Patent Description:
Tapelines and laser ranging devices are common distance measuring tools, which have found applications in fields of building construction, interior decoration, traffic accident disposition, and the like. In the prior art, when a tapeline is in use, the tap end part and the measuring terminal end of the tap need to be respectively leveled with the starting end and the terminal end of the object to be measured, and the measurer needs to use his/her hands or other auxiliary equipment to keep the tape to be fitted onto the object to be measured. In certain cases, an ordinary tapeline is inconvenient to operate and has lower measurement accuracy. For example, in the field of measurement at hazardous locations, the practicability of the ordinary tapeline is relatively poor.

For example, in the field of building constructions, the tapeline is often used to measure a lateral length of a high altitude object or a distance to a vertical reference object on the ground. Since there is no attaching point for the tapeline, the measurement can only rely on ocular estimation of the start point or the terminal point to be measured from a distance. Therefore, the error of the measured value may be large and the measurement accuracy may be poor, which will adversely affect the following construction work. If more accurate data of measurement at high altitude are desired to be acquired by using a tapeline, the measurer needs to build a supporting frame or climb high up using a ladder, so as to attach the tapeline to the object to be measured to complete the measurement. If the object to be measured is very long, more than two workers are needed to climb high up to complete the measurement, which is operationally cumbersome and has a high labor cost while it is dangerous due to the risk of falling of the measurer from high up.

In addition, due to the limit of the length of the tapeline, the application scenarios thereof are limited thereby, and the measurement range is relatively limited to places having smaller spaces rather than large spaces. The ordinary tapeline usually has a measurement range of <NUM> meters, <NUM> meters or <NUM> meters. Some specially made tapelines may even have a measurement range of up to <NUM> meters or <NUM> meters. However, the larger the measurement range of the tapeline is, the larger the volume thereof is, and thereby is inconvenient for the measurer to carry or use.

<CIT> discloses a laser range finder, including casing bottom plate and casing side wall, a rotation axis being provided on the casing bottom plate, the rotation axis connecting with a tape, a recovery mouth being provided on the casing side wall and allowing the tape to pass through, a first gear rotatably connecting to the casing bottom plate and being coaxial with the rotation axis and fixed to the rotation axis, a second gear rotatably connecting to the casing bottom plate and engaged with the first gear, a controlling hole being provided on the casing side wall, a side of the second gear being far away from the first gear protruding from the controlling hole, and its technical scheme is that the user drives the second gear rotation, and the second gear drives the first gear to rotate, and the rotating axis rotates to wind the tape, so that there is no strong vibration to effectively reduce the vibration of photoelectric components and timers and achieve the effect of extending the life of the laser range finder.

<CIT> relates to a measuring tape which comprises a housing, a scroll and a blade. The measuring tape further comprises a laser ranging device, which can emit a detection light beam parallel to a first direction to measure a target distance; a laser source, generating a laser beam; a light path assembly, which at least can enabling the laser beam generated by the laser source to act as the detection light beam of the laser ranging device; a photoelectric conversion element, which can convert a light signal into an electric signal; and a power supply, accommodated in the housing to at least supply power for the laser source. The light path assembly further comprises a turning optical element, which at least can turn reflective light that is parallel to the first direction and formed after the detection light beam is reflected by an object to be along a direction parallel to a second direction. The turning optical element is located between the laser source and the photoelectric conversion element. The measuring tape is provided internally with the laser ranging device, is reasonable in size and can measuring a relatively far target distance.

<CIT> relates to a laser distance measuring device with a mirror which can be brought into engagement with the beam path of the laser distance measuring device at an angle of <NUM>°, the mirror being able to be aligned in different directions in such a way that the beam path in corresponding directions is distracted.

Although the laser ranging device of the prior art has higher measurement accuracy, it has larger volume and higher cost, and is inconvenient to carry and use. After being used over a long time, the light-emitting surface of the laser light source and the light-receiving surface of the light-sensitive device thereof will experience relatively large abrasion, thereby affecting light ray feedback sensitivity and distance measuring accuracy. Moreover, the laser ranging device has larger errors in short-distance measurements, is greatly limited in the fields such as interior decoration, and is difficult to achieve large-scale applications.

