Reference systems for indicating slope and alignment and related devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

A reference system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a light-emitting device having a first light emitter, a second light emitter, and a housing. The housing includes a base operably connected to the first and second light emitters. The first light emitter is configured to emit a planar light region having a vertical orientation. The second light emitter is configured to emit an indicator light beam. A slope of the indicator light beam is adjustable to change a position of the indicator light beam within a vertical adjustment field. The system further includes a controller configured to cause the first and second light emitters to rotate in concert relative to the base about a vertical axis so as to rotationally reposition the planar light region and the indicator light beam in response to a detected misalignment of the planar light region.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 emitting a planar light region from a light-emitting device, the planar light region having a vertical orientation;   adjusting an alignment of the planar light region to move the planar light region to an aligned state;   emitting an indicator light beam from the light-emitting device;   adjusting a slope of the indicator light beam to move the indicator light beam to a selected slope;   detecting a misaligned state of the planar light region using a detector after the planar light region moves to the aligned state;   automatically rotationally repositioning the planar light region in concert with the indicator light beam about a vertical axis after detecting the misaligned state;   detecting a return of the planar light region to the aligned state; and   automatically ceasing the rotational repositioning after detecting the return of the planar light region to the aligned state.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein:
 emitting the planar light region includes emitting the planar light region using a first light emitter of the light-emitting device; 
 emitting the indicator light beam includes emitting the indicator light beam using a second light emitter of the light-emitting device, the first and second light emitters being operably connected to a base of a housing of the light-emitting device; and 
 the method further comprises automatically leveling the first and second light emitters. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 emitting a scanning light beam from a light-emitting device, the scanning light beam having a vertical scanning field;   adjusting an alignment of the vertical scanning field to move the vertical scanning field to an aligned state;   emitting an indicator light beam from the light-emitting device;   adjusting a slope of the indicator light beam to move the indicator light beam to a selected slope;   detecting a misaligned state of the vertical scanning field using a detector after the vertical scanning field moves to the aligned state;   automatically rotationally repositioning the vertical scanning field in concert with the indicator light beam about a vertical axis after detecting the misaligned state;   detecting a return of the vertical scanning field to the aligned state; and   automatically ceasing the rotational