Patent ID: 7174647
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: G01C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A pattern projecting system comprising: (a) a light source configured to project an illuminating beam having a non-circularly patterned cross section so that an intersecting projection of the beam onto a spaced away, reflective and facing wall, if the wall is present, will produce an illuminated marking on the wall where the illuminated marking is substantially in the shape of a line or another fanning-out pattern that is parallel-wise alignable to a hypothetical line on the wall by virtue of the fanning-out shape of the illuminated marking; (b) a spherically rotatable support having a center of spherical rotation, (c) one or more orientation indicators operatively coupled to the spherically rotatable support and adapted to at least indicate if the first hypothetical plane is in a level condition, wherein said one or more orientation indicators are located so as to not block said light source from projecting the illuminated beam away from the spherically rotatable support.