WO1990000787A1

WO1990000787A1 - Length measuring method and means

Info

Publication number: WO1990000787A1
Application number: PCT/SE1989/000384
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sten Svensson
Original assignee: Datakalkyl I Örebro Ab
Priority date: 1988-07-06
Filing date: 1989-07-04
Publication date: 1990-01-25
Also published as: SE8802518D0; AU3864589A

Abstract

The invention relates to method and means for measuring and recording length and number on an object, a linear movement along the length to be measured being converted to a rotating movement by means of a rotatable measuring wheel (11), said rotating movement in turn being converted to electrical signals by means of an optically readable disc. The electrical signals are transferred to a computer where they are recorded. The transfer is made wireless by means of light emitting diodes (14). The measured length is marked durable on said object during the measuring step, and articles existing on said object are marked durable on said object during the measuring step. To make the marking possible the device is provided with an extendable and retractable pencil element (12) actuated by operating means (13) which is operatively connected to electrical switching means.

Description

Length measuring method and means

The invention relates to measuring method according to which a linear movement along a length to be measured is converted to a rotating movement in turn being converted to electrical signals that are transferred to a computer where they are recorded.

An extensive work is required when projecting buildings of different kind in connection with definition of consumption of material and when calculations are made. In this work an estimating clerk normally counts existing details and components of different kinds on a drawing or map in front of him and measures areas and distances by means of a ruler or some other aid, said measurements being the basis for orders and/or offers. Besides the fact that all measured values have to be recorded somehow distances measured and details counted also must be marked on the drawing. A very simple way to achieve this is to mark measurements continuously with a pencil. More frequently some type of computer is used in this type of calculations. Programs in said computer generate tables and specifications on a display and after the measurements the operator records tabulated data as numbers and other measured values by means of a keyboard connected to said computer. In spite of the use of a computer most of the work is manual and time consuming. As several steps proceed the actual recording of measured values the risk of an error in the recording is large.

To automize somehow the work of measuring and recording there have been suggested several types of measuring means comprising an electric distance measuring element feeding pulses to some kind of counting means, the pulses being generated when the distance measuring element is moved on the drawing or the map. This type of length measuring instrument is disclosed in GB 2 089 988. A more developed type of length measuring instrument is disclosed in DE 32 45 864. The latter chose the measured distance on a display. The information shown also can be transmitted to a separate counting unit through a cable. According to US 4 009 339 there is suggested a device for the receiving and checking of signals received from a length-measuring probe and from a counting and marking device separated from the length measuring probe. The signals are led from the device to a computer in which measured values are stored.

Also when utilizing the above-mentioned means several manual steps remain at the recording of measured values for the storing of said values in said computer in a desired way. Furthermore, all transfer of information from the measuring means is carried out through cables that limits to a high extent the movability of the operator and limits in reality the distance between the place of measuring and the position of the recording/storing unit.

To eliminate substantially the above-mentioned problems and drawbacks existing in the previously known technique there is suggested according to the present invention a method the characteristics of which appear from claim 1 and a device for carrying out said method in accordance with claim 2. The invention will now be described in more detail by means of embodiments by example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG 1 is a block diagram showing the units included in the device according to the invention, FIG 2 is a block diagram showing a measuring probe according to the invention,

FIG 3 is a block diagram showing a charging unit according to the invention,

FIG 4 is a block diagram showing a control unit according to the invention. FIG 5 is a side elevation view showing a measuring probe according to the invention,

FIG 6 is a plan view from below showing the device according to FIG 5, and FIG 7 is a plan view from above showing the device of

FIG 5.

As is apparent from the block diagram in FIG 1 three different blocks or units are included in the device according to the invention. The measuring means consists of a measuring probe 10 being in a wireless connection with a charging and receiving unit 30. The measuring probe 10 is disposed in the charging unit 30 when out of use so as to charge a rechargeable battery provided in the measuring probe. The charging unit 30 is connected to a control unit 40 in turn being connected to a conventional computer 50 either through a serial connection or as an expansion card disposed in the computer. In the control unit 40 data and instructions being exchanged between the computer and the measuring probe 10 are temporarily stored. The method according to the invention will be described in more detail after the description of FIG 2-4.