The object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring device which solves the technical problems in the prior art tapeline such as large volume, inconvenient operation, low measurement accuracy, inconvenient carrying, and the like on particular occasions.

The present invention relates to a distance measurement device as defined in claim <NUM>.

The distance measuring device generally includes a casing consisting of a first housing and a second housing; a third housing, arranged between the first housing and the second housing, and rounding together with the second housing to form a tapeline cavity; a tapeline structure, arranged inside the tapeline cavity; and a laser ranging device, arranged between the first housing and the third housing.

Further, in different embodiments, the first housing includes a first housing bottom face and a first housing side wall; the second housing includes a second housing bottom face and a second housing side wall; the third housing includes a third housing bottom face and a third housing side wall; the second housing side wall and the first housing side wall are connected to each other, forming a side wall of the casing; and the third housing side wall is connected to the second housing bottom face.

Further, in different embodiments, the distance measuring device further includes a sheath partially or fully covering the first housing side wall and the second housing side wall; and/or partially or fully covering a joint between the first housing bottom face and the first housing side wall.

Further, in different embodiments, the laser ranging device includes a laser generating means for emitting measurement light beams to an object to be measured; the object to be measured reflecting the measurement light beams, and generating reflective light rays; a photoelectric conversion means, for capturing all or part of the reflective light rays, and converting an optical signal of the captured reflective light rays into at least one feedback electric signal; a circuit board, provided with a processor; and a power supply, connected to the laser generating means, the photoelectric conversion means and the circuit board; in which, the processor is connected to the laser generating means, for controlling the laser generating means; the processor is connected to the photoelectric conversion means, for acquiring the feedback electric signal, and calculating the distance from the object to be measured to the distance measuring device.

Further, in different embodiments, the laser generating means includes a light-emitting surface recessed on the first housing side wall; and the photoelectric conversion means includes a light-receiving surface recessed on the first housing side wall and being adjacent to the light-emitting surface.

Further, in different embodiments, the circuit board is parallel with the first housing bottom face; the laser generating means, the photoelectric conversion means and the circuit board are all located above or beneath the power supply; and the laser generating means and the photoelectric conversion means are located at the left side or right side of the circuit board.

Further, in different embodiments, the circuit board is located at the left side or right side of the power supply; and the circuit board is parallel with the first housing bottom face.

Further, in different embodiments, the distance measuring device further includes an viewing panel, which is made of transparent material and arranged on the surface of the first housing and/or the second housing; a display means mounting bracket, which inwardly protrudes from the first housing bottom face and the first housing side wall, and is arranged opposite to the viewing panel; and a display means, which is parallel with the viewing panel and is mounted to the display means mounting bracket; the display means is connected to the processor, for displaying the distance from the object to be measured to the distance measuring device.

Further, in different embodiments, an included angle between the plane where the viewing panel is located and the plane of the casing bottom is <NUM> to <NUM> degrees; and an included angle between the plane where the display means is located and the plane of the casing bottom is <NUM> to <NUM> degrees.

Further, in different embodiments, the distance measuring device further includes an operating circuit board which is parallel with the circuit board, fixed to the first housing bottom face, and electrically connected to the processor; a press switch, provided at one side of the operating circuit board close to the first housing bottom face; and a key which passes through the first housing bottom face, one end of the key being connected to the press switch and the other end thereof being arranged at the first housing outer surface.

Further, in different embodiments, the first housing bottom face includes a key mounting hole penetrating through the first housing bottom face; and a mounting hole groove, provided at an edge of the key mounting hole; the key includes a key body which is columnar and penetrates through the key mounting hole, and a key snap block protruding from the key body edge and snapped into the mounting hole groove.

Further, in different embodiments, the circuit board is provided with a memory which is connected to the processor, for storing the distance from the object to be measured to the distance measuring device.

Further, in different embodiments, the laser generating means includes, but not limited to, a laser tube; the photoelectric conversion means includes, but not limited to, a photoelectric sensor; and the power supply includes, but not limited to, a button battery, a rectangular parallelepiped battery or a cylindrical battery.

