Patent ID: 6502319
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: G01C,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for producing a line of laser light on a surface, comprising:positioning a laser diode, of the type that produces an oblong beam diverging unequally in wide and narrow angles of divergence along two perpendicular axes, a long axis and a short axis, at a position spaced away from a surface on which a reference line is to be projected, with the laser diode oriented such that a longitudinal plane through the diode that includes the long axis is substantially perpendicular to said surface, and focusing the laser beam to converge the beam in the narrow angle of divergence on said short axis, to bring the beam into approximate focus along a line on said surface, while allowing the beam to continue to diverge along the wide angle of divergence, whereby the wide angle of divergence of the laser diode's beam in the long axis is used to generate a line on the surface, in a simple and efficient optical system.