JPH09329442A - Laser pointer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clearly indicate a position to be indicated by rotating a transparent member having two transmission faces through which a laser beam from a laser beam radiating means, is transmitted, by a motor. SOLUTION: A collimator lens 15 is adhered and fixed to a forward optical path of a visible ray laser diode 12, and further a transparent member 16 of a transparent acrylic resin, having a square section, is installed on the forward optical path. The transparent member 16 is fixed to an output rotation axis 18A of a motor 18 with reduction mechanism. The laser beam 12A is projected from a laser beam projection window 11A, when a driving switch 23 is on. A projecting position adjusting knob 24 is turned to rotate the transparent member 16, thereby the deviation amount of the laser beam 12A is changed to adjust the projecting position. When the switch 23 is placed at the position of scan, the motor 18 is rotated, and the laser beam 12A is projected to a wall as a laser line in a condition that the deviation amount is continuously changed by the transparent member 16.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly relates to a laser pointer for projecting a laser beam to indicate a predetermined position, for example, to indicate a predetermined portion on an object from a distant position or a horizontal position in construction. It is used for vertical measurement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional laser pointer is mainly composed of a laser light source and a projection lens for projecting a laser beam emitted from the laser light source.

[0003]

Since the conventional laser pointer only indicates a predetermined position by a point, it lacks the emphasis or clarity of the instruction, and the state of the surface on which the laser is projected,
For example, there is a drawback in that it is difficult to find the designated position depending on the surface unevenness and the color tone. An object of the present invention is to provide a laser pointer which can clearly indicate a position to be indicated.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a laser pointer for projecting a laser beam to indicate a predetermined position, a laser beam emitting means (1) for emitting a laser beam; A transparent member (3, 16) having at least two transmitting surfaces for transmitting the laser beam from the laser beam emitting means and a rotating means (18) for rotating the transparent member are provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the laser pointer that projects a laser beam to indicate a predetermined position, the laser light source (31, 42) and the projection optical system (3).
2, 45) and a transparent member (33, 46) provided in the optical path between the laser light source and the projection optical system and having at least two parallel transmitting surfaces.
And a rotating means (48) for rotating the transparent member.

The device of the present invention according to claim 3 is the device according to claim 1.
Alternatively, in the apparatus according to claim 2, the transparent member is a regular polygonal prism. In any of the above-mentioned invention devices, the laser beam is deflected or deflected by changing the angle between the transparent surface of the transparent member and the optical axis of the laser beam incident on the transparent member, and the projection position of the laser beam is shifted by the deviation. The position corresponds to the amount or the amount of deflection.

When the transparent member is rotated, the laser beam moves on a straight line. As a result, the projected visible light laser beam is visually recognized as a laser line on the object whose predetermined position is desired to be indicated.

[0008]

1 is a diagram showing the first principle of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a structure of a laser pointer which is an embodiment using the principle of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the second principle of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of another laser pointer which is an embodiment using the principle of FIG.

In FIG. 1, a laser beam projection means 1 incorporating a visible light laser diode and a projection lens (not shown) emits a laser beam 2 in the upward direction of the drawing. A transparent member 3 made of, for example, a transparent acrylic resin, which has a square cross section on the emission optical path of the laser beam 2 and four sides of which are transmission surfaces 3A to 3D, rotates around the center of the square cross section as a rotation center O. It is possible.

The transparent surface 3A of the transparent member 3 has a laser beam 2
When the laser beam 2 is positioned at a right angle to the transparent member 3, the laser beam 2 advances straight inside the transparent member 3 and is emitted at a right angle from the opposing transparent surface 3C to the transparent surface 3C, and is projected onto a portion of the target object, for example, a point 4A on the wall 4. To be done. Next, when the transparent member 3 rotates, the incident angle of the laser beam 2 with respect to the transmitting surface 3A changes.
A transparent member 3a indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1 indicates a state of the transparent member 3 rotated counterclockwise by an angle θ (0 ° ≦ θ ≦ 45 °). The laser beam 2 incident on the transparent surface 3A 'of the transparent member 3a is deviated to the left by the transparent member 3a, and the laser beam 2 traveling straight to the point 4A is moved to the left by a distance L.
Laser beam 2 parallel to laser beam 2 deviated only by
A is emitted from the transparent surface 3C ′ of the transparent member 3a as A, and the wall 4
Is projected to a point 4B which is a distance L away from the point 4A. The deviation amount L of the laser beam 2A increases as the angle θ increases in the range of 0 ° ≦ θ ≦ 45 °.