Further, in different embodiments, the tapeline structure includes a tapeline wheel, rotatably mounted into the tapeline cavity; a tape, fully or partially wound onto the tapeline wheel; one end of the tape is fixedly connected to the tapeline wheel, and the other end thereof is provided with a tapeline end portion; and a tape outlet, provided at the lower end of the side wall of the casing, the tapeline end portion extending out of the casing through the tape outlet.

Further, in different embodiments, the middle of the second housing bottom face is provided with a protruding shaft lever, which is perpendicular to the second housing bottom face; the center of the tapeline wheel is provided with a sleeve hole circumferentially surrounding the outside of the shaft lever; and the tapeline wheel rotates when the tape is pulled out.

Further, in different embodiments, the tapeline structure further includes a press block, provided inside the tapeline cavity and close to the tape outlet; an elastic member, one end of which is connected to the press block, and the other end thereof is connected to the second housing; and a lock key, connected to the second housing or the third housing through the elastic member; one end of the lock key is provided at the outer surface of the second housing, and the other end is tangent to or separated from the press block; when the lock key is pressed, the lock key is tangent to the press block, and the press block releases the tape; when the lock key is released, the lock key is separated from the press block and the press block presses against the tape.

The present invention has the advantages that a distance measuring device is provided, in which the tapeline is combined with the laser ranging device, with the functions of short-distance measurement and long-distance measurement, having the characteristics of simple operation, convenient carrying, low cost, high measurement accuracy, and the like, and being suitable for popularization and application on a large scale in the fields of building construction, interior decoration and danger zone measurement.

The present invention will be described more fully for those skilled in the art hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings by introducing one of the preferable embodiments of the present invention, for the purpose of clarity and better understanding of the techniques. This invention may be embodied in various different forms and the invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

In the description, elements with identical structures are marked with the same reference numerals, and like elements with similar structure or function are marked throughout with like reference numerals, respectively. The dimension and thickness of each of the elements in the accompanying drawings are arbitrarily shown, and the invention does not define the dimension and thickness of each element. Certain elements may be shown somewhat exaggerated in thickness in the interest of clarity.

Directional relative terms mentioned in the present invention, such as "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", "side", and the like, are only directions by referring to the accompanying drawings, and are merely used to explain and describe the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "on/above" another element, it can be directly placed on the other element, or there may be an intermediate element on which it is placed, and the intermediate element is placed on the other element. When an element is referred to as being "mounted to" or "connected to" another element, either one can be understood as being directly "mounted" or "connected", or via an intermediate element to be indirectly "mounted to" or "connected to" the other element.

As shown in <FIG>, the present invention provides a distance measuring device, including a casing <NUM>, a laser ranging device <NUM> and a tapeline structure <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the casing <NUM> is an irregular rectangular parallelepiped, whose width is equal to or approximately equal to its height, with a thickness of <NUM>%~<NUM>% of its width.

As shown in <FIG>, the casing <NUM> consists of a first housing <NUM> and a second housing <NUM>; the first housing <NUM> includes a first housing bottom face <NUM> and a first housing side wall <NUM>; the second housing <NUM> includes a second housing bottom face <NUM> and a second housing side wall <NUM>; the second housing side wall <NUM> is connected to the first housing side wall <NUM>, together forming the side wall and bottom face of the casing <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a third housing <NUM> is provided between the first housing <NUM> and the second housing <NUM>, the third housing <NUM> includes a third housing bottom face <NUM> and a third housing side wall <NUM>; the third housing side wall <NUM> is connected to the second housing <NUM> bottom face, the third housing <NUM> and the second housing <NUM> are together rounded to form a tapeline cavity <NUM>. The tapeline structure <NUM> is arranged inside the tapeline cavity <NUM>; and the laser ranging device <NUM> is arranged between the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM>.

