means EMD in this embodiment uses a laser beam as an example of a light wave as a distance measuring signal accompanied by a wave. The laser beam is measured using a light spectroscope such as a semi-transparent mirror to calculate the distance from the phase difference between the transmitted light and the reflected light. It is possible.

As the laser light source 4 for emitting laser light, a semiconductor laser oscillator that is compact and can be driven at a low voltage is employed, and the oscillation frequency (wavelength) of the laser light is used.
Is driven by a driving circuit 5 including a modulation circuit for switching the switching.

An optical spectroscope (for example, a semi-transparent mirror) 6 is provided in front of the laser light source 4. The optical spectroscope 6 reflects a part L1 of the laser light emitted from the laser light source 4 toward the detector 7 and transmits the rest. The laser light transmitted through the optical spectroscope 6 goes straight as it is and is reflected by a reflector 9 provided on the object 8 to be measured. The reflected light is reflected again by the optical spectroscope 6, and the reflected light L2 is detected. The light is incident on the vessel 10.

Each of the detectors 7 and 10 receives the reflected lights L1 and L2 and converts them into an electric signal. The electric signal is supplied to a phase detection operation circuit 11. Phase detection arithmetic circuit 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a phase difference (or time difference) caused by a difference in a distance until the laser light emitted from the laser light source 4 reaches each of the detectors 7 and 10 based on an electric signal supplied from each of the detectors 7 and 10. And outputs a signal corresponding to the detected value to the control circuit 12.

The control circuit 12 includes a storage circuit (ROM) (not shown) that stores a program for sequentially performing a series of detection operations. The control circuit 12 also includes a power switch S1, a mode switch S2, and a measurement switch. A distance range changeover switch S3 and a distance measurement start switch S4 are connected.

The power switch S1 is, of course, a switch for turning on / off a battery power supply (not shown) of the apparatus.
Unless this is turned on, distance measurement is impossible, and the display panel 3 does not operate.

The mode changeover switch S2 is a switch for switching whether the distance measurement reference is set to the front end face 1a or the rear end face 1c. Normally, the front end face 1a is used as a distance measurement reference. However, for example, when distance measurement is performed between wall surfaces or between a floor surface and a ceiling, the rear end surface 1c must be in contact with one wall surface. Since the distance measurement has to be performed, it is possible to switch such that the rear end face 1c can be used as a distance measurement reference in accordance with such a distance measurement situation. This switching is performed alternately each time the mode switch S2 is pressed.

The distance measurement range switch S3 switches the distance measurement range, for example, within 10 m (distance measurement range A) and within 30 m (distance measurement range B). Each time this switch is pressed, the distance measurement range is switched. It is designed to switch alternately.
The laser light source 4 is driven under different driving conditions depending on the distance measurement range, which will be described later.

The distance measurement start switch S4 is a switch for starting a distance measurement operation, and a predetermined distance measurement operation is sequentially performed by pressing this switch once.

The state of each of the switches S1 to S4 is displayed on the display panel 3 so that the mode selection state before the distance measurement and the selection state of the distance measurement range can be easily visually recognized.

Incidentally, the range of the distance measurement depends on the intensity of the laser light emitted from the laser light source 4, and the accuracy of the distance measurement depends on the wavelength of the laser light emitted from the laser light source 4. That is, if the intensity of the laser beam is increased to widen the range of measurement, power consumption increases, and even if the wavelength of the laser beam is shortened to improve the accuracy of distance measurement, the power consumption increases. When a battery is used as a power source, it is necessary to reduce power consumption as much as possible. From this viewpoint, the portable small electronic measure according to the present invention, which is mainly targeted for use in ordinary households, has a high intensity of laser light. And the wavelength of the laser beam is kept within a practically sufficient range. That is, for general household use, a distance measurement range of at most 30 m is sufficient, and the distance measurement accuracy is 1 m.
There are cases where m units are required and cases where 1 cm or 5 mm units are sufficient.
When the distance exceeds m, the latter ranging accuracy is often sufficient.

In consideration of the above usage, according to the present invention, when the distance measuring range A is selected, the laser light source 4 emits a laser beam intensity sufficient to cover the distance measuring range A. And the oscillation frequency is at a frequency that can provide a distance measurement accuracy of at least 1 mm. When the distance measurement range B is selected, the laser It is driven so as to emit a laser light intensity higher than the light intensity but sufficient to cover the distance measurement range B, and the oscillation frequency at that time is 1c
It is set so as to be driven at a frequency sufficient to provide a distance measurement accuracy of m, that is, a frequency lower than the oscillation frequency in the distance measurement range A (wavelength longer than the wavelength in the distance measurement range A). .