The transparent member 3b shown by the broken line in FIG. 1 has an angle θ1 (45 ° <θ1 ≦ 90) that exceeds 45 ° in the counterclockwise direction.
The state of the transparent member 3 rotated by (°) is shown. At this time, the laser beam 2 is incident on the transmission surface 3D ′ of the transmission member 3b, is deviated to the right by the transparent member 3b, and is deviated by the distance L to the right from the laser beam 2 which goes straight to the point 4B. The laser beam 2A ′ parallel to the laser beam 2A ′ is emitted from the transparent surface 3B ′ of the transparent member 3b, and is projected to a point 4B ′ that is a distance L away from the point 4A on the wall 4 to the right.

The rotation of the transparent body 3 by the angle θ in the counterclockwise direction is
Since it can be considered to be equivalent to rotation of the transparent body 3 at an angle θ ′ = (90 ° −θ) in the clockwise direction, 45 ° <of the transparent body 3
The counterclockwise rotation of θ1 ≦ 90 ° is the angle θ ′ (0 ° <θ ′
It can be regarded as equivalent to clockwise rotation of ≦ 45 °). However, in this case, the deviation directions of the laser beam 2 are reversed. Therefore, the deviation amount L is 45 ° <θ1 ≦ 90
In the range of 0 °, that is, 0 ° <θ ′ ≦ 45 °, the angle decreases as the angle θ1 increases (angle θ ′ decreases).

At θ = 90 °, the transparent surface 3D of the transparent member 3
Is located at a right angle to the laser beam 2 and the laser beam 2
Is a portion of the object to be directed, which travels straight inside the transparent member 3 and is emitted from the opposite transparent surface 3B at a right angle to the transparent surface 3B.
For example, it is projected on a point 4A on the wall 4. Hereinafter, the above process
= Repeat every 90 °. The position of the projected point is
With θ = 45 °, the position abruptly changes from the leftmost position to the rightmost position.

The relationship between the angle θ and the amount of deviation L in the range of angle 0 ° ≦ θ ≦ 45 ° is that the side length of the transparent body 3 having a square cross section is T and the refractive index of the transparent member 3 is n. Then, it is expressed by the following formula. L = T · Sin θ (1− (Cos θ / √ (n ² −Sin ² θ)) Equation (1) As described above, the counterclockwise rotation of the transparent body 3 at 45 ° <θ1 ≦ 90 ° is caused by the laser. If it is noted that the deflection directions of the beam 2 are reversed, it can be regarded as equivalent to the clockwise rotation of the angle θ ′ of 0 ° <θ ′ ≦ 45 °.
The formula (1) can be applied to the counterclockwise rotation of 5 ° <θ1 ≦ 90 °.

As a result, the position 4A of the laser beam projected on the wall 4 can be linearly displaced to 4B and 4B 'by rotating the transparent body 3. Deviation L
Has a maximum value of 0.326T when θ (θ ′) = 45 °. Further, when the transparent body 3 is continuously rotated, the laser beam 2 projected on the wall 4 is visually recognized as a laser line having a length 2L = 0.652T. However, in any of the above cases, n
= 1.49.

In FIG. 2 showing a laser pointer which is a first embodiment using the principle of FIG. 1, a box-shaped resin housing 11 has a laser beam projection window 11A whose longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the paper surface. Has been formed. A visible light laser diode 12 wired to a drive circuit board 14 is fixed in the housing 11 by a cap screw 13 provided in the housing 11. A collimator lens 15 is provided on the optical path in front of the visible light laser diode 12.
Are adhesively fixed. Since the collimating lens 15 is arranged so that the focal position thereof coincides with the light source position of the visible light laser diode 12, the beam from the laser diode 12 is projected as a parallel beam 12A. A transparent member 16 made of transparent acrylic resin and having a square cross section is disposed on the optical path in front of the collimator lens 15. The transparent member 16 has an output rotation shaft 18A of the motor 18 with a reduction mechanism via a boss provided at the center of the square cross section.
It is fixed by a fixing screw 17. The motor 18 is fixed to the housing 11 with a fixing screw 19.

