Digital Angle Gauge

Abstract

A digital angle gauge includes a gauge body having a reference surface that is engageable with an object to be measured for angular inclination. An angle sensor and processor mounted in the body determine an inclination angle of the object with which the reference surface of the gauge body is engaged. A digital screen is pivotally mounted to the gauge body for visually displaying the determined inclination in both incremental and absolute angles that are displayed simultaneously and side by side.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A digital angle measuring gauge comprising:
 a gauge body having a reference surface that is engageable with a surface to be angularly measured;
 means enclosed by said body for determining absolute and incremental inclination angles of the surface to be angularly measured; and 
 a digital screen connected to said gauge body for displaying the determined absolute and incremental inclination angles; said screen having adjacent sections for respectively displaying the determined absolute and incremental inclination angles simultaneously and adjacent to one another. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1  in which said screen numerically displays the determined absolute and incremental angles as respective numerical characters, the numerical characters of one of the displayed absolute and incremental angles being displayed in a larger size than the characters of the other. 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1  in which said screen further includes a graphic display that intuitively and nonnumerically depicts the determined absolute inclination angle adjacent to the numerical display of the determined absolute inclination angle on the screen. 
     
     
         4 . In a digital angle measuring gauge including a gauge body having a reference surface that is engageable with a surface to be angularly measured and means enclosed by the gauge body for determining absolute and incremental inclination angles of the surface to be angularly measured, the improvement comprising:
 a digital screen connected to said gauge body for displaying the absolute and incremental inclination angles; said digital screen having adjacent screen sections for respectively displaying the determined absolute and incremental inclination angles simultaneously and adjacent to one another.   
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 4  in which said screen numerically displays the determined absolute and incremental angles as respective numerical characters, the numerical characters of one of the displayed absolute and incremental angles being displayed in a larger size than the characters of the other. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 4  in which said screen further includes a graphic display that intuitively and non-numerically depicts the determined absolute inclination angle adjacent to the numerical display of the determined absolute inclination angle on the screen. 
     
     
         7 . A digital angle measuring tool comprising:
 a substantially flat reference surface that is engageable with a surface to be angularly measured;   means connected to said reference surface for determining absolute and incremental inclination angles of the surface to be angularly measured; and   a digital screen connected to said means for determining for displaying the determined absolute and incremental inclination angles; said screen having adjacent sections for respectively displaying the determined absolute and incremental inclination angles simultaneously and adjacent to one another.   
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 7  in which said screen numerically displays the determined absolute and incremental angles as respective numerical characters, the numerical characters of one of the displayed absolute and incremental angles being displayed in a larger size than the characters of the other. 
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 7  in which said screen further includes a graphic display that intuitively and nonnumerically depicts the determined absolute inclination angle adjacent to the numerical display of the determined absolute inclination angle on the screen. 
     
     
         10 . The gauge of  claim 7  in which said screen includes a graphic display that intuitively and non-numerically depicts the absolute inclination angle adjacent to the numerical display of the absolute inclination angle on said digital screen.