WO2018212706A1

WO2018212706A1 - Measuring device, unit and system

Info

Publication number: WO2018212706A1
Application number: PCT/SE2018/050503
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aksel STRANDGAARD
Original assignee: Strandgard Solutions AB
Current assignee: Strandgard Solutions AB
Priority date: 2017-05-15
Filing date: 2018-05-15
Publication date: 2018-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-15
Also published as: SE1750598A1; SE543561C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, a portable metering device (10) and a portable electronic communication device for wireless communication with the portable metering device and also a system in which all these entities cooperate for use by a construction worker/carpenter when measuring position and/or shape and/or dimension of at least one obstacle in a surface to be covered by at least one board by making at least one hole corresponding to the obstacle inone or more boards before fitting the one or more boards over the obstacle and surface being a wall, a roof and/or a floor.

Description

Measuring device, unit and system

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a portable measuring/metering device, a portable unit comprising the portable metering device and a yardstick or rule being movably assembled to each other as one carryable measuring module, a portable electronic communication device for wireless communication with the portable metering device/unit and also a system in which these entities cooperate for use by a construction worker/carpenter when measuring position, shape and/or dimension of at least one obstacle in a surface to be covered by at least one board by making at least one hole corresponding to the obstacle in one or more boards before fitting the board/-s over the obstacle and surface being a wall, a roof and/or a floor.

BACKGROUND ART

When building and/or covering walls, roofs or floors, construction workers/carpenters often use boards for coverage of the surface making up the wall, roof or floor. The surface in some cases comprises one or more obstacles protruding out of it, either partly or fully, e.g. water or ventilation ducts/channels and/or electrical wiring or the like. These obstacles must therefore be duly considered as they obstruct any boards to be fitted onto the surface. Nowadays, position and size and shape of an obstacle is measured at least in two different dimensions by using a yard stick and each measurement is noted manually on a piece of paper, wood or board. After the measurement, the worker walks to a board, puts the board on a worktable or on the floor and reads his/her notes while marking the measured position/size/shape of the obstacle on the board and then makes the hole in the board thereafter accordingly. Another way of measuring the position of obstacles in a surface to be boarded over is using a device that uses laser measuring. One example of a laser measuring device is provided by Bosch (PLR 50 C). This laser measuring device from Bosch demands a stable holding to be able to precisely aim/direct its laser beam to objects to be measured when pushing any button for registering each measurement individually, this pushing of the button moves or alters or dislodges the position of the laser measuring device at least somewhat each time it is performed, whereby the laser measuring device from Bosch easily misses its "target", i.e. loses its aim. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome deficiencies of the prior art, such as indicated above.

An object of the invention is to provide a method and a device for for measuring positions and dimensions of an obstacle in a surface to be able to make holes corresponding to the obstacle in one or more boards for coverage of the surface, and a unit comprising such a device and a yard stick or rule, and a system comprising these entities which function in accordance with the method, whereby only one performed measurement detects more than one parameter and/or dimension and/or distance and/or shape of the obstacle measured, i.e. each measurement registers several measures at once eliminating the need of one measurement for each measure individually and one at a time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and a device for for measuring positions and dimensions of an obstacle in a surface to be able to make holes corresponding to the obstacle in one or more boards for coverage of the surface, and a unit comprising such a device and a yard stick or rule, and a system comprising these entities which function in accordance with the method, whereby a plurality of measures are made in one and the same measurement, i.e. "take" or "recording", and registered by the device at the same time without needing to note each measure individually and to repeat the same physical procedure for each measure before making a new measurement for another obstacle and/or board. Another object is to provide a portable metering or measuring device adapted to operatively by wireless measuring be able to define its own position relative a reference, such as a point, object or plane surface without the need of a yardstick and/or rule, and simultaneously or in parallel or at the same time define the location and/or shape and/or dimensions of at least one obstacle protruding out of a surface to be covered by at least one board, and providing the location and/or shape and/or dimensions of a hole to be made in the board corresponding to the obstacle to a user of the portable metering or measuring device, e.g. on a display on a portable communication device in wireless communication via Bluetooth with low energy (BTLE) or similar radio technology with the portable metering or measuring device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wireless and portable metering or measuring device, a unit comprising such a device optionally movably and, in some aspects, detachably connected to a yardstick and/or rule to operatively be able to define its position to a reference and measure and detect the position of an obstacle on a surface to be covered by boards and the shape/size/dimension of the obstacle around which obstacle one or more boards are to be fitted when covering the surface being for example a building wall, a roof and/or a floor, and a system using such a portable measuring device and/or unit wirelessly cooperating by means of Bluetooth with low energy (BTLE) or similar radio technology with a portable communication device that simplify detecting/keeping track of the position of the metering device itself and measurement and detection of the position of the obstacle on a surface to be covered by boards and the shape/size/dimension of the obstacle around which obstacle at least one boards is to be fitted.