The present embodiment further includes a sheath <NUM> which is made of elastic material or soft material, partially or fully covering the first housing side wall <NUM> and the second housing side wall <NUM>, and/or partially or fully covering the joint between the first housing bottom face <NUM> and the first housing side wall <NUM>. The sheath <NUM> serves to enhance the hand feeling, increase the friction coefficient between the distance measuring device and the user's hand, and prevent the distance measuring device from sliding off from the user's hand; meanwhile, if the distance measuring device slides off from the user's hand, the sheath has certain cushioning effect, and protects the internal electronic devices and mechanical structures from being broken.

As shown in <FIG>, the laser ranging device <NUM> includes a laser generating means <NUM>, a photoelectric conversion means <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM>, a display means <NUM>, an operating means and a power supply <NUM>.

The laser generating means <NUM> is preferably a laser tube, that is, a glass sealed-off CO<NUM> laser, but not limited to a laser tube, and other devices capable of generating laser beams can be used. The photoelectric conversion means <NUM> is preferably a photoelectric sensor, but is not limited thereto, and other devices capable of capturing light rays and converting the optical signal into the electric signal can be used. The laser generating means <NUM> and the photoelectric conversion means <NUM> can be arranged side by side, or up and down. In the present embodiment, preferably, the laser generating means <NUM> and the photoelectric conversion means <NUM> are arranged up and down and are integrally combined.

The laser generating means <NUM> includes a light-emitting surface <NUM>, and the photoelectric conversion means <NUM> includes a light-receiving surface <NUM>. The light-receiving surface <NUM> is arranged next to the light-emitting surface <NUM>, adjacent to the light-emitting surface <NUM>. If being arranged at the outer surface of the housing, the light-emitting surface and the light-receiving surface are easily abraded during carrying, using and maintaining. After a long-time use, due to much abrasion, the light ray feedback sensitivity and measurement accuracy of the distance meter would be reduced, and the service life is shortened. In the present embodiment, the light-emitting surface <NUM> and the light-receiving surface <NUM> are both recessed on the first housing side wall <NUM>, with the recess depth greater than <NUM> or greater than <NUM>, such that the light-emitting surface <NUM> and the light-receiving surface <NUM> are not abraded. Under the precondition that the normal operation of the laser generating means <NUM> and the photoelectric conversion means <NUM> are not affected, the service life of the light-emitting surface <NUM> and the light-receiving surface <NUM> are further prolonged, and the light ray feedback sensitivity and measurement accuracy of the distance meter are guaranteed.

As shown in <FIG>, the circuit board <NUM> is provided thereon with at least one processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is connected to the laser generating means <NUM> for controlling the normal operation of the laser generating means <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is connected to the photoelectric conversion means <NUM>, for acquiring the feedback electric signal, and calculating the distance from the object to be measured to the distance measuring device according to the present embodiment. Optionally, the circuit board <NUM> is provided thereon with a memory <NUM> connected to the processor <NUM>, for storing the distance from the object to be measured to the distance measuring device, in order for the user to look up reading records in the display means <NUM> again when forgetting the reading.

In the present embodiment, during operation, the processor <NUM> issues a control signal to command the laser generating means <NUM> to emit laser beams, as measurement light beams, to the object to be measured. The measurement light beams form a reflection on the surface of the object to be measured, to generate reflective light rays. A part of the light rays parallel with the measurement light beams out of the reflective light rays can be captured by the photoelectric conversion means <NUM>, is converted into an electric signal, and is fed back to the processer <NUM>. The processor <NUM> can be provided therein with a timer to record a time point when the laser generating means <NUM> emits laser beams and a time point when the feedback electric signal is obtained. According to the time difference between the two time points, the distance from the object to be measured to the distance measuring device can be calculated. During this period of time, the laser beam goes back and forth between the object to be measured and the distance measuring device at the light velocity. Half of the product of the time difference and the light velocity is the distance to be measured between the object to be measured and the distance measuring device.

