WO2022059036A2

WO2022059036A2 - Smart scale ruler

Info

Publication number: WO2022059036A2
Application number: PCT/IR2021/050006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nader ZARBAFIAN
Original assignee: Zarbafian Nader
Priority date: 2020-08-19
Filing date: 2021-02-14
Publication date: 2022-03-24
Also published as: WO2022059036A3

Abstract

A smart scale ruler is a tool that can be used in all processes related to reading plans that have been drawn by various scales. The device can operate and do this process automatically directly without the use of any lateral hardware or software and provide the user with the result in numerical and direct information in terms of metric and non-metric units. Using its smart software, the smart scale ruler can calculate the scales of aerial pictures, photos or palns with unknown scales, and accordingly, it begins to obtain the other required dimensions based on this type of image and plans. In addition, due to its intelligent body design, the scale ruler is also capable of measuring angles and displaying the angles' value in degrees, gradians, and radians.

Description

Title: smart scale ruler field of application: plan reading

1. Assessment of prior art

The tools available to obtain the actual size of the plan have some limitations. For example, some common scales in the design are used in the conventional scale ruler. In addition, this ruler covers a maximum of 6 scales due to the design type and the scale of the plan must also be known to obtain the actual size. This device would be ineffective when the scale of the plan is not specified, or the scale on which the plan is designed does not occur within the range of 6 scales available on this ruler, or the plan design has been drawn by unconventional scales due to some limitations. In such cases, the tool can be used for approximation and estimation. For example in the fields of architecture and urban planning, to draw and prepare a plan based on an image (photo), the actual size of one of the dimensions or elements in the image is first determined. Then, the plan scale is obtained from the ratio of the actual size to the size in the photo, and based on this scale, other sizes are extracted from the plan. However, it is possible that the scale obtained occurs outside the scope of the common scales used in this type of scale ruler such as 1:55, 1: 620, etc. Under these circumstances, these types of rulers are practically ineffective to get other sizes from the plan or photo. In such conditions, converting the sizes will require professional and spending more time to do the task. Also, these rulers are manufactured in small sizes of 30, 40, and 50 cm. Thus, when the plans are drawn in large dimensions such as A0, Al, A2, the rulers will face limitations in size as well.

The digital prototype of this scale ruler is basically designed to draw a plan and cannot perform the process of plan reading and unit conversion due to the design type. In addition, it faces some limitations in terms of dimensions as in the conventional model. In the plans, in addition to the lines, there are other elements such as angles that these rulers cannot measure, which should be measured with other means and tools such as a protractor or digital goniometer (angle sensor). Another problem with these rulers is that they can only measure continuous lines and distances in the same direction. Thus, if the required distance or line is not continuous and in one direction, these devices are not again capable of measuring these distances and lines (Picture 1), while a device used to read the plan should be able to measure different aspects of a plan.

(Picture 1).

Other specialized applications, directly and indirectly, perform the scale conversion process. First, the size is taken from the plan. It is then manually entered into the software followed by calculating the values. However, access to these types of software seems difficult and even impossible at sometimes like workshop conditions or at the project execution site or in the design training ateliers. In addition, in this method, the work process is indirect and mediated and working by this approach requires prior training and mastery of this type of application.

2. Relevant prior art

2-1. engineering scale

A kind of engineering scale ruler is used to calculate actual sizes from the plan in some fields such as architecture, which has three faces (Picture!). This ruler is used to measure plans at different scales and is essentially a type of scale converter designed based on some common scales such as 1:50, 1: 100, 1:150, 1:200, 1:250, and 1:300. The scale of the plan must be specified to get the actual size from the plan.

(Picture 2) engineering scale.

2-2. mart ruler design

There is also another digital version of this ruler. After adjusting the units and the scale, the specified size value is displayed on the digital plate located on the edge of this ruler (Fig3). This ruler is actually a kind of tool for drawing scaled plans.

(Picture3) mart ruler design.

There is other similar software in the field, in which, the size should be first measured by a scale ruler on the plan, and after adjusting the software, the number determined needs to be manually entered into the software to calculate the actual size.

3. Presenting a solution to the existing technical problem with an accurate, sufficient and integrated description of the invention Smart scale ruler consists of a calibrated metal body (A-l), a touch screen (A-2), a movable jaw (A-3), a rotating jaw (A-4), a digital protractor (A-5) and parts added to the main body (A-6).

3-1. Main body consists of a calibrated metal axis based on metric and non-metric system and also has ability to increase the length. The back of this body is designed as a guide surface to allow touch screen and movable jaw move along this body. A copper plate (A- 1-4) which is located below the calibrated plate (A- 1-1) of the body, together with an electronic circuit below the touch screen constitute capacitive sensors of the smart scale ruler. At the beginning of this body, the digital protractor clock housing is embedded (A- 1-2) and at the end of the main body and on the back, a tongue for another piece of this body by screw has been considered (A- 1 - 3).