FIG 2 shows the units encluded in the measuring probe 10. All function of the measuring probe is controled by a control unit 21 being connected to a transmitting unit 22 and a receiving unit 23 providing the communication of the measuring probe 10. The transmitting unit 22 comprises several light emitting diodes being active in the infrared wavelength interval, and a coding unit converting signals transmitted from the central unit 21. The receiving unit 23 comprises a receiving transistor and a decoding unit identifying and decoding signals transmitted by infrared light and being intended for this measuring probe. Signals to be transmitted from the measuring probe are generated in part in a pulse generator 24 and in part in a pen switch, both of which will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG 5-7. The function of the measuring probe can be controled by a number of switch buttons provided in a control panel 26, and the actual mode of operation of the measuring probe and possible error conditions can be identified from a number of light emitting diodes provided in said control panel. The measuring probe is provided voltage control and charging device 27 providing a rechargeable battery 28 arranged in the measuring probe with charging current if the measuring probe is connected to a socket in the charging unit 30, said device 20 also controlling the voltage of the battery for the power supply of all electronic components of the measuring probe.

The charging unit 30 shown in the block diagram of FIG 3 comprises a charging set 31 providing the battery of the measuring probe with charging current when the measuring probe is inserted in the charging unit. A receiving unit 32 having a receiving transistor receives signals transmitted from the measuring probe and feeds the signal to a converting unit 34. The signals are decoded and then if they are intended for this charging unit passed on. Decoded signals are transfered from the converting unit to a control unit 40. The control unit 40 also provides control signals that are coded and converted in said converting unit 34 and then transmitted to the measuring probe through the transmitting unit 33 by means of a plurality of light emitting diodes. Also the charging unit 35 is provided with a control panel 35 having a plurality of light emitting diodes indicating mode of operation and status. As is apparent from FIG 4 the control unit 40 comprises a central unit 41 having a microprocessor, which controls a unit of communication 42 connected to said central unit and also a memory unit 43 connected to said central unit. Signals received from said charging unit are transmitted to the memory unit 43 through said unit of communication 42 and said central unit 41, received data being stored in said memory unit 43 to be passed on to a computer 50 connected to said control unit.

With reference to FIG 1-4 the method according to the invention will now be described in more detail. In said computer a program of calculation is started up, said program being prepared for the inputting of data of distance and number. The inputting can be done in a conventional way by the keyboard of the computer but according the present invention the measuring probe 10 is instead utilized. The probe is disposed on the drawing or the map from which data is to be collected. When measuring the distance the appropriate button on the measuring probe is pressed, and the measuring is then initiated by moving the measuring probe along the line to be measured while at the same time a key or button on the measuring probe is kept depressed. Optionally a measuring stick described in more detail below is at the same time pressed against the surface thereby immediately marking the measured distance as measured. The pulses generated in the pulse generator 24 at the movement of the measuring probe are counted and intermediately stored in the measuring probe, the amount counted then being transmitted to the memory unit 43 of the control unit 40 together with a control code being specific for this measuring probe, the transmission activated by the pressing of a certain key on the measuring probe. The transmission takes place through the charging unit 30 that also checks by means of the control code that the information emancipates from a predetermined measuring probe. Several different frequencies are also available for the signal transmission. The value stored in the memory unit is then transmitted to the computer at a command transmitted from the computer to the microprocessor of the control unit. In the computer said value is inputted to the program as a value inputted in a conventional way. The measuring of number is done generally in the same way and at each position to be counted a marking is made with said measuring stick while at the same time a value in the measuring probe is increased. When all positions have been marked the accumulated value is transmitted to the memory unit from which it is forwarded to the program of the computer.

Also in a broader meaning the program of the computer can-be controlled from the measuring probe. Several push buttons on the measuring probe are programmable and could ,e.g. replace the arrow keys of the keyboard when chosing another module of program or the like. Automatic area calculation after measuring two distances and direct access to normal calculating functions through keys on the measuring probe or other examples of the controllable function.

To make possible a simultaneous use of several measuring probes in one room several transmitting and receiving frequencies are utilized. Several control units 40 are also connected in a "master slave relationship". The transmission frequency is chosen in measuring probe and charging unit, respectively, by means of yokes. When errors, if any, in the transmission are detected by the control unit said unit transmits to the measuring probe a request for retransmission. If problems with the trans¬ mission remain this is incidated on the control panel 35 of the charging unit 30.