In the present embodiment, both of the light-emitting surface of the laser generating means and the light-receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion means can be arranged at the outer surface of the housing (for example, the left side surface <NUM> of the housing), the laser generating means <NUM> emits laser beams from the light-emitting surface <NUM>, as the measurement light rays; the photoelectric conversion means <NUM> captures the outside reflective light rays through the light-emitting surface <NUM>. Since the laser beam is perpendicular to the plane where the light-emitting surface <NUM> is located all the time, the light-emitting surface <NUM> can be used for helping the user target the object to be measured, such that the laser beam can be directly illuminated to the object to be measured. In order to ensure the reflective effect, it is best to directly illuminate the laser beams to the plane where the object to be measured is located, and to make the laser beam be perpendicularly illuminated to this plane to the greatest extent. In this way, much light rays can be reflected back to the distance measuring device in the same way, such that the measured result is more accurate.

In the present embodiment, a central point of the light-emitting surface <NUM> and the central point of the light-receiving surface <NUM> are located on the same straight line. The shorter the distance from the light-emitting surface <NUM> to the light-receiving surface <NUM> is, the smaller the error is. Theoretically, if the central point of the light-emitting surface <NUM> is fully overlapped with that of the light-receiving surface <NUM>, the error is the smallest, which however is difficult to realize currently.

Generally, the area of the light-receiving surface <NUM> is <NUM>-<NUM> times of that of the light-emitting surface <NUM>. The laser beams can keep traveling in a straight line all the time when emitted, but after the laser beams are reflected on the surface of the object to be measured, if the object to be measured is not a mirror surface with excellent reflective effects, it is difficult to ensure the strength and quantity of the light rays able to return back to the vicinity of the light-emitting surface <NUM> in the same way after reflection, even if the laser beams can be illuminated on the object to be measured perpendicularly to the surface of the object to be measured. Therefore, the appropriate enlargement of the area of the light-receiving surface <NUM> can further increase the measurement accuracy and the feedback sensitivity.

As shown in <FIG>, the circuit board <NUM> is parallel with the first housing bottom face <NUM>, and is located at the same height as the laser generating means <NUM> and the photoelectric conversion means <NUM>. The laser generating means <NUM> and the photoelectric conversion means <NUM> are located at the left side or the right side of the circuit board <NUM>; the laser generating means <NUM>, the photoelectric conversion means <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM> are all located above or beneath the power supply <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the laser generating means <NUM> and the photoelectric conversion means <NUM> have small volumes, and leave enough space to place the circuit board <NUM> at the same height, thereby effectively reducing the overall thickness of the distance measuring device. Meanwhile, the top of the casing can be designed into arc-shaped, instead of square, which can effectively reduce the volume and the occupation space of the product, such that the product is more portable.

In other embodiments, the circuit board <NUM> and the power supply <NUM> can be located at the same height side by side, at the left side or right side of the power supply <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the present embodiment further includes a display means <NUM>, a viewing panel <NUM> and a display means mounting bracket <NUM>.

The viewing panel <NUM> is made of transparent material and arranged at the surface of the first housing <NUM> and/or the second housing <NUM>, for protecting the display means <NUM>. The display means mounting bracket <NUM> inwardly protrudes from the first housing bottom face <NUM> and the first housing side wall <NUM> and is arranged opposite to the viewing panel <NUM>. The display means <NUM> is parallel with the viewing panel <NUM> and is mounted to the display means mounting bracket <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the display means <NUM> is preferably a display screen, connected to the processor <NUM>, for displaying the distance from the object to be measured to the distance measuring device.

The included angle between the plane where the viewing panel <NUM> is located and the plane of the casing <NUM> bottom is <NUM> to <NUM> degrees; the included angle between the plane where the display means <NUM> is located and the plane of the casing <NUM> bottom is <NUM> to <NUM> degrees. The display means <NUM> and the viewing panel <NUM> are arranged obliquely, such that the top of the casing is designed to be arc-shaped, which further reduces the occupation space, and is more suitable for the hand shape of human, such that the distance measuring device is more portable.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the operating means includes a key <NUM>, an operating circuit board <NUM> and a press switch <NUM>.