[0022]

[Explanation of usage and operation] For example, when it is desired to measure the distance between walls of about 5 m with an accuracy of 1 mm, the power switch S1 is turned on as a preparatory operation, and then the mode switch S2 is pressed to display the display panel 3. Is set to the rear end face 1c while observing. Next, the user presses the distance measurement range switch S3 and sets the corresponding distance measurement range A while looking at the display panel 3 in the same manner.

After the preparation operation is completed, the rear end face 1c of the case body 1 is brought into contact with one wall surface, and the reflection plate 9 set in advance with the front end face 1a facing the other wall surface to be measured.
And press the distance measurement start switch S4. As a result, a series of distance measurement operations are sequentially performed according to the program stored in the storage circuit in the control circuit 12.

The laser light source 4 is excited via the drive circuit 5 and is supplied from the laser light source 4 at a predetermined frequency (a predetermined wavelength).
Laser light is emitted. A part of the laser light is reflected upward by 90 ° by the optical spectroscope 6, and the reflected light L1 is incident on the detector 7, and the remaining light is transmitted through the optical spectroscope 6 and reflected. The light is reflected by the plate 9 (the object 8 to be measured), and this light is reflected downward by 90 ° by the optical spectroscope 6, and the reflected light L 2 is reflected by the other detector 10.
Is incident on.

Each of the detectors 7 and 10 receives the reflected lights L1 and L2 and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the incident light to the phase detection operation circuit 11, and the phase detection operation circuit 11 outputs a signal based on the two electric signals. The phase difference is calculated, and the calculation result is output to the control circuit 12.

The control circuit 12 calculates the distance from the distance measurement reference to the object to be measured based on the detected phase difference, and the result is displayed on the display panel 3. If the next distance measurement is to be performed, a preparation operation is performed according to the distance measurement conditions, and the distance measurement is performed in the same procedure. If all distance measurement is to be ended, the power switch S1 is turned off.

In the above embodiment, one distance measurement operation is performed by one pressing of the distance measurement start switch S4. However, in order to improve the distance measurement accuracy, the distance measurement start switch S4 is used.
A single pressing of 4 causes a plurality of distance measurement operations (for example, five times), that is, excitation of the laser light source 4, and excludes the average value or the maximum value and the minimum value of the calculated distance for each distance measurement operation. The average value of the remaining three calculation distances may be displayed on the display panel 3.

The reflector 9 attached to the object 8 is not always necessary.

Further, as the distance measurement signal, ultraviolet light or infrared light from a light emitting diode (LED) may be employed instead of laser light. In this case, since the light diffusion is larger than that of the laser light, a measure may be taken to provide a light projecting lens downstream of the optical spectroscope 6 to condense the light.

As for the distance measuring method, a light wave interference method can be used instead of the light wave phase difference method, and a sound wave can be used instead of the light wave. Ultrasonic waves are optimal as sound waves.

[0031]

According to the portable small-sized electronic measure of the present invention, the distance measurement reference can be switched to the front end face or the rear end face. It is very convenient. In addition, the distance measurement range is switchable, and the driving conditions (particularly, the intensity and wavelength of the laser beam) of the electronic distance measurement means are changed according to the selected distance measurement range. It can be used properly according to the required ranging accuracy, and the power consumption of the battery power supply can be suppressed to the minimum necessary.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic distance measuring unit according to one embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case main body 1a, 1c Distance measuring reference (front end surface and rear end surface of case main body) 2 Detection window 3 Display panel 4 Laser light source EMD Electronic distance measuring means S1 to S4 Switch

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2F065 AA06 DD02 FF11 FF13 FF31 GG04 LL00 LL12 NN01 NN06 NN08 QQ23 QQ42 SS03 SS13 2F068 AA06 FF12 FF19 PP00 5J083 AA02 AC31 AD04 BA01 CA02 EB04 EA04 BA03 EA04

Claims (4)

[Claims] An electronic distance measuring means using a distance measuring signal by a light wave or a sound wave accompanied by a wave is provided inside a case main body provided with a detection window, and the electronic distance measuring means comprises:
A portable small electronic measure, which can be switched by an external operation so that a front end face or a rear end face of the case is used as a distance measurement reference. 2. The portable small electronic measure according to claim 1, wherein the distance measurement range can be switched by an external operation. 3. The portable small electronic measure according to claim 2, wherein the driving condition of the electronic distance measuring means is changed according to the range to be switched. 4. The portable small electronic measure according to claim 1, wherein a display panel for displaying a distance measurement result and the like is provided on the case main body.