Another object of the present the invention is to provide a portable communication device for wireless communication with the portable metering or measuring device above, which portable communication device comprises a wireless receiver/transmitter, preferably Bluetooth with low energy (BTLE), a data processing unit, and a display, the data processing unit being configured to calculate location and/or shape and/or dimensions of at least one obstacle in a surface based on received metering data transmitted wirelessly from a transmitter of the portable metering device, and providing the location and/or shape and/or dimensions of a hole corresponding to the obstacle on the display of the portable communication device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless portable metering device, a unit comprising such a device movably connected to a yardstick and/or rule that is more compact by not requiring or adding any more space than necessary in a pocket or tool belt of a construction worker or carpenter as the portable metering or measuring device is movably connected to the yardstick/rule, which is already a part of the standard equipment of the construction worker/carpenter. The portable metering device is smaller than prior art devices and detachably connected to the yardstick/rule and therefore only adds a small amount of "space"/volume to the yardstick/rule when assembled thereto. The portable metering device "mates" with the yardstick/rule in that the yardstick/rule is moved/slid "into" the portable metering device or, in other words, the portable metering device is "thread"/slid over the yardstick/rule, whereby the "overlapping" volume/space of these entities is reduced compared to the total occupying space/volume when they are individually separated. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable wireless metering or measuring device, and a portable wireless metering or measuring unit and system comprising the device and/or unit achieving an improved stability/preciseness during measurement of the position of the device itself and detecting any obstacles around which boards are to be fitted when building walls, roofs and/or floors.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wireless measuring device, and a portable wireless metering or measuring unit and system comprising the device and/or unit enhancing detection of any obstacle and its size/dimension and/or shape, whereafter holes in boards are easier/more exactly made and the boards are easier/more exactly fitted with their holes around the obstacles when building walls, roofs and/or floors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable metering device enabling a more efficient and simpler way of making holes in boards that are to cover a surface having protruding objects or obstacles so that the boards are more easily and more precisely fitted around each obstacle and over the surface when the boards are attached to the surface by a construction worker. One other object of the invention is to provide a device that measures all necessary dimensions for making holes in boards that are to cover a surface having protruding objects or obstacles by itself with no or only a marginal manual aid of the user and register them automatically eliminating the need for a user to manually note, remember and crosscheck them when marking up boards for hole making. One more object of the invention is to provide a device that by means of software, such as an application (App) draws up a dimensioned drawing/dimensional diagram on a display of a Smartphone or Tablet used by the user that then easily transfer required dimensions to a board.

These objects are achieved by means of a method and a device for measuring positions and dimensions of an obstacle in a surface to be able to make holes corresponding to the obstacle in one or more boards for coverage of the surface, and a unit comprising such a device and a yard stick or rule, and a system comprising these entities and functioning in accordance with the method, as claimed in the associated independent claims, preferred variants thereof being defined in the associated dependent claims.

At least one of above and further objects are achieved by a method for use by a carpenter to measure positions and dimensions of an obstacle in a surface to be able to make holes corresponding to the obstacle in boards for coverage of the surface, the method comprising the following , i.e. a carpenter picking up a portable electronic communication device, starts an application via a display of the portable electronic communication device and selects "New project or sheet or board or measuring" as a first step; providing an empty canvas symbolising a first board on the display of the portable electronic communication device as a second step; the carpenter activating a portable wireless metering device to read at least a first position in relation to a reference and/or to/on a yardstick in a horizontal direction and/or a vertical direction as a third step; the carpenter moving the portable wireless metering device to another position and/or orientation and activated by carpenter to read at least a second position in relation to the reference and/or to/on the yardstick, and a third dimension are read simultaneously in a fourth step; transmitting the metering data of the portable wireless metering device to the portable electronic communication device that processes and converts received metering data into a graphical layout, i.e. a dimensioned diagram, of at least one hole in the board corresponding to the obstacle in a fifth step; providing the graphical layout via the display on the portable communication device to carpenter with the dimensioned diagram corresponding to the location and/or size and/or shape and/or dimension of at least one obstacle on at least one board in a sixth step, and the carpenter uses the graphical layout to make at least one hole in the board to be able to fit the board with its hole around one or more obstacles in a seventh step. According to an aspect/embodiment, the above method, further comprises, if appropriate in the third step, activating the portable wireless metering device by the carpenter to read a next horizontal distance in relation to the reference and/or to/on the yardstick and its first and second measures, i.e. horisontal parameters/dimensions, and/or third or fourth or more measures horizontally and/or vertically are read simultaneously and are registered as at least a first set of metering data in the portable wireless metering device.

According to yet an aspect/embodiment, the method above further comprises moving the portable wireless metering device to another position and/or orientation and activating it by the carpenter to read at least its second position in relation to the reference and/or to/on the yardstick, and its third dimension and/or a vertical dimension and/or a fourth or more dimensions are read simultaneously, if appropriate in the fourth step, in relation to the reference and/or to/on the yardstick, and registered as at least a second set of metering data in the portable wireless metering device.

According to still an aspect/embodiment, the above method further comprises, if the sheet is to be fitted directly onto surface to be covered, the carpenter walking to the surface and mounts the board over obstacle/-s and fastens the board over the surface.

According to an aspect/embodiment, the method above further comprises, if not necessary to fit the board onto a surface directly after the hole making, the first board is temporarily left, and the carpenter walks to the surface in an eight step if another obstacle or more than one is to be localized for additional hole making in this first board having one hole already and/or for new hole making in a new board and starts the measuring procedure from the first step anew.

According to the invention a portable metering device is provided for use by a carpenter to measure positions and dimensions of an obstacle in a surface to be able to make holes corresponding to the obstacle in boards for coverage of the surface, the portable metering device comprising a housing that comprises a control unit, at least a first and a second sensor, a transmitter configured to send metering data obtained from the sensors wirelessly, and a power unit for empowering the metering device, the control unit being operatively connected to the sensors, the transmitter and the power unit, wherein the portable metering device is adapted to define its own position relative a reference by means of wireless communication between the first sensor and the reference and adapted to define the location and/or shape and/or dimensions of the obstacle to be covered by at least one board by means of wireless communication between the second sensor and the obstacle.

According to an aspect of the invention, the portable metering device comprises the housing that in turn comprises at least one mating surface being configured to enable the housing to move/slide along a yardstick. An advantage of the mating surface fitting to a yardstick is more exact measuring due to a better stability for the whole device during measuring as the yardstick is possible to use as length extendable support, i.e. a supporting leg against an anvil as a reference, such as a wall, roof or floor for the device during measurement. The advantage is also that the device easier defines its own position in relation to the object to be measured as the yardstick has a defined length or even is equipped with a scale and works as standard defining where the anvil and/or wall and/or roof and/or floor is positioned so that the device is able to register this reference and its position in relation thereto.

