Laser projector for illuminating slope

Abstract

One or more lasers are used to create cones of laser light of varying angles. The lasers are visible on the flat surface as a series of arcs or complete circles of varying radius. In one embodiment, consecutive arcs spaced from a center on a perfectly flat surface increase in radius by a predetermined or constant amount. When the surface is not flat, but has a slope, the radius of adjacent circles become closer or further from each other, creating a virtual relief map appearance.

1 . A laser light projector comprising: 
 a plurality of stacked rotating lasers, stacked on an axis;    means for positioning the axis plum to a golfing green above a desired center;    a light source; and    wherein the lasers are movable to angles that would provide reflection of the laser light in concentric circles of predetermined radii on a flat surface perpendicular to the axis.    
     
     
         2 . The projector of  claim 1  wherein multiple successive circles have equally increasing radii.  
     
     
         3 . The projector of  claim 1  wherein multiple successive circles function to produce a contour like illustration of the green.  
     
     
         4 . The projector of  claim 1  wherein the radius of each circle is independently adjustable.  
     
     
         5 . A laser light projector comprising: 
 a plurality of stacked rotating lasers, stacked on an axis;    means for positioning the axis plum to a golfing green above a desired center;    a light source; and    wherein the lasers are movable to angles that would provide reflection of the laser light in concentric arcs of predetermined radii on a flat surface perpendicular to the axis.    
     
     
         6 . A method of illustrating a slope of a surface, the method comprising: 
 projecting concentric cones of light toward a surface; and    reflecting light off the surface to produce a pattern on the surface that illustrates the slope of the surface.    
     
     
         7 . A method of illustrating the break of a golf green, the method comprising: 
 positioning a light projector above a golf green;    projecting concentric arcs of light toward the golf green, wherein the arcs are projected such that they would provide visible, substantially equally separated arcs on a perfectly level and flat green; and    wherein the arcs of light continue toward the actual surface of the green, illustrating the break of the green by a varied distance between the arcs of light reflected by the green.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the arcs of light are provided by one or more lasers.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  and further comprising projecting radial light illuminating the green along a radius extending from the projector.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein seven arcs of light are projected.  
     
     
         11 . A laser light projector comprising: 
 a plurality of stacked rotating lasers, stacked on an axis;    a support coupled to the stack of lasers for positioning the axis plum to a golfing green above a desired center;    a light source; and    wherein the lasers are movable to angles that would provide reflection of the laser light in concentric arcs of predetermined radii on a flat surface perpendicular to the axis.    
     
     
         12 . The projector of  claim 11  wherein the support comprises a tripod.  
     
     
         13 . The projector of  claim 11  wherein the support comprises a pole having one end coupled to the stack of rotating lasers, and the other end adapted to fit in a golf cup.  
     
     
         14 . The projector of  claim 11  and further comprising a level coupled to the stack of rotating lasers.  
     
     
         15 . The projector of  claim 11  wherein each rotating laser comprises a beam splitter and movably mounted mirror.  
     
     
         16 . A method of illustrating the break of a golf green, the method comprising: 
 projecting arcs of light toward a golf green, wherein the arcs are projected such that they provide visible separated arcs on the golf green; and    wherein the arcs of light illustrate the break of the green based on distances between the arcs of light reflected by the green.