Portable electronic measuring device and method

A portable electronic device for measuring a distance D1 between two points E1, E2, includes a visible and rotatable light emitter, an angle computing unit, a distance computing unit and an output unit. The light emitter generates a rotatable light beam capable of rotating from pointing in an initial direction to project to the point E1. The initial direction is substantially perpendicular to a line defined by the points E1, E2. A distance H1 between the light emitter and the line, and a distance S1 from the point E2 to the point of intersection of the line defined by the first and second points E1, E2 with the initial direction, are known. The angle computing unit computes an angle defined by the visible light beam projecting to the point E1 and the initial direction according to the rotatable light beam. The distance computing unit computes the distance D1 based on the angle, the distance H1 and the distance S1.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to distance measuring, and particularly to portable electronic measuring devices and methods.

2. Description of Related Art

Commonly, electronic distance measuring instruments such as laser length measuring instruments are bulky and hard to carry.

Therefore, portable electronic measuring devices and methods are needed to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, a portable electronic device90is used for measuring a distance D1between a first point E1and a second point E2on an object77. The portable electronic device90includes a first member93, a second member97pivotally attached to one end of the first member93, an input unit100, a control unit200, a motor300, a visible light emitter400, an angle computing unit500, a distance computing unit600, and an output unit700.

The first member93includes an upper surface933and a left surface937and a right surface939correspondingly extended from opposite ends of the upper surface933. The left surface937and the right surface939are substantially perpendicular to the upper surface933. The second member97has a first surface977. The first surface977is attached to the right surface939when the second member97covers the first member93. The visible light emitter400is disposed on the first surface977.

The input unit100is used for receiving an input request, generating an input signal responding to the request, and transmitting the input signal to the control unit200. The input unit100includes a motor button130and an angle button150. A motor signal is generated when the motor button130is pressed. An angle signal is generated when the angle button150is pressed.

The control unit200is used for generating control signals according to the input signal and transmitting the control signals to the respective motor300and the angle computing unit500.

The motor300is used for driving the visible light emitter400to rotate. Therefore, a visible light beam generated by the visible light emitter400can be rotated from an initial direction O′ to project to a predetermined direction, such as to the first point E1. The initial direction O′ is substantially perpendicular to the first surface977and a line joining the first and second points E1, E2.

The angle computing unit500is used for computing an angle formed by the initial direction O′ and a current direction based on a rotated angle of the motor300. Therefore, an angle A1defined by the visible light beam projecting to the first point E1and the initial direction O′ is obtained.

The distance computing unit600is connected with the angle computing unit500. The distance computing unit600is used for computing the distance D1between the first and second points E1, E2based on the angle A1computed by the angle computing unit500.

The output unit700can be a visual output or an audio output or both. Thus the Distance D1may be displayed or a speaker could announce the distance D1or the Distance D1could be displayed and announced.

In operation, the second member97is rotated and stopped substantially perpendicular to the first member93. The upper surface933is attached to the line defined by the first and second points E1, E2. The point E2coincides with the plane of the left surface937. The first surface977is substantially parallel to the upper surface933and the line defined by the first and second points E1, E2. A distance S1from the point E2to the point of intersection of the line defined by the first and second points E1, E2with the initial direction O′ is known A perpendicular distance H1between the visible light emitter400and the line defined by the first and second points E1, E2is known.

Then the motor signal is received by the control unit200. The control unit200generates a first control signal according to the motor signal and transmits the first control signal to the motor300. The motor300rotates the visible light emitter400according to the first control signal. When the visible light beam generated by the visible light emitter400projects to the first point E1, the angle button150is pressed. The control unit200receives the angle signal, generates a second control signal according to the angle signal and transmits the second control signal to the angle computing unit500. The angle computing unit500computes a first angle A1defined by the initial direction O′ and the visible light beam projecting to the first point E1according to a rotated angle of the motor300.

Finally, the distance D1between the first and second points E1, E2is computed based on the first angle A1, the distance H1, and the distance S1. In this embodiment, the distance D1is computed according to the following formula: D1=S1+H1*tan ∠A1. Therefore, the distance D1between the first and second points E1, E2computed by the portable electronic device90can be known and furthermore, the portable electronic device90is convenient to carry. In other embodiments, if the point E1is to the left of the light emitter400but not beyond the right surface939, the distance D1is computed according to the following formula: D1=S1−H1*tan ∠A1.

Referring toFIG. 2and the flowchart ofFIG. 3, a method for measuring a distance D1between two points E1, E2in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is shown. The method may be implemented using a portable electronic device, such as the portable electronic device90(FIG. 1). The portable electronic device may include a first member and a second member pivotally attached to one end of the first member. The first member includes an upper surface, a left surface and a right surface correspondingly extended from two opposite ends of the upper surface. The left surface and the right surface are substantially perpendicular to the upper surface. The second member has a first surface. The first surface is attached to the right surface when the second member covers the first member.

The various actions in the method may be performed in the order presented, or may be performed in a different order. Furthermore, in some embodiments, some actions shown inFIG. 3may be omitted from the method. The method shown includes the following steps.

Beginning in step S801, the second member is rotated and stopped substantially perpendicular to the first member, the upper surface is attached to a line joining the two points E1, E2, and the point E2coincides with the extension of the plane of the left surface, thus the first surface is substantially parallel to the upper surface and the line defined by the two point E1, E2.

In step S803, a visible light beam B1, may be generated by a visible light emitter disposed on a first surface, is rotated from an initial direction O′ to project to the point E1. The initial direction O′ is substantially perpendicular to the first surface and the line defined by the two points E1, E2. The visible light emitter may be driven by a motor to rotate the visible light beam B1. A distance S1from the point E2to the point of intersection of the line defined by the first and second points E1, E2with the initial direction O′ is known. A perpendicular distance H1between the visible light emitter and the line is known.

In step S805, a first angle A1defined by the visible light beam B1projecting to the point E1and the initial direction O′ is computed. The first angle A1may be computed according to a rotated angle of the motor.

In step S807, the distance D1between the two points E1, E2is computed based on the distance H1, the distance S1and the first angle A1. In this embodiment, the distance D1between two points is computed according to the following formula: D1=S1+H1*tan ∠A1. In other embodiment, if the point E1is to the left of the light emitter400but not beyond the right surface939, the distance D1is computed according to the following formula: D1=S1−H1*tan ∠A1.

In step S809, the distance D1is outputted via visual images or audible sounds.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.