In an aspect of the invention the at least first sensor is configured to measure the position of the housing along the yard stick and/or in relation to a reference and to forward its position to the control unit configured to register the measured housing position.

In another aspect of the invention the at least second sensor is configured to measure the position of the obstacle in relation to the metering device and to forward its position to the control unit configured to register the measured obstacle position.

Another aspect of the invention concerns that the at least second sensor is configured to sense shape and/or size/dimension of the obstacle and to forward these parameters associated metering data to the control unit configured to register the sensed shape and/or size/dimension of the obstacle.

In yet an aspect of the invention the portable metering device comprises at least one third sensor being configured to measure the spirit level of the metering device and to forward the detected spirit level to the control unit configured to register the spirit level of the metering device.

In still an aspect of the invention the portable metering device is adapted to be activated to measure positions of the housing and obstacle and/or sense the shape and/or size/dimension of the obstacle by means of input in the form of the user pressing a button on the housing and/or on a touch-sensitive display of the device, the button being operatively connected to the control unit.

Yet another aspect of the invention concerns that the portable metering unit comprises a portable metering device according to any of the above aspects movably assembled to a yardstick or rule. Still another aspect of the invention concerns that the portable metering device according to any preceding and subsequent aspect is adapted to wirelessly communicate its metering data by means of Bluetooth with low energy, i.e. BTLE. According to the invention a portable communication device is provided for wireless communication with a portable metering device according to the invention and any preceding aspect and comprises a wireless receiver, a data processing unit, and a display, the data processing unit being configured to calculate location and/or shape and/or dimensions of at least one obstacle in a surface based on received metering data transmitted wirelessly from a transmitter of the portable metering device, and providing the location and/or shape and/or dimensions of a hole corresponding to the obstacle on the display.

In an aspect, the portable communication device is a smart phone or a tablet or a laptop, wherein the processing of the metering data is accomplished by use of an application. According to the invention a system for measuring positions and/or shapes and/or dimensions of obstacles in a surface to be covered by at least one board is provided comprising a portable metering device according to the invention or any of above aspects or a portable metering unit according to an aspect and a portable communication device according to the invention and aspects above. In another aspect of the invention, a system is provided wherein the metering device is configured to detect/measure its own position in relation to a reference and to measure at least one position and/or shape and/or dimension of at least one obstacle in a surface to be covered by at least one board and to transmit these metering data wirelessly to the portable communication device comprising a data processing unit and an application configured to process the metering data and convert the metering data into a graphical layout and provide the graphical layout via an display on the portable communication device to a carpenter in the form of a dimensioned layout or diagram of at least one hole corresponding to the location and/or dimension of the obstacle on the at least one board.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a system is provided wherein the metering device is movable along and movably assembled to a yard stick and configured to measure its own position in relation to/on the yard stick and/or in relation to the reference and to measure at least one position and/or shape and/or dimension of the at least one obstacle in the surface to be covered by the at least one board and to transmit these metering data wirelessly by means of Bluetooth with low energy consumption to the portable communication device comprising the data processing unit and the application configured to process the metering data and convert the metering data into the graphical layout and provide the graphical layout via the display on the portable communication device to the carpenter in the form of the

dimensioned diagram of the at least one hole corresponding to the location and/or dimension of the obstacle on the at least one board. This enhances the precision of measuring and reduces the risk of non-authorized access to the wireless communication between the devices as the Bluetooth communication is short-ranged and also energy efficient so that the portable metering device has a long standby and operational time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in further details with reference to the drawings showing aspects thereof.

Fig. 1 shows a prior art method and device for measuring and making holes in boards to be fitted over obstacles on a surface for coverage of the surface.

Fig. 2 shows the inventive way and entities used for measuring and making holes in boards to be fitted over obstacles on a surface for coverage of the surface according to the invention. Figs. 3 and 4 show a wireless and portable metering device used for measuring in at least two dimensions to be able to make holes in boards to be fitted over obstacles on a surface for coverage of the surface according to the invention.

Fig. 5 shows the wireless portable metering device of Figs. 3 and 4 optionally movably assembled to a yard stick or rule to make up a portable metering unit used for measuring in at least two dimensions to be able to make holes in boards to be fitted over obstacles on a surface for coverage of the surface.

Fig. 6 shows the wireless portable metering device of Figs. 3 and 4 and portable metering unit of Fig. 5 in different frontal views from different perspectives and angles and various aspects.

Fig. 7 shows the wireless and portable metering device of Figs. 3 and 4 and portable metering unit of Figs. 5 and 6 in different views, both frontal and back views (the two lower middle views are from the back) from different perspectives and angles and in various aspects.

