James H Trice

US Patent:

41115643, Sep 5, 1978

Filed:

Feb 8, 1973

Appl. No.:

5/330599

Inventors:

James R. Trice - Arlington VA

International Classification:

G01C 500
G01B 1126

US Classification:

356247

Abstract:

A reference plane producing method and system wherein a substantially collimated beam of electromagnetic radiation, for example, a laser beam, is reflected to simultaneously disperse the beam in different directions to form a thin plane of such radiation which can be used, for example, as a construction reference line. In a preferred embodiment a primary cone having its apex projecting towards the incident beam and its optical axis coaxial with the incident beam is used to reflect the beam of light. Various embodiments of a basic apparatus having integral or separate collimating and leveling devices are described. The preferred source of radiant energy is a laser, most preferably a second-mode laser having a donut or annular shaped beam and is projected against an axially aligned conical reflecting surface. The conical surface can be a female cone formed by axially drilling into a transparent transmission tube, such as the emission end of a fiber-optic transmission system.

US Patent:

D2749181, Jul 31, 1984

Filed:

May 17, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/379167

Inventors:

James V. Trice - Boyds MD
C. Verne Muffoletto - Baltimore MD

US Classification:

D19 59