3-2. Smart touch screen (A-2): Smart scale ruler consists of a touch screen (A-2-1), hardware keys On / Off / Lock (A-2-2), USB input (A-2-3), retaining tab of movable jaw (A-2-4), mounting place of ball clamps (A-2-5), ball clamps / screw, spring / ball bearings (A-2-6), screen moving knob (A-2-7) and an electronic circuit below the screen. By moving the screen along the metal body of the smart scale ruler, the rectangular plates of copper bar embedded below the main body’s calibrated plate (A- 1-1) are changing mode and stored charge level among plates varies. When these conditions emerge, a signal is sent to the chip placed in the board below the screen and this signal is interpreted and would be displayed numerically and based on the settings made by user on the screen. The lower part of the body of this screen has been designed in such a way that slide-mounted on the metal body to move the screen and the movable jaw easily and without clearance (A-2-8).

3-3. Movable jaw (A-3): the movable jaw consists of a metal body (A-3-1), end caps of metal body (A-3-2), holes for placing ball clamps (A-3-3), fixing screws of caps (A-3-4), groove on the touch screen tab (A-3-5). Movable jaw seats in the embedded place below the touch screen (A-2-4) and simultaneously as the screen moves, it moves along the metal body and calculates the amount of dimension changes based on the explained mechanism. Placement of the movable jaw in the embedded place is done in such a way that the groove of the movable jaw body (A-3-5) is placed in the embedded tab below the screen and then the movable jaw caps are fixed in place by screw (A-3-4) so that when moving up or down, if required, does not come out in its place. And in the last step, ball clamps (A-2-6) are installed in its place (A-2- 5) so that moving up and down of this jaw is done in a controlled and step-by-step manner.

3-4. Rotating jaw (A-4): rotating jaw consists of a metal body (A-4-1), two caps (A-4-2), placement holes of ball clamp ball-bearing (A-4-3), cap retaining screws (A-4-4), groove for retaining nut placement (A-4-5) and clamps limiting the rotation of rotating jaw (A-4-6). The rotating jaw is located under the digital protractor clock and transfers the rotation to the protractor by the axis of the digital protractor clock. How to connect a digital protractor clock to a rotating jaw is that first the ball clamps are installed in place and then the protractor clock is placed at the beginning of the main body and the retaining nut (A-5-6) is installed in the built-in groove at the end of the axis of the digital protractor clock (A-5-5). Then the retaining nut is placed inside the groove of rotating jaw (A-4-5) and finally caps (A-4-3) are fixed in place by screws so that when moving up and down of rotating jaw, the retaining nut does not come out of the groove. This type of design allows the rotating jaw can move up and down while rotating around the axis of the digital protractor clock. To prevent excessive rotation of the rotating jaw and damage to the axis and the digital protractor clock, a clamp (A-4-6) is placed on its body which limits the amount of rotation of the rotating jaw to 360 degrees.

3-5. Digital protractor (A-5): digital protractor clock consists of a touch screen (A-5-1), a key below the screen (A-5-2), the body (A-5-3), axis of rotation (A-5-4), groove for retaining nut placement (A-5-5). This clock is located at the beginning of the metal body at its place and as described previously, is attached to the rotating jaw. A key (A-5-5) is embedded under the screen of the digital protractor clock which is placed on the main body and prevents the clock from rotating when the jaw rotates. This clock has the ability to screen the value of the angle in three forms: Degree, Grad and Radian, which with each time touching the screen, the current system changes to the next system. Angle displayed on the screen of the digital protractor clock is based on the amount of angle created by the edge of the main body with the edge of the movable jaw. Generally, the value 90 is displayed on the screen.

3-6. Added parts (A-6): these parts consist of two separate pieces (A-6-1) 30 to 70 cm and (A- 6-2) 70 to 100 cm. These parts are designed as railing system like the main body so that movable jaw can move along it and its calibrated plate, like the main body, is divided into centimeters and inches. It uses a capacitive sensor system to calculate dimension changes as the main body. The beginning and the end of these parts are designed as tongue and groove (A-6-3) and (A-6-4) and their connection is done through flat-head bolt so that the movable jaw does not move along the body (A-6- 3).