Figs. 8 and 9 show component build-up of the wireless and portable metering device of Figs. 3 to 7 in two different aspects. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention as shown in Figures 1 to 9 relates to a portable measuring/metering device 10 and unit 70 for use by a handyman, e.g. a construction worker and/or carpenter. The portable measuring device 10 and unit 70 is used when measuring position and/or shape and/or dimension of at least one obstacle 2 in relation to a reference 3 being a wall 3, a roof and/or a floor such that the obstacle 2 on a surface 4 to be covered may be fitted over by at least one board 120, i.e. by making a hole in the board corresponding to the obstacle and fitting the board, i.e. its hole over the obstacle thereafter. After the position/-s and/or size/-s and/or dimension/-s and/or shape/-s of the obstacle/-s 2 is/are measured at least one hole corresponding to the obstacle/-s is/are made in one or more boards 120 based on measured data. Then, one or more boards 120 with one or more holes is/are fitted over the obstacle/-s 2 and over the surface 4 that also may be a wall, a roof and/or a floor. The invention also relates to the portable unit 70 comprising the portable metering device 10 and a yardstick or rule 60, 60' or similar entity. The portable metering device 10 and yard stick 60, 60' are movably assembled to each other as one mutual or common portable or carryable measuring module. The portable metering device 10 and yardstick 60, 60' are adapted to communicate wirelessly to detect and register the position of the metering device 10 in relation to and/or on the yardstick and/or a reference/wall/roof/floor 3. The invention relates to a portable electronic communication device 80 for wireless communication with the portable metering device/unit 10, 70 and also a system 1 in which all these entities 10, 60, 60', 70, 80 cooperate to enable measurement of positions and/or shapes and/or dimensions of one or more obstacles 2 in the surface 4 to be covered by one or more boards 120 and to convert measurements data into a drawing, graphical layout or diagram 82 on a display 81 of the portable electronic

communication device 80 that shows the worker the position/-s and/or shape/-s and/or size/- s and/or dimension/-s of the at least one hole corresponding to any obstacle 2 to be made in one or more boards 120 before fitting the one or more boards over the obstacle and surface 3. The board 120 may be one or more gypsum wallboards, sheets of plywood, particle or chipboards or the like, or clinker, e.g. a slab or the like, stone, such as marble or granite or the like, or bricks or roofing-tile or composite board or wood board or plank/deal or the like. The metering device 10 is explained in the following in regard of its functionality and operation and component build-up with reference to Figs. 8 and 9. The portable wireless metering device 10, according to aspects of the invention, comprises a housing or casing 11, mating surface 12, input means 13, and optionally a display or display area 14 and means for navigating among items (not shown) displayed in the display area, and a control unit 20, i.e. at least one CPU, for all of its operational components. Housing 11 may be made of any type of material, e.g. painted or not painted plastic, metal, glass, polymer material, or combination thereof. The portable wireless metering device 10 according to the invention comprises optionally a microphone 15 (for voice control or recording of metering data), a speaker 16 (for audio indication of input/mode change/on/off signal), a photo sensor (e.g. for ambient light) and/or an infrared light (IR) sensor or Bluetooth receiver/transmitter 90, infrared light emitting diode (IR LED) or a light emitting diode (LED) 17, and a camera 18. The display area 14 may comprise a status indication area and one or more soft key bars, but is preferably a touch sensitive display 14. The status indication area may for example include symbols for indicating battery status, reception/sending quality, speaker on/off, present mode, time and date, etc. The status indication section is not in any way limited to include the symbols and the functions presented herein. The portable metering device 10 is operable using input means 13, such as the navigation means, e.g. by using a touch sensitive screen, e.g. a capacitive display, by tapping a soft key icon directly with a pen-like object (not shown), a finger (not shown) or other body part. The functions of the soft keys are not limited by the functions indicated herein. Neither are the placements of the soft key bar and the status indication area limited to be placed at the bottom and the top of the device and/or screen. The input means is implemented using a touch sensitive display 14, wherein the displayed items directly can be tapped by a user for selection, or be voice activated via a wireless headset or built-in microphone 15. The mobile metering device 10 can comprise other elements normally present in such a device, such as a keypad (not shown), a processor/controller for radio communication, at least one memory 50, a gyro 19, e.g. one or more accelerometers (not shown), a vibration device (not shown), an AM/FM radio transmitter and receiver (not shown), a digital audio broadcast transmitter and receiver (not shown), a card reader for smart cards, e.g. SIM and/or memory cards (not shown) etc.. The portable and wearable metering device 10 comprises power supply, i.e. at least one power unit 50, such as a battery for its operation. The device 10 comprises a transmitter 40 for sending and receiving measurement data or the like wirelessly. In the context of the invention, for clarification some used terms/abbreviations are the following: Bluetooth LE (BTLE): Low energy radio for inter-device communication over short distances. Optical Character Recognition (OCR): The process of analysing images for recognizable characters. Time of Flight metering (ToF): Measuring distance by the time it takes a laser beam to reflect off a surface. Gyroscope (GYRO): Device for measuring angle relative to a frame of reference. Linear electronic positioning (EPS): By engraving specific circuits in both a surface and a reader a position can be interpolated by measuring the resistance between the circuits. Linear optical positioning (OPS): By printing patterns on a surface the position, speed and direction is read by a camera. Structured Light (SL): A photography technique for extract- ing depth from multiple camera images lit with specific light patterns. Multiple View Geometry (MVG): 3D Computer Vision, extract geometry from 2d images. The invention uses the device 10 and unit 70 in the system 1 of which a tablet or smartphone is an example of the portable electronic communication device 80 and can be realised by aid of either a supplemental hardware to a smartphone 80 and/or a virtual appliance, i.e. a so-called App. The metering data of distance and/or angle is communicated wirelessly with a Smartphone App over Bluetooth (BT). Each of the portable metering device 10 and portable metering unit 70 is in itself sized to fit in the workers pocket or hand or tool belt without inconvenience and are battery powered from an internal power unit 50 being a battery similar to those powering a tablet or smartphone 80 and may be rechargeable through a standard micro usb socket or the like. The portable metering device 10 is designed to be operated together with either a generic "off the shelf" yardstick 60' and/or a purpose-built yardstick 60 using an encoded metering system (EPS). The portable metering device 10 is adapted to be assembled/placed/slid on the yardstick and may be activated by a button press on e.g. input means 13 in form of a mechanically controlled button or touch button on the device housing 11 or display 81 of the device 10 or a sensor adapted to detect a gesture of the worker. The portable metering device 10 is adapted to read and register a set of at least three, four or more values (see figs. 2 to 5). The portable metering device 10 is adapted to read and register at least the measure done in the first point 1 below, and/or at least the measure done in the first point 1 and/or in the second point 2 and/or in the third point 3 and/or in the fourth point 4 below. The portable metering device 10 is adapted to read and register at least the measure of point 1 below in combination with a measure of the third point 3 and/or fourth point 4 below, and/or all measures in all points 1 to 4 in combination or only three of the measures 1 to 4 below excluding one of the other measures in either points 1 to 4 below depending on need. Optionally, only the first measures of points 1 and 2 are read and registered by the portable metering device 10, or, optionally, only the measures of the last two points 3 + 4 below are read and registered by the portable metering device 10. However, in some aspects only at least two of the below measurements 1 to 4 are done. Furthermore, the below measurements 1 to 4 are each denoted without mutual order of precedence or preference or chronological order regarding which/whose point/-s are performed and/or in which order.