The operating circuit board <NUM> is parallel with the circuit board <NUM> and is fixed to the first housing bottom face <NUM>; the operating circuit board <NUM> is electrically connected to the processor <NUM>, for transmitting at least one control instruction to the laser ranging device <NUM>. The press switch <NUM> is arranged at one side of the operating circuit board <NUM> close to the first housing bottom face <NUM>; the key <NUM> passes through the first housing bottom face <NUM>, one end of the key <NUM> is connected to the press switch <NUM>, and the other end thereof is arranged at the outer surface of the first housing <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first housing bottom face <NUM> includes a key mounting hole <NUM> and a mounting hole groove <NUM>, the key mounting hole <NUM> penetrating through the first housing bottom face, and the mounting hole groove <NUM> is arranged at the edge of the key mounting hole <NUM>. The key <NUM> includes a key body <NUM> and a key snap block <NUM>, the key body <NUM> is columnar, penetrating through the key mounting hole <NUM>, and the key snap block <NUM> protrudes from the edge of the key body <NUM>, snapped into the mounting hole groove <NUM>. When the key body <NUM> is pressed, the key snap block <NUM> slides in the mounting hole groove <NUM>, the press switch <NUM> is also pressed, and the circuit board acquires one electric signal.

The key <NUM> is used for inputting at least one control action each corresponding to one control instruction. When the key <NUM> is pressed to input one control instruction, the press switch <NUM> is also pressed, and the operating circuit board <NUM> converts the control action into at least one electric signal, and according to the number of times the key is pressed, transfers one electric signal containing the control instruction to the processor <NUM>; and each electric signal corresponds to one control instruction. In the present embodiment, the key <NUM> corresponds to two control instructions, that is, a turn-on instruction and a turn-off instruction, for turning on and turning off the distance measuring device.

In order to be convenient for the user to operate and use, in the present embodiment, the technical solution that the viewing panel <NUM> and the display means <NUM> arranged on the upper surface of the casing <NUM> are preferably adopted, and the user can see the display means <NUM> once lowering his or her head, which is convenient to operate the distance measuring device and read the readings of the distance to be measured. The key <NUM> is arranged in the middle of the outer surface of the first housing bottom face <NUM>, which is convenient for the user to press it using his or her thumb. The display means <NUM> and the operating means <NUM> can be designed in an integrated manner, that is, to adopt the touch screen, realizing the operation control function and the reading display function at the same time. Due to the high cost of the touch screen, the application of this solution is limited to some extent.

The power supply <NUM> can be a button battery, a rectangular parallelepiped battery or two cylindrical batteries arranged side by side. The button battery has small volume, takes up small space, and can effectively reduce the volume of the distance measuring device. However, the button battery has a small electric quantity, so the user needs to change the battery frequently, and the use cost is high. The rectangular parallelepiped battery and the cylindrical battery have a greater electric quantity than the button battery, so they are changed infrequently, which can reduce the use cost, but they are inconvenient to carry or use due to the large volumes. Both the rectangular parallelepiped battery and the cylindrical battery can be rechargeable batteries, thereby further reducing the use cost. In the present embodiment, the power supply <NUM> is preferably a cylindrical battery.

As shown in <FIG>, the tapeline structure <NUM> includes a tapeline wheel <NUM>, a tape <NUM>, a tape outlet <NUM>, a press block <NUM>, a lock key <NUM> and an elastic member <NUM>, in which the press block <NUM>, the lock key <NUM> and the elastic member <NUM> form a locking mechanism together, for locking the length of the tape extending out of the casing <NUM>, so as to read the readings.

The tapeline wheel <NUM> is rotatably mounted into the tapeline cavity <NUM>; the tape <NUM> is fully or partially wound onto the tapeline wheel <NUM>; one end of the tape <NUM> is fixedly connected to the tapeline wheel <NUM>, and the other end thereof is provided with the tapeline end portion <NUM>. The tape outlet <NUM> is arranged at the lower end of the side wall of the casing <NUM>, and the tapeline end portion <NUM> extends out of the casing <NUM> through the tape outlet <NUM>; and the press block <NUM> is arranged inside the casing <NUM> close to the tape outlet <NUM>. When the tape <NUM> is pulled out of the casing <NUM>, the press block <NUM> is used for pressing against the tape <NUM>, such that the length of the tape <NUM> outside the casing <NUM> keeps constant; one end of the elastic member <NUM> is connected to the press block <NUM>, the other end thereof is connected to the second housing <NUM>, for assisting the press block <NUM> to restore to the original position; the lock key <NUM> is connected to the second housing or the third housing through the elastic member (preferably, a small spring), for controlling the press block <NUM> to press against or release the tape <NUM>.