The motor 18 has a motor shaft 18B on the side opposite to the transparent member 16, and the motor shaft 18B is
It projects to the outside of the housing 11. The motor shaft 18B is provided with a projection position adjustment knob 24 for rotating the motor shaft 18B. Motor shaft 18B
Can be easily rotated by the projection position adjusting knob 24, but even if a slight rotational force due to vibration or the like acts on the transparent member 16, the output rotary shaft 18A to which the transparent member 16 is attached outputs the output of the reduction mechanism. Since it is on the shaft side, it does not rotate easily.

In the battery chamber 21 of the housing 11, a dry battery 2 which is a power source for the laser diode 12 and the motor 18 is provided.
0 is stored, and the electric contacts 22A and 22B are in contact with the + and − electrodes of the dry battery 20, respectively. Further, the housing 11
Is provided with a three-stage drive switch 23 on the end surface 11B opposite to the laser beam projection window, and the power is turned on / off /
SCAN can be selected.

Next, the operation will be described. In FIG. 2, when the drive switch 23 is set to the ON position, the laser beam 1
2A is projected from the laser beam projection window 11A and functions as a conventional laser pointer. Then, by rotating the projection position adjusting knob 24 to rotate the transparent member 16, the deviation amount of the laser beam 12A is changed,
The projection position can be adjusted in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. When the drive switch 23 is set to the Scan position, the motor 18 is rotated, and the laser beam 12A is projected on the wall as a laser line by continuously changing the deviation amount due to the transparent member 16 as described in principle with reference to FIG. .

The laser pointer having the above structure and function is attached to the holder so that the laser line is in the horizontal direction, and the predetermined height is measured. Or, such a laser pointer, so that the laser line is vertical
The transparent member 16 is attached to a holder that is rotatable in the horizontal direction.
Without rotating, it functions as a conventional laser pointer and is used for measuring at a predetermined height. However, in the apparatus of the present invention, the height of the laser beam can be accurately adjusted by rotating the projection position adjusting knob 24 after setting the laser beam to a substantially predetermined height by setting the holder. Furthermore,
A laser pointer can be held in the hand and used to project a laser beam onto a portion of the target object to be pointed.

In FIG. 3 showing the second principle of the present invention,
The laser beam emitted from the visible light laser diode 31 enters the convex lens 32. The optical path between the laser diode 31 and the convex lens 32 has a square cross section, and four sides of the square are transmission surfaces 33A to 33D. For example, a transparent member 33 made of a transparent acrylic resin rotates the center O of the square cross section. It is rotatably provided as a center. The visible light laser diode 31 and the convex lens 32 are arranged so that the light source position 31A of the visible light laser diode 31 matches the focal position of the convex lens 32 in consideration of the thickness t of the transparent member 33 and the refractive index n1. .

When the transmission surface 33A of the transparent member 33 is positioned at right angles to the laser beam 34, the laser diode 3
Since the position of the light source 1 is on the optical axis, the laser beam 2 emitted from the convex lens 32 goes straight on the optical axis and is projected onto the point 35A on the wall 35. Next, when the transparent member 33 rotates, the incident angle of the laser beam 34 on the transmission surface 33A changes. In FIG. 3, the transparent member 33a indicated by the chain double-dashed line shows the state of the transparent member 33 rotated counterclockwise by the angle θ2 (0 <θ2 ≦ 45 °). In this case, the transparent member 3
Due to the refraction effect of 3a, a point 31B which is away from the light source position 31A of the laser diode 31 by a distance d in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis becomes an imaginary light source, and light from this point is projected to the point 35A. Therefore, from the actual light source position 31A to the convex lens 3
The emission direction of the laser beam 34A emitted via 2 is deflected in the direction of the angle θ3 and is projected on the wall 35 to the point 35B at the distance L on the left side of the point 35A. The distance L is 0 °
In the range of ≦ θ2 ≦ 45 °, the angle increases as the angle θ2 increases.