1. Its position on the yardstick/rule 60, 60' (at least horizontally and/or vertically).

2. Its rotation/orientation, i.e. detecting either horizontal or vertical inclination.

3. The distance to a protruding object 2 or incurring surface or reference 3 from any side/edge of itself, i.e. e.g. one or more sides and/or bottom and/or top of itself.

4. The shape and/or dimension and/or curvature and/or incursion of the protruding object or obstacle 2. Values of above parameters are set sent via BTLE to the portable electronic communication device 80 or stored on the portable metering device 10 for retrieval later, e.g. in a memory 21 operatively coupled to a control unit 20 of the device 10. The portable metering device 10 is thereafter ready to take further measurements, if applicable. Upon receiving values from the device/unit 10, 70 the Smartphone App adds received parameters, i.e. shape and/or size and/or dimension and/or distance to a defined set. This set could be the wall/roof/floor 3, a room or other surfaces, e.g. desks. From the values received the App enables extracting for example the diameter of a protruding obstacle, such as a pipe and its position relative to the yardstick/surface base. Once all relevant measurements are received the data in the set can be used for finding, for example: where and what diameter of the hole to cut in a drywall for a protruding object, joints, cables etc in the board 120 before fitting the board over the surface.

Figs. 8 and 9 show schematically two versions of the same device 10 and the layout of its major components. The difference between the versions of the metering device 10 in Figs. 8 and 9 is the internal component system used to find the position of the device and some differing functionality, however, these two examples may have different, the same and/or overlapping components and number of components, e.g. the version in fig 9 may have six upper sensors 30, 31, 32 instead of five as in Fig 8 or vice versa, and/or the version of Fig 8 may have at least one microphone 15 and/or speaker 16 and/or camera 18 as in the version of Fig 9 and/or at least one or more or two light emitting diodes 17 as in Fig 9. The portable metering device 10 is adapted to use different types of yardsticks 60, 60'. One yardstick 60 is specially manufactured with EPS pattern encoding into the material, e.g. plastic, of which it is made. The other yardstick 60' may be a "off the shelf" yardstick in plastic and/or wood, e.g. a foldable yardstick or rule or a surveyor's rod or ranging pole with a fixed length that may be mounted on a support (not shown), e.g. a foot, stand or tripod, or the yardstick may be a plaster square, a square, a bevel square, an adjustable square, a mitre square, a combi square, a carpenter's try square with a fixed or adjustable angle, or a folding rule, plank rule, bench rule, counter rule that may be mounted on a support, e.g. a foot, a stand, or a tripod, e.g. for use together with the portable metering device 10, e.g. if it uses a laser to measure.

In fig 8 is shown a version of the wireless portable metering device 10 according to an aspect of the invention using an electronic positioning system comprising at least one ToF ranging sensor array with a number of laser sensors 30, 31, 32 (in this example six but comprises usually at least three such sensors) and at least one EPS pickup or sensor or reader 33, at least one gyro 19, at least one Li-Po/lon battery 50, at least one CPU 20 that may comprise a Bluetooth Radio, and at least one memory 21. Here, the portable metering device 10 uses EPS to find its position on the yardstick 60, 60' relative to a pattern encoded on it and optionally comprises a microphone 15, a speaker 16 and/or a camera 18.

Fig 9 shows a version of the wireless portable metering device 10 according to an aspect of the invention using an optical character recognition system comprising also at least one ToF ranging sensor array with a number of laser sensors 30, 31, 32, 33 (in this example totally six, i.e. five 30, 31, 32 at the top side of the device and one 33 to the right side but this "lonely" side sensor 33 could instead or also be placed on the left side of the device, which comprises usually at least one or more or two or three such sensors or types of sensors), at least one gyro 19, at least one Li-Po/lon battery 50, at least one CPU 20 that may comprise a Bluetooth Radio, at least one IR LED 17 (in this example two but the device comprises usually at least one or more such sensors), at least one camera 18, e.g. similar to cameras integrated in mobile phones or tablets, and at least one memory 21. This version of the wireless portable metering device 10 uses OCR/OPS and structured light to read imprinted characters of the yardstick surface. Hence, as the device 10 has to perform some image processing for OCR/OPS it needs a more powerful CPU, use more power etc. compared to the version of fig 8, but functions principally in the same way. Version in Fig 9 of wireless and portable metering device 10 could comprise more than one microphone 15 and/or speaker 16. Examples of components are: ToF ranging sensor array 30, 31, 32, 33: One example is provided by STMicroelectronics (denoted VL53LOX) being a compact laser ranging sensor for suitable application in this wireless portable metering device 10 due to its very small size and power requirements. All aspects of this sensor 30, 31, 32, 33 itself are integrated in the package without need for further optics.

Gyro 19: One example is an accelerometer from STMicroelectronics (denoted L3G4200D) and is a motion sensor currently used in a wide range of Smartphones 80 available today, and suitable in the wireless portable metering device 10.