One end of the lock key <NUM> is arranged at the outer surface of the second housing <NUM>, and the other end thereof is tangent to or separated from the press block <NUM>, for controlling the press block <NUM> to press against or release the tape <NUM>. When the lock key <NUM> is pressed, the lock key <NUM> is tangent to the press block <NUM> which releases the tape <NUM>; when the lock key <NUM> is released, the lock key <NUM> is separated from the press block <NUM> which presses against the tape <NUM>. The user can control the extending length of the tape by pressing or releasing the lock key <NUM>, so as to lock the tape extending length and be convenient for reading.

The tapeline wheel <NUM> is rotatably mounted into the tapeline cavity <NUM>. Specifically, the middle the second housing bottom face <NUM> is provided with a protruding shaft lever <NUM>, perpendicular to the second housing bottom face <NUM>; the center of the tapeline wheel <NUM> is provided with a sleeve hole <NUM>, circumferentially surrounding the outside of the shaft lever <NUM>; and when the tape <NUM> is pulled out, the tapeline wheel <NUM> rotates.

Also, the tapeline structure <NUM> may be any tapeline in the prior art. The tapeline structure <NUM>, in operation, uses the tapeline end portion <NUM> to pull the tape <NUM> out of the casing <NUM>, for implementing the measurement. After the measurement, the lock key <NUM> needs to be pressed, and the press block <NUM> therein presses against the tape <NUM>, such that the length of the tape <NUM> out of the casing <NUM> keeps constant, and thereby the length reading on the tape <NUM> is read. In the present embodiment, the lock key <NUM> is one key arranged at the bottom face <NUM> of the casing <NUM>. After pressed for the first time, the press block <NUM> presses against the tape <NUM>; after the length value is read, and the press block is pressed again, the press block <NUM> releases the tape <NUM>, and after the length reading is read, the tape <NUM> is retracted into the casing <NUM>.

The tapeline structure <NUM> has the following preferable solution. The width of the tape <NUM> is less than or equal to <NUM>, preferably <NUM>; the tape <NUM> has a length of less than or equal to <NUM>, which effectively reduces the volume of the tape <NUM> wound on the tapeline wheel <NUM>, reduces the space of the tape <NUM> taking up in the distance measuring device, and reduces the width of the distance measuring device. For the combination of the laser generating means <NUM> and the photoelectric conversion means <NUM>, if the object to be measured is longer than <NUM> meters, its measurement accuracy is relatively high, so the present embodiment is applicable for various scenarios as long as the tape length of the tapeline reaches <NUM> metres.

As shown in <FIG>, the front side surface <NUM> of the casing <NUM> is further provided with a clip <NUM> used by the user to clip the distance measuring device on the waistband, which is convenient to carry.

The present invention has the technical effects that a distance measuring device is provided, in which the laser ranging device and the tapeline structure are arranged in the same casing, such that the distance measuring device has the functions of short-distance measurement and long-distance measurement at the same time, is convenient and flexible, and has high measurement accuracy. The height and width of the distance measuring device of the present embodiment are similar to those of the ordinary tapeline, which takes up small space, is convenient for human hand to hold and convenient for the user to operate and use during operation.

Claim 1:
A distance measuring device, comprising
a first housing (<NUM>) and a second housing (<NUM>) constituting a casing (<NUM>);
characterized in that the distance measuring device further comprises a third housing (<NUM>) arranged in the casing (<NUM>) between the first housing (<NUM>) and the second housing (<NUM>); the third housing (<NUM>) and the second housing (<NUM>) together rounded to form a tapeline cavity (<NUM>); and wherein a laser ranging device (<NUM>) is arranged between the first housing (<NUM>) and the third housing (<NUM>).