Patent ID: 8615376

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring and computing geometric dimensions, comprising: a housing suitable for a human user to grip and carry the apparatus thereby; a coherent light source that can be directed in a first direction so as to shine on a first target point of interest in space, and capable of being directed in a second direction so as to shine on a second point of interest in space, said coherent light source being adapted for directing towards a plurality of target points of interest in three-dimensional space, a distance measurement element being adapted for determining respective distances from the apparatus to said respective target points and a processing circuit being adapted for computing a volumetric size of a region defined by said plurality of target points of interest; the distance measurement element including a circuit that determines a first distance from the apparatus to said first target point of interest, and a second distance from the apparatus to at least the second target point of interest in space; an angular displacement or rotational sensing element that determines an angle between: a first line connecting said light source and said first point of interest, and a second line connecting said light source and said second point of interest; a data storage element that stores data representative of said measured distances to said first and second target points of interest; a processor that receives a plurality of inputs representative of at least said respective distances to the first and second target points of interest, and said angle, and that calculates a distance between said first and second target points of interest; a visual display unit providing a visual indication of a plurality of operational features of said apparatus; and a user interface adapted to receive inputs from said human user to control said operational features of said apparatus.