The transparent member 33b shown by the broken line in FIG.
The angle θ4 (45 ° <θ4 ≦ 9
The state of the transparent member 33 rotated by 0 ° is shown.
As described in the first principle of FIG. 1, rotation of the transparent member 33 by the counterclockwise angle θ4 (45 ° <θ4 ≦ 90 °) causes the clockwise angle θ2 ′ = (90 ° − It can be considered to be equivalent to the rotation of θ4), and therefore 45 ° <θ of the transparent body 3.
The counterclockwise rotation of 4 ≦ 90 ° is 0 ° ≦ θ of the angle θ2 ′.
It can be regarded as equivalent to clockwise rotation of 2 ′ ≦ 45 °. However, in this case, the deflection direction of the laser beam 34 is opposite (right side). The distance L is 45 ° <θ4 ≦ 90
In the range of 0 °, that is, 0 ° <θ2 ′ ≦ 45 °, the angle θ4
Decreases with an increase in (angle θ2 ′ decreases). In any case, the distance L increases as the distance h from the convex lens 32 to the wall 35 increases.

At θ = 90 °, the transparent surface 3 of the transparent member 33 is
3D is positioned at a right angle to the laser beam 34, and the laser beam 34 travels straight inside the transparent member 3 and is emitted at a right angle from the opposite transmissive surface 33B to the transmissive surface 33B, such as the wall 35. Is projected on the point 35A. Hereinafter, the above process is repeated every 90 °. It should be noted that the position of the projected point suddenly changes from the position most displaced to the left side to the position most displaced to the right side across θ2 = 45 °.

Next, in the range of 0 ° ≦ θ2 ≦ 45 °, the relationship between the angle θ2 and the angle θ3 is as follows. First,
The side length of the transparent surface 33A having a square cross section is t, and the transparent member 3
When the refractive index of 3 is n, the virtual image point 3 at the light source position 31A
The distance d of 1B is d = t · Sin θ2 (1- (Cos θ2 / √ (n ² −Sin ² θ2)) (2) Equation (3) Therefore, when θ is f3, the focal length of the convex lens 32 is θ3 = Tan-1 (d / f) (3) Equation (3) The displacement amount L of the projection point is approximately L = h · Tanθ3 (4) Equation.

As mentioned above, if the deviation directions of the laser beam 2 are reversed, 45 ° ≦ θ of the transparent body 33.
The counterclockwise rotation of 4 ≦ 90 ° is 0 ° ≦ θ of the transparent body 33.
It can be regarded as equivalent to clockwise rotation of 2 ′ ≦ 45 °. That is, the virtual light source 31B ′, the deflection angle θ3 ′ of the laser beam 34A ′ emitted from the convex lens 32, and the laser projection point 35B ′ on the wall 35 are the virtual light source 31B in the above case,
The deflection angle is θ3, and the position is axisymmetric with respect to the laser beam 34 that goes straight to the laser projection point 35B and the point 35A. Therefore, the equations (2) to (4) can be applied to the counterclockwise rotation of the transparent body 33 at 45 ° <θ12 ≦ 90 °.

As a result, the position 35A of the laser beam projected on the wall 35 can be linearly displaced to 35B and 35B 'by rotating the transparent body 33.
Further, when the transparent member 33 is continuously rotated, the laser beam is emitted from the convex lens 32 while the angle θ3 of the laser beam is changed, so that the laser beam is visually recognized as a laser line on the wall 35.

In FIG. 4 showing a laser pointer which is another embodiment using the principle of FIG. 3, a circular laser beam projection window 41 is provided in a cylindrical resin housing 41.
A is formed, and the convex lens 4 is formed on the projection window 41A.
5 is adhesively fixed. In the housing 41, a visible light laser diode 42 wired to a drive circuit board 44.
Is fixed by a holding screw 43 provided in the housing 41, and the laser light from the laser diode 42 is projected to the outside from the laser beam projection window 41A through the convex lens 45. The visible light laser diode 12 is arranged so that the light source position thereof matches the focal position of the convex lens 45, so that the laser beam is a parallel beam 42A.
And is projected to the outside. In the optical path between the convex lens 45 and the visible light laser diode 42, a transparent member 46 made of transparent acrylic resin having a square cross section is placed. The transparent member 46 is adhesively fixed to the output rotation shaft 48A of the motor 48 with a reduction mechanism.

The motor 48 also has a motor shaft 48B on the side opposite to the transparent member 46, and the motor shaft 48B projects to the outside of the housing 41. The motor shaft 48B is provided with a projection position adjusting knob 54 for rotating the motor shaft 48B. The transparent member 46 can be lightly rotated by the projection position adjusting knob 54, but even if a slight rotational force due to vibration or the like acts on the motor shaft 48B to which the transparent member 46 is attached, the output shaft 48A
Does not rotate easily because it is on the output shaft side of the reduction mechanism.

In the battery chamber 51 of the housing 41, a dry battery 50 as a power source for the light emitting diode 42 and the motor 48 is provided.
, And the electric contacts 5 are respectively attached to the + and-electrodes of the dry battery 50.
2A and 52B are in contact. Further, a three-step drive switch 53 is provided on the side surface of the housing 41, and ON / OFF / SCAN of the power source can be selected.

Next, the operation will be described. In FIG. 4, when the drive switch 53 is turned to the ON position, the laser beam 4
2A is projected and functions as a conventional laser pointer. When the drive switch 53 is set to the Scan position, the motor 48 rotates, and the laser beam is projected on the wall as a laser line by refraction by the transparent member 46 and the action of the convex lens 32, as described in principle with reference to FIG.

The device of this embodiment is also used in the same manner as the device of the first embodiment. In addition, in any of the embodiments, the shape of the transparent member is not limited to a square, and may be a polygon, preferably a regular polygon having an even number of sides. Further, although the visible light laser diode is used as the laser light source in the above embodiment, it does not matter even if the laser light source is invisible if a means for detecting it is provided on the light receiving side.

The application range of the laser pointer is not limited to the above-mentioned example, and it goes without saying that the laser pointer can be applied to a visible light laser surveying instrument for horizontal or vertical construction.

[0034]

In any of the inventions, the laser beam scans a line. As a result, a laser pointer is provided which is visually recognized as a laser line and which has enhanced emphasis and clarity of an instruction by projection of a laser beam. The length of the laser line of the device of the first embodiment is constant regardless of the distance to the object to be instructed. On the other hand, the length of the laser line of the device of the second embodiment changes depending on the distance to the object to be instructed.

In any of the inventions, the position of the laser beam projected on the wall can be adjusted in a straight line. As a result, the position of the projected laser spot can be easily adjusted by the projection position adjusting knob.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an operation principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the embodiment using the operating principle of FIG.

FIG. 3 is another operation principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of another embodiment using the operation principle of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ......... Projection means 3, 16, 33, 46 ... Transparent member 11, 41 ..... Housing 12, 31, 42 ...・ ・ ・ Visible light laser diode (laser emitting means, laser light source) 2, 12A, 34, 42A ... Laser beam 15, 45 ... ・ ・ ・ Collimating lens, convex lens (projection optical system) 18, 48 ..... Motor (rotating means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A laser pointer for projecting a laser beam to indicate a predetermined position, comprising: a laser beam emitting means for emitting a laser beam; and at least two transmitting surfaces for transmitting the laser beam from the laser beam emitting means. A laser pointer comprising: a transparent member having the rotating member; and rotating means for rotating the transparent member. 2. A laser pointer for projecting a laser beam to indicate a predetermined position, the laser beam projecting means having a laser light source and a projection optical system, and an optical path provided between the laser light source and the projection optical system. A laser pointer comprising: a transparent member having at least two parallel transparent surfaces; and rotating means for rotating the transparent member. 3. The laser pointer according to claim 1, wherein the transparent member is a regular polygonal prism.