Battery 50: This wireless and portable metering device 10 will often be in standby mode until activated and the requirements for battery storage capacity are not especially taxing for its functionality. However, a Li-Ion cell within the 800-1200 mAh range is applicable. CPU 20: For this wireless portable metering device 10 Espressif provides an example of a

"System on Chip" solution (denoted ESP32) that provides all necessary interfaces needed for the device 10 in Fig 8. If more performance intensive tasks like image capture and processing are to be performed a less integrated CPU 20, e.g. the i.MX6 or Ϊ.ΜΧ233 capable of running a higher level operating system like Linux is usable in the device 10 in Fig 9. Such a CPU 20 does however require several external components to operate, e.g. RAM/ROM and here BT radio.

IR LED 17: For the wireless portable metering device 10 the light patterns needed could be achieved by engraving patterns in lenses using standard surface mounted IR LEDs and a diffuser plate to project them on the surface.

Camera 18: For this wireless and portable metering device 10 a PCB camera in the 5-6 megapixel range is applicable. Special optics optionally enable macro capabilities. A CPU 20 like anyone of the i.MX series is required for the device 10 to interface with the camera 18.

OCR: To enable OCR or any image processing in this wireless and portable metering device 10 a CPU 20 capable of running, for example Linux is applicable to provide basic input/output and is built on top of several open source frameworks. The same goes for OPS. The overall precision of this wireless portable metering device 10 is dependent on its parts making it up but achieves a desired tolerance of 5 mm in output as the smartphone appliance interpolates higher precision from several measurements taken.

In regard of a Smartphone virtual appliance (App), an alternative solution relies on extracting and extrapolating geometry from perspective photographs using multiple view geometry. As the process of multiple view geometry relies on a perspective to approximate distances and depth the image used as source should not be in parallel with the subject geometry. From one or more photographs the appliance extracts as much geometry as possible. Most likely several photographs are required for a complete extraction. A photograph could include a reference (Fiducial marker) for scale and alignment relative to the plane of interest. The reference consists of an object or printed image easily placed. If not using a reference the user inputs the dimension of a known object 2 in the scene, for example a wall 3 or beam 2 by the input means 13 into the device 10.

Once the geometry is extracted the dimension information available can be overlaid the image and or possibly a live image from the camera 18. A smartphone 80 is usually fitted with other sensors besides the camera 18, for example gyro 19, magnetometer (not shown), or accelerometer all of which can be used to improve the precision of the extracted information. The extra sensor information are however optional and not required in regard of the inventive functionality of the device 10. One prior art way of making holes in boards to be fitted over obstacles on surfaces to be covered by the boards is shown in Fig 1 and performed by: Carpenter picks up her/his yardstick 60^' for measuring. At least two measurements are performed, i.e. measures 1 + 1', of for example a first horizontal X and a second horizontal X' dimension on yardstick 60, 60^' are read and the carpenter manually notes down each measurement of this first set of measures on a note manually, e.g. a piece of paper, wood or board 120. Then, measurements 2 + 2' are performed, i.e. yardstick 60, 60' is rotated and third and optionally fourth dimension, e.g. a vertical distance Y (and optionally, if required, fourth Y') or dimension on yardstick 60, 60^' read and noted manually, i.e. as a first and second measure, i.e. 2 and 2^', carpenter manually notes down each measurement of the second set of measures on a note manually, e.g. a piece of paper, wood or board 120. Then, as measure 3, carpenter walks to a cutting table. There, as measure 4, carpenter reads the noted and measured dimensions for the first board 120 to make holes corresponding to one or more obstacles 2 and makes them in the board. Then, as measure no 5, the carpenter walks back to the working site to take measures of the same and/or another obstacle 2 for a complementary and/or further hole to be made in the first board or in a new board 120. The measured dimensions X, X', Y, Y' are in some aspects used to define size, i.e. width and/or height, and/or shape of the obstacle 2.

According to the invention, the way of making holes in boards 120 to be fitted over obstacles 2 on surfaces 4 to be covered by boards by means of the portable metering device 10 is shown in Fig 2 and performed by the following: First step 200, carpenter picks up his/hers portable electronic communication device 80, starts an application via display 81 of the portable electronic communication device and selects "New project or sheet or board or measuring". As a second step 201 an empty canvas symbolising a first board 120 is provided on the display 81 of the portable electronic communication device. As a third step 202, the portable wireless metering device 10 is activated by the carpenter to read at least its first position X in relation to reference 3 and/or to/on yardstick 60, 60' (here in the horizontal direction X but could be done in the vertical direction Y instead (step 203 below)), and, if appropriate, a next horizontal distance X' in relation to reference 3 and/or to/on yardstick 60, 60', and its first X and second X' measures , i.e. horisontal parameters/dimensions (optionally, third X" or fourth or more measures horizontally and/or vertically are read simultaneously) are registered as at least a first set of metering data (= distance/-s/ and/or size/-s and/or shape/-s of obstacle/-s). In a fourth step 203, portable wireless metering device 10 is moved to another position and/or orientation and activated by carpenter to read at least its second position Y in relation to reference 3 and/or to/on yardstick 60, 60', and its third dimension Y', e.g. vertical Y dimension (optionally, a fourth or more Y', Y" dimensions), are read simultaneously, if appropriate, in relation to reference 3 and/or to/on yardstick 60, 60', and then are registered as at least a second set of metering data (= distance/-s and/or size/-s and/or shape/-s of obstacle/-s 2). Then, as a fifth step 204, portable wireless metering device 10 transmits its metering data to the portable electronic communication device 80 that processes and converts received metering data into a graphical layout 82, i.e. a dimensioned diagram, of at least one hole in the board 120 corresponding to the obstacle. If the carpenter is not at his/hers board cutting site, carpenter walks to it. As a sixth step 205, the graphical layout 82 is provided via the display 81 on the portable communication device to carpenter with the dimensioned diagram corresponding to the location and/or size and/or shape and/or dimension of at least one obstacle on at least one board. Then, in a seventh step 206, the carpenter uses the graphical layout 82 to make at least one hole in the board 120 to be able to fit the board with its hole around one or more obstacles. If applicable (if the sheet 120 is to be fitted directly onto surface 4 to be covered), carpenter walks to surface and mounts the board over obstacle 2 and fastens the board over the surface. If not necessary to fit the board onto the surface 4 directly after the hole making, a first board 120 is temporarily left, and the carpenter walks to the surface in an eight step 207 if another obstacle 2 or more than one is to be localized for additional hole making in this first board having one hole already and/or for new hole making in a new board 120 and starts the measuring procedure from step 200 anew. This is performed until the work is done.