The device according to FIG 5 will now be described in more detail and comprises an alongated measuring probe formed as a cylindrical body 10, one end thereof being provided with a measuring wheel 11 partly protruding from the body 10. At the side of the measuring wheel there is arranged a marking means 12 in the shape of a pen stick, said stick being slidable in the longitudinal direction of the measuring probe. The measuring wheel 11 is toothed and arranged on a gear wheel having a smaller diameter than the measuring wheel, and the rotation followed by the movement of the measuring wheel across the drawing is transmitted, through an intermediate gear wheel not shown here, to an interior gear wheel that is provided with an optically readable disc that is also made to rotate. The latter rotation generates by means of an optical detector electrical pulses that are transmitted from the measuring probe according to a method described below. The resolution of the measuring probe is in the size of one pulse/millimeter.

The pen stick 12 is slidable between an upper position, a lower position and an intermediate position by means of a knob moving in a slot. In said upper position the measuring wheel 11 protrudes from the measuring probe more than the pen stick and the measuring probe can be moved in an upright position across the drawing while the measuring wheel engages the drawing, the pen stick not being engaged on the drawing. In said intermediate position the pen stick protrudes approximately as much as the measuring wheel and resiliently engages the surfaces when the measuring probe is moved there across while measuring distance, a continuous line being drawn on the drawing. In said lower position the pen stick protrudes more and this is the position of counting numbers. In the latter position a switch is activated, said switch making pulses temporari¬ ly generated at the engagement of the pen stick on the surface be transmitted from the measuring probe. At the same time there is a marking on the drawing in the shape of dots.

For the transmission of signals from the measuring probe to the charging unit in turn being connected to a computer several light emitting diodes 14 are provided in the end of the measuring probe opposite to the measuring wheel. Between the light emitting diodes 14 and the center of the measuring probe a plurality of push buttons 16A-16G are provided. When pressing any of said buttons a coded signal is generated, said signal also being transferred to the charging unit through the light emitting diodes. The push buttons are utilized to control the program in the computer that eliminate unnecessary use of the computer keyboard. In other embodiments, not shown here, a plurality of push buttons is instead provided in that end of the measuring probe being close to the light emitting diodes. The larger push button 15 is in the shown embodiment used as an acknowledgement of distance measuring and thus is kept depressed during this measuring process.

The measuring probe is also provided with a recharge- able battery, not shown here, said battery making possible several hours of work without a connection to the mains or another power supply.

FIG 6 shows the measuring probe from below, and FIG 7 the measuring probe from above. From FIG 7 it is apparent that also the top side of the measuring probe can be used for push buttons. In that position there is in the shown embodiment arranged a push button or a key for coverage return (CR) and also one for resetting one measuring round.

Claims

1. Method for measuring and recording length and number on an object in the shape of drawings, maps and the like, a linear movement along the length to be measured being converted to a rotating movement that in turn is converted to electrical signals which then are transferred to a computer where there are recorded, c h a r a c t e- r i s e d in that measured values are transferred wireless, the measured length is marked durable on said object during the method step, that particles existing on said object are marked durable on said object during the measurement on said numbers. Device for measuring and recording length and number for carrying method according to claim 1, comprising means for converting a linear movement to a rotating movement, means for converting said rotating movement to electrical signals, and means for transferring said signals to a computer, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the means for transferring electrical signals comprises light emitting diodes, that the means for converting the linear movement to the rotating movement comprises a measuring wheel arranged rotatable in said device, that the means for converting the rotating movement to electrical signals comprises an optically readable disc, that the device is provided with an extendable and retractable pencil element, said element being controlled by a control means, that said control means is operatively connected to electrical ^• switching means.

3.Device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e¬ r i s e d in that the optical disc is connected to the measuring wheel through at least one gear wheel. 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c¬ t e r i s e d in that said optical disc is connected to the measuring wheel through a strap means.

5. Device according to any of claim 2 - 4, c h a- r a c t e r i s e d by a recording unit provided in the device for intermediate storing of measured values.