...that when IBM conducted a market study of Chester Carlson's invention in 1959, the company concluded that it would take only 5000 units of his new product to saturate the market? IBM therefore declined to be part of the new product introduction. Too bad for IBM. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, and his new product was the beginning of the Xerox Corporation. It is estimated that every day, worldwide, 3,000,000,000 copies are made!!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7979992 | Computerized simultaneous laser marking and targeting system What is new in this invention, it is the complete automation of the remote marking process. It is completely computer controlled and made possible by laser printer type marking/pointer equipment. Also, completely new is the concept of embedding digital inform... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7954246 | Rotating laser transmitter The transmitter has a generally flat, circuit board stator, a rotor including a plurality of magnets mounted in a ring around a central opening, and a bearing, supporting the rotor for rotation about an axis that extends through the central opening, A pentaprism ass... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7797843 | Optical sight An optical sight comprises an elongate housing defining a light channel. A lens is provided at one end of the light channel and has a partially reflecting surface. A laser diode is energised by a pulsating electric current delivered by a battery powered energising c... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7631432 | Compact multifunction sight A multifunction sight is disclosed. The multifunction sight includes an body, a receiving aperture, an emitting aperture, a parabolic reflector, and an optical detector. The receiving aperture passes radiation in a first band and a second band into the body where th... | 12/15/2009 |
| 7412770 | Device for adjusting the angle of a sighting unit to a target The invention relates to a device for adjusting the angle of a sighting unit towards a target, in particular for a geodesic-measuring instrument. The inventive device comprises a reference base, at least one bearing for mounting the sighting unit thereon in such a w... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7370532 | RF communications method and system for laser ultrasonic testing A system including a processor, a high-energy density system linked to the processor, and a communicator linked to the processor. The communicator comprehensively integrates a plurality of hardware and software functions associated with operating the high-energy den... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7369916 | Drill press A power tool control system connected with a drill press provides a system for determining operational settings for the drill press and/or structural factors of a workpiece to be operated upon by the drill press. For instance, the power tool control system may estab... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7359762 | Measurement and alignment device including a display system A graphical user interface communicatively coupled with a non-contact measurement and alignment device enables user control over and display of the readings from the non-contact measurement and alignment device. In operation with a power tool, the graphical user int... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7353619 | Dual purpose light assembly This invention is directed to an automatic tape measure having a housing, a tape assembly, and a light assembly. The tape assembly is supported in the housing and contains a reel having a tape adapted to extend and retract from the front wall of the housing. The lig... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7350309 | Extendable spacer device A spacer device for laser-optical measurement of hollow cylinders has at least two, preferably three arms which are coupled or interlaced with one another and which can be moved relative to one another. Each of the arms has a measurement roller on one end which is b... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7328516 | Laser level A reflector for projecting a laser beam in a fan-shaped plane of light are provided. Associated with each reflector is at least one light source. Each light source is oriented relative to its associated reflector such that the axis of the beam of light hits the refl... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7325318 | Compact multifunction sight A multifunction sight is disclosed. The multifunction sight includes an body, a receiving aperture, an emitting aperture, a parabolic reflector, and an optical detector. The receiving aperture passes radiation in a first band and a second band into the body where th... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7313871 | Archery sight An improved laser sight apparatus that is capable of identifying and impinging several different targets at varying ranges from the shooter. In the preferred embodiment, the laser sight according to the present invention includes three lasers, each of which is pre-c... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7310887 | Intersecting laser line generating device A line generating device generates two fan-shaped beams of light at an angle to each other, and projects the beams onto an adjacent surface, where the beams are visible as lines on the surface. A user has access to the intersection of the lines, so that the intersec... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7290474 | System for rapidly stopping a spinning table saw blade A system for stopping a spinning table saw blade is comprised of a pin assembly disposed adjacent to a saw blade assembly for stopping a spinning saw blade. A receiving block is disposed on a side of the saw blade opposing the pin assembly for receiving the tip of t... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7287336 | Apparatus for producing a visible line of light on a surface, particularly a wall An apparatus and method for efficiently generating a visible line of light on a surface such as a wall or a floor for the purpose of facilitating the layout process used in construction. Reference marking elements on the instrument correspond to the light beam's pos... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7278221 | Angle measurement tool An angle measurement tool having two legs held together by a removable adjustment member in which the legs are joined together about a common axis so that one of the legs rotates with respect to the other to form a desired angle the value of which is read using inde... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7269908 | Tool for projecting a visually perceptible plumb line from a proposed location of a fire sprinkler head on a suspended ceiling and method of using A tool for projecting a visually perceptible plumb line extending from a proposed location of a fire sprinkler head on a suspended ceiling. The tool includes a base and a self-leveling laser. The base is configured and arranged to supportably engage the support beam... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7266897 | Self-aligning, self plumbing baseline instrument A self aligning baseline instrument including a first light assembly operable to generate a first vertical light plane, a second light assembly operable to generate a second vertical light plane at a predetermined angle to the first vertical light plane, a third lig... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7243433 | Laser level with adjustable laser projection line A laser level with adjustable laser projection line comprises a support bracket, a housing, a switch, a laser generator which project a fanned laser beam to the surface of the work piece to form a line, and wherein a rotating mechanism is coupled to rotate the laser... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7243440 | Gauge for use with power tools A gauge for connecting with a power tool and providing a system for determining structural factors of a workpiece to be operated upon by the power tool is provided by the present invention. The gauge including a probe connected with a sensor via a spring, wherein co... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7237342 | Optical axis adjusting device for use in a laser ruler An optical axis adjusting mechanism disposed on a laser ruler for adjusting an optical axis of the laser ruler is provided. The laser ruler includes a main bracket. The optical axis adjusting mechanism includes a main body rotatably assembled to the main bracket of ... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7216436 | Method and apparatus for locating and aligning fasteners A method and apparatus for precisely locating, aligning, targeting, and marking locations for fastener holes in structures is disclosed. The method and apparatus utilizes laser devices to project laser beams through alignment tools to determine the proper location a... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7207118 | Multi-purpose strap for a laser tripod A multi-purpose strap for use with a laser tripod having a head portion and a base portion includes a flexible member, a first coupling component located at an end of the flexible member, and a second coupling component located at an opposite end of the flexible mem... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7204030 | Laser tool The present invention has a body with front and back surfaces, top and bottom sides, and two opposed ends. A display panel is on the front of the body. A processor is housed within the body. A dial can be connected to the front end of the body. The dial can have a h... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7204027 | Method and apparatus for determining reference levels and flatness of a surface A method and apparatus are presented for a laser tool used for direct indication of a level surface. This embodiment may also be used to transfer a level elevation from one level surface to a neighboring surface. The device may also be used to indicate the degree of... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7197829 | Laser guided celestial identification device Disclosed is a celestial identification device. According to some embodiments, the device includes a housing, a positioning sensor, and a light generator structured to generate an indicator beam that can be pointed at celestial objects. The positioning sensor can in... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7192172 | Visual warning device A visual warning device is disclosed and which includes an emitter of visibly discernible light positioned in spaced relation relative to an underlying supporting surface, and which, when energized, emits visibly discernible light which is projected onto the underly... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7191532 | Modular tool assembly having a vacuum mounting arrangement A modular tool assembly including a tool base configured to releasably secure a modular tool arrangement in a fixed relationship relative to a mounting surface. The tool base includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion having a mounting seal extend... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7181853 | Modular laser layout system A light emitting module and a modular light emitting system with leveling capability. The system relates to light-based (e.g. lower-based) layout tools of the type used in the construction industry. More specifically, the system relates to a modular light emitting s... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7181854 | Laser leveling device having a suction mounting arrangement A laser leveling device having a suction mounting arrangement includes a housing and a mounting seal extending from the lower portion of the housing. The mounting seal cooperates with an attachment surface to define a suction mounting area therebetween. The suction ... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7181855 | Methods and devices for enhancing intensity of on-surface lines cast by laser line projectors or the like Given a situation where a projected laser line appears to have terminated or faded as it intersects with a work-surface (e.g., a wall), a fan-out redirecting means is used to capture and redirect energy radiating above and parallel to, or radiating away from the giv... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7178250 | Intersecting laser line generating device A line generating device generates two fan-shaped beams of light at an angle to each other, and projects the beams onto an adjacent surface, where the beams are visible as lines on the surface. A user has access to the intersection of the lines, so that the intersec... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7174648 | Structure mountable assembly A modular tool assembly including a tool base configured to releasably secure a modular tool arrangement in a fixed relationship relative to a mounting surface. The tool base includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion having a mounting seal extend... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7174655 | Dual purpose light for automatic tape measure This invention is directed to an automatic tape measure having a housing, a tape assembly, and a light assembly. The tape assembly is supported in the housing and contains a reel having a tape adapted to extend and retract from the front wall of the housing. The lig... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7174647 | Laser line projector with spherically rotatable support and level/plumb indicators for the support A spherically rotatable support for a light image projector has level and/or plumb indicators for leveling or plumbing a central reference frame of its spherical rotation. A projected light image, such as a laser line segment of relatively short length may be succes... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7165332 | Method and apparatus for positioning a billiard game rack Apparatus for cooperation with an associated billiard table which includes first and second laser apparatus for producing respective first and second laser spots, a rack for positioning a plurality of balls confined within said rack. The rack has first and second in... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7155835 | Self-leveling laser alignment tool and method thereof which compensates for material stiffness of an included pendulum A self-leveling laser alignment tool and method thereof which provides a laser beam in a substantially truly level or plumb orientation are disclosed. Magnetic attraction is used to compensate for leveling errors of an approximately or partially leveled pendulum pla... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7155834 | Laser alignment method and apparatus Laser alignment methods and apparatus are disclosed whereby pipe and similar materials may be aligned. The methods and apparatus are adapted to be utilized on the end of pipe or other material and thereby using as a reference point that pipe or other material with t... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7151247 | Mobile measurement system of photoenvironment This invention relates to a mobile measurement system of photoenvironment comprises a measuring equipment 5 to measure photoenvironment and a barrow 4 for moving measurement which the equipment 5 is mounted. The measuring equipment 5 has ... | 12/19/2006 |