4- Explanation of shapes, Drawing and diagrams:

1 -Drawing (A): Top view of smart scale drawing

2- Drawing (A-l): Top view of calibrated metal body (main body)

3- Drawing (A- 1-1): Calibrated metal body

4- Drawing (A- 1-2): Digital protractor clock housing

5- Drawing(A-l-3): Groove in the back of the main body to connect the added pieces

6- Drawing(A-l-4): Copper plate

7- Drawing(A-2): Smart touch screen

8- Drawing(A-2-l): Touch screen

9- Drawing(A-2-2): Hardware keys On / Off / Lock

10- Drawing(A-2-3): USB port for charging and updating screen software

11- Drawing(A-2-4): Retaining tab of movable jaw

12- Drawing(A-2-5): Mounting place of ball clamps

13- Drawing(A-2-6): Components of ball clamps / screw, spring / ball bearings

14- Drawing(A-2-7): Screen moving knob

15- Drawing(A-2-8): Slide-mounted of touch screen

16- Drawing(A-3): Movable jaw

17- Drawing(A-3-l): The metal body of movable jaw

18- Drawing(A-3-2): End caps of metal body (for movable jaw) - Drawing(A-3-3): Holes for placing ball clamps - Drawing(A-3-4): Fixing screws of caps - Drawing(A-3-5): Groove on the touch screen tab - Drawing(A-4): Rotating jaw - Drawing(A-4-l): The metal body of Rotating jaw - Drawing(A-4-2): End caps of metal body (for Rotating jaw) - Drawing(A-4-3): Placement holes of ball clamp ball-bearing - Drawing(A-4-4): Cap retaining screws - Drawing(A-4-5): Groove for retaining nut placement - Drawing(A-4-6): Clamps limiting the rotation of rotating jaw - Drawing(A-5): Digital protractor - Drawing(A-5-l): Touch screen of Digital protractor - Drawing(A-5-2): Key below the screen to prevent rotation - Drawing(A-5-3): The body of Digital protractor - Drawing(A-5-4): Axis of rotation for Connecting to the rotating jaw - Drawing(A-5-5): Groove housing of Digital protractor nut axis - Drawing(A-5-6): Retaining nut of Digital protractor axis into the groove of rotating jaw- Drawing(A-5-7): Ball clamps for motion controller to up and down on the rotating jaw- Drawing(A-6): Pieces added to the main body to increase the length of the smart scale ruler- Drawing(A-6-l): Top and Front view of Pieces added to the main body(30 to 70 cm)- Drawing(A-6-2): Top and Front view of Pieces added to the main body(70 to 100 cm) 40- Drawing(A-6-3): Groove in the ends of the added pieces

41- Drawing(A-6-4): Tongue in the ends of the added pieces

42- Drawing(A-6-5): Head screws to connect the added pieces to the main body and each other

43- Drawing(A-6-6): Show how to connect the added pieces to the main body and each other

5. Advantages of the claimed invention over previous inventions

-The smart scale ruler can be used in all field related to reading plan with any scale.

-Using smart scale ruler can read the role more quickly and accurately.

- Due to independent operation and no need for tools and accessories can be used in different conditions and locations (workshop conditions, project construction site and design studios).

- Shorten the plan reading process.

- No need to perform manual calculations.

- Ability to measure angles in the plan based on different systems.

- Specify the scale of plans that do not have a scale.

-Check the dimensions and size in models that are made based on a scale of actual size. Like the mock-up industry.

- Extract real sizes from photos and images.

-Ability to measure angle.

-Ability to measure non-aligned distances and discontinuous lines.

- Ability to increase the length if needed.

-No need for software or peripherals.

- Convenient and easy to use.

-Software upgradeability. 6. How to work with the smart scale ruler

6-1. Method I: The plan has a certain scale

In this case, we first select the “made scale” option from the main menu and then press the OK button (Step 1, Picture 4). Then, we enter the intended scale at the bottom of the screen by available numbers and press the “OK” (OK) and go to the “show scale” menu (Step 2, Picture 4). In this section, the selected scale is displayed. The values inside “size on plan” and “real size” cells (windows) are changed by opening and closing the movable jaw and the size measured on the plan and its actual value will be displayed (Step 2, Picture 4). The display units of the number inside these cells can be changed to custom units via the embedded cascade menu. In the case of selecting the metric system, the units of “mm, cm, m, and km” can be chosen through these menus, while in selecting the non-metric system, the units of “inch, ft, yard, and mile” can be chosen.

(Picture 4). Steps to set up smart scale ruler software through the screen (display). 6-2. Method II: The plan has not a certain scale

The scale is not specified in some plans or images or the scale is specified by the scale line in the plan. In this method, as in the first method, we first select the “made scale” option from the main menu and then press the “OK” button (Step 1, Picture 5). Since the scale of the plan is not clear and the scale must be calculated by the smart scale ruler, we choose the “set custom scale” option. At this time, one size is measured on the plan using the jaws and the size value is displayed in the “size on plan” window numerically. The size value can also be manually entered in this window (size on the plan). Then, we enter the actual value of this size in the “real size” window and the scale is calculated by the smart software of this scale ruler (Step 2, Picture 5). After completing this step, pressing the OK button will display the “show scale” menu. This section is like the final menu in the first method, in which, the required system and units are selected from this menu and the ruler is ready to work (Step 3, Picture 5).

(Picture 5) Setting the scale based on the reference scale (set custom scale). 6-3. Digital Protractor

The smart scale ruler has a rotating jaw at the end, which allows measuring the angles on the plan. The jaw at the end has a 360° rotation capability, which displays the degree of the angle measured in a digital clock. This watch is located at the bottom of the metal body and on the rotating jaw. This clock is connected to the rotating jaw with an axis and calculates the angle changes based on the rotation value of the jaw. This digital touch clock is capable of displaying the angular value in three different degrees, gradian, and radian systems. The current system switches to another system by touching the screen every time.

A toggle is embedded at the upper end of this rotary jaw, which restricts the rotation of the jaw to 360 degrees to prevent damage to the digital clock axis (Picture 6,7,8).

(Picture 6) The rotating jaw is normally in a vertical position to the main body (90 degrees).

(Picture 7). If needed, the rotating jaw can be used to measure angles up to 90 degrees clockwise and counterclockwise up to 270 degrees. After completing the angle measurement, we position the upper jaw at an angle of 90 degrees. The ball bearing supports under this part hold this jaw fixed in its place.

(Picture 8).

The amount of angle displayed in the digital clock is calculated in terms of the angle created between the top edge of the main body and the inner edge above the rotating jaw.

7. Technical field

The smart scale ruler can be used in all fields where it is not possible to prepare plans of the real dimensions of examined objects or subjects such as architectural plans, urban planning, geology, shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, electronics, mechanics, scale model-making, etc.

Claims

What is claimed:

Claim 1:

What is claimed is a means of converting scale, consisting of a metal rail body and two jaws mounted on it. The user takes the desired dimension from the drawing by changing the distance between the jaws and the device calculates the actual dimension based on the introduced scale and displays on the screen. The smart scale ruler also has the ability to measure the degree by one of the jaws. The components of a smart scale ruler are:

- Calibrated rail metal body on which the jaws are placed

- Rotating jaw to measure angle

- Movable jaw

- Digital protractor clock

- Smart screen

- Ball clamps

-Digital protractor axis retaining nut in the rotating jaw

Claim 2:

According to claim 1, to measure the desired dimension from the drawing, movable jaw below the smart screen is moved by the user along a metal body designed as a rail and the distance created between the jaws is introduced as the desired dimension.

Claim 3:

According to claim 2, the length introduced by the jaws to the smart scale ruler is considered as a numerical input and the actual dimension of the length is calculated based on the entered dimension and preset value and is displayed numerically on the smart scale ruler screen.

Claim 4:

According to claim 3, the smart scale ruler is designed based on metric and non-metric systems and has ability to display numbers based on different units selected by the user. Claim 5

The smart scale ruler is adjusted by the touch screen according to claim 4. Energy required by touch screen is powered by a rechargeable internal battery. This ruler can be updated using the USB port taken to charge the internal battery. This screen has 3 hardware keys that turn on and off, lock the screen and reset the smart scale ruler.

Claim 6:

According to claim 1, the smart scale ruler is capable of measuring degrees. Rotating jaw is placed at the beginning of a metal body and is equipped with a digital protractor clock which displays the amount of rotation of the rotating jaw numerically in terms of angle. The digital protractor clock is placed at the beginning and on the calibrated metal body which is connected to the rotating jaw through an axis. This connection is made through a groove designed on the rotating jaw body and the retaining nut. This type of design allows rotation of the protractor clock and also allows the rotating jaw to move up and down. Ability to move up and down for the rotating jaw is controlled by ball clamps embedded in the metal body.

Claim 7:

According to claim 6, the digital protractor is capable to display degrees based on Degrees, Grad and Radian with each time touching the screen, converting the current screen unit changes to another system. The energy required for this protractor clock is supplied by a replaceable internal battery. This digital clock automatically turns off after a few minutes and turns on by rotating the jaw and become ready to operate.

Claim 8:

According to claim 1, the movable jaw that is placed below the screen is like a rotating jaw capable to move up and down to allow remote and non -continuous distances to be measured. Moving up and down of this jaw is also done in a controlled way by ball clamps.

Claim 9:

According to claim 1 , the main metal body is calibrated and divided based on metric and inch system and also has ability to increase the length. This increases in length is done using parts 15 added to the main body. The added part is designed in the form of tongue and groove and placed in the main body and is fixed by screws.