Moreover, the sensors 30, 31, 32 , 33 are denoted without mutual order of precedence or preference regarding which/whose perform/-s the wireless measurements, i.e. the first sensor 33 could functionally be the primary or secondary sensor or the second sensors 30, 31, 32 could be the primary or secondary sensor. The first sensor 33 is in some aspects more than one sensor in cooperation. The second sensors 30, 31, 32 could instead in some aspects be only one sensor or more than eight to ten sensors. Any of the sensors 30 -33 could also be of any other type, such as magnetic or be using light with other frequencies. The greatest advantage of the invention is that several wireless measurements of a multiple of parameters are done more or less simultaneously or at the same time or in parallel, e.g. horizontally, vertically, inclinations, widths, heights, depths, reflections, shapes, etc, such that less manual work must be performed by the user of the portable wireless metering device 10.

NOMENKLATUR

1^' Prior art

1 System

2 Obstacle

3 Reference, wall, roof (inner or outer), building element, such as wall/roof beam or the like 4 Surface to be covered by at least one board

10 Movable/Portable/Detachable electronic metering device

11 Housing of the metering device

12 Mating surface of the housing

13 Input means/Button on the housing

14 Display on the movable/portable/detachable electronic metering device

15 Microphone

16 Speaker

17 Light emitting diode

18 Camera

19 Gyro

20 Control unit of the movable/portable/detachable electronic metering device

21 Memory operatively coupled to the control unit

30 First or first type of sensor

31 Second or second type of sensor

32 Third or third type of sensor

33 Fourth or fourth type of sensor

40 Transmitter

50 Power unit, e.g. a battery

60 Yard stick; plaster square; square; bevel square; adjustable square; mitre square; combi square; carpenter's try square with a fixed or adjustable angle; rule, such as folding rule, plank rule, bench rule, counter rule,; rule/surveyor's rod/ranging pole that may be mounted on a support, such as a foot, a stand, or a tripod, e.g. for use together with a laser measuring device 60^' Known yard stick

70 Portable metering unit (metering device and yardstick movably/detachably assembled)

80 Portable electronic communication device

81 Display of the portable electronic communication device

82 Graphical layout/diagram on the display 81

90 Wireless receiver/transmitter, such as infrared light sensor, Bluetooth transmitter/receiver 120 Board, such as wall- or floorboard, gypsum wallboard, sheet of plywood, particle board

SP Sensing path/beam for detecting position/location/distance of obstacle 2 and/or its size/shape/dimension

X first measure in horizontal direction

X' second measure in horisontal direction

X" third or fourth or more measures in horisontal direction

Y first measure in vertical direction

Y' second measure in vertical direction

Y" third or fourth or more measures in vertical direction

Claims

1. Method for use by a carpenter to measure positions and dimensions of an obstacle (2) in a surface (4) to be able to make holes corresponding to the obstacle (2) in boards (120) for coverage of the surface, the method comprising the following:

- carpenter picking up a portable electronic communication device (80), starts an application via a display (81) of a portable electronic communication device and selects "New project or sheet or board (120) or measuring" as a first step (200),

- providing an empty canvas symbolising a first board (120) on the display (81) of the portable electronic communication device (80) as a second step (201),

- the carpenter activating a portable wireless metering device (10) to read at least a first position (X) in relation to a reference (3) and/or to/on a yardstick (60, 60') in a horizontal direction (X) and/or a vertical direction (Y) as a third step (202),

- the carpenter moving the portable wireless metering device (10) to another position and/or orientation and activated by carpenter to read at least a second position (Y) in relation to the reference (3) and/or to/on the yardstick (60, 60'), and a third dimension (Υ') are read simultaneously in a fourth step (203),

- transmitting the metering data of the portable wireless metering device (10) to the portable electronic communication device (80) that processes and converts received metering data into a graphical layout (82), i.e. a dimensioned diagram, of at least one hole in the board (120) corresponding to the obstacle (2) in a fifth step (204),

- providing the graphical layout (82) via the display (81) on the portable communication device to carpenter with the dimensioned diagram corresponding to the location and/or size and/or shape and/or dimension of at least one obstacle on at least one board (120) in a sixth step (205), and

- the carpenter using the graphical layout (82) to make at least one hole in the board (120) to be able to fit the board with its hole around one or more obstacles in a seventh step (206).

2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising, if appropriate in the third step (202), activating the portable wireless metering device (10) by the carpenter to read a next horizontal distance (Χ') in relation to reference (3) and/or to/on yardstick (60, 60'), and its first (X) and second (Χ') measures, i.e. horisontal parameters/dimensions, and/or third (X") or fourth or more measures horizontally and/or vertically are read

simultaneously and are registered as at least a first set of metering data in the portable wireless metering device (10).

Method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising, moving the portable wireless metering device (10) to another position and/or orientation and activating it by the carpenter to read at least its second position (Y) in relation to reference (3) and/or to/on yardstick (60, 60'), and its third dimension (Υ') and/or a vertical (Y) dimension and/or a fourth or more (Υ', Y") dimensions are read simultaneously, if appropriate in the fourth step (203), in relation to reference (3) and/or to/on yardstick (60, 60'), and registered as at least a second set of metering data in the portable wireless metering device (10).

Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising, if the sheet (120) is to be fitted directly onto surface (4) to be covered, the carpenter walks to the surface and mounts the board over obstacle/-s (2) and fastens the board over the surface.

Method according to any preceding claim, further comprising, if not necessary to fit the board (120) onto a surface (4) directly after the hole making, the first board (120) is temporarily left, and the carpenter walks to the surface in an eight step (207) if another obstacle (2) or more than one is to be localized for additional hole making in this first board having one hole already and/or for new hole making in a new board (120) and starts the measuring procedure from the first step (200) anew.

Portable metering device (10) for use by a carpenter to measure positions and dimensions of an obstacle (2) in a surface (4) to be able to make holes corresponding to the obstacle in boards (120) for coverage of the surface according to any of the preceding claims, the portable metering device (10) comprising a housing (11) that comprises a control unit (20), at least a first (33) and a second sensor (30, 31, 32), a transmitter (40) configured to send metering data obtained from the sensors wirelessly, and a power unit (50) for empowering the metering device, the control unit (20) being operatively connected to the sensors (30, 31, 32), the transmitter and the power unit (50), wherein the portable metering device (10) is adapted to define its own position relative a reference (3) by means of wireless communication between the first sensor (33) and the reference, and adapted to define the location and/or shape and/or dimensions of the obstacle (2) to be covered by at least one board (120) by means of wireless communication between the second sensor (30, 31, 32) and the obstacle..

7. Portable metering device (10) according to claim 6, wherein the housing (11) comprises at least one mating surface (12) being configured to enable the housing to move/slide along a yard stick (60, 60').

8. Portable metering device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the first sensor (33) is configured to measure the position of the housing (11) along the yard stick (60) and/or in relation to a reference (3) and to forward its position to the control unit (20) configured to register the measured housing position.

9. Portable metering device (10) according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein at least the second sensor (30, 31, 32) is configured to measure the position of the obstacle (2) in relation to the metering device (10) and to forward the measured obstacle position to the control unit (20) configured to register the measured obstacle position.

10. Portable metering device (10) according to any of claim 6 to 9, wherein at least the

second sensor (30, 31, 32) is configured to sense the shape and/or size/dimension of the obstacle (2) and to forward them to the control unit (20) configured to register the sensed shape and/or size/dimension of the obstacle.

11. Portable metering device (10) according to any of claims 6 to 10, comprising at least one third sensor (30, 31, 32, 33) being configured to measure the spirit level of the metering device (10) and to forward the detected spirit level to the control unit (20) configured to register the spirit level of the metering device.

12. Portable metering device (10) according to any of claims 6 to 11 adapted to be activated to measure positions of the housing (11) and obstacle (2) and/or sense the shape and/or size/dimension of the obstacle by means of input by the user pressing a button (13) on the housing, the button being operatively connected to the control unit (20).

13. Portable metering device (10) according to any of claims 6 to 12 adapted to wirelessly communicate its metering data by means of Bluetooth with low energy.

14. Portable metering unit (70) comprising a portable metering device (10) according to any of claims 6 to 13 movably and/or detachably assembled to a yard stick (60, 60') or rule.

15. Portable communication device (80) for wireless communication with a portable

metering device (10) according to any of claims 6 to 14 and comprising a wireless receiver/transmitter (90), a data processing unit, and a display (81), the data processing unit being configured to calculate location and/or shape and/or dimensions of at least one obstacle (2) in a surface (4) based on received metering data transmitted wirelessly from a transmitter (40) of the portable metering device (10), and providing the location and/or shape and/or dimensions of a hole corresponding to the obstacle on the display (81) of the portable communication device (80).

16. Portable communication device (80) according to claim 15 being a smartphone, a tablet or a laptop, wherein processing of metering data is accomplished by use of an application.

17. System (1) for measuring positions and/or shapes and/or dimensions of obstacles (2) in a surface to be covered by at least one board (120), the system comprising a portable metering device (10) according to any of claims 6 to 13 or a portable metering unit (60) according to claim 14 and a portable communication device (80) according to any of claims 15 to 16, and adapted to be used in accordance with the method of any of claims l to 5.

18. System (1) according to claim 17, wherein the metering device (10) is configured to

measure its own position in relation to a reference (3) and to measure at least one position and/or shape and/or dimension of at least one obstacle (2) in a surface (4) to be covered by at least one board (120) and to transmit these metering data wirelessly to the portable communication device (80) comprising a data processing unit and an application configured to process the metering data and convert the metering data into a graphical layout (82) and provide the graphical layout via an display (81) on the portable communication device to a carpenter in the form of a dimensioned diagram of at least one hole corresponding to the location and/or dimension of the obstacle on the at least one board.

19. System (1) according to claim 18, wherein the metering device (10) is movable along and movably assembled to a yard stick (60, 60') and configured to measure its own position on the yard stick and/or in relation to the reference (3) and to measure at least one position and/or shape and/or dimension of the at least one obstacle (2) in the surface (4) to be covered by the at least one board (120) and to transmit these metering data wire- lessly by means of Bluetooth with low energy consumption to the portable

communication device (80) comprising the data processing unit and the application configured to process the metering data and convert the metering data into the graphical layout (82) and provide the graphical layout via the display (81) on the portable communication device to the carpenter in the form of the dimensioned diagram of the at least one hole corresponding to the location and/or dimension of the obstacle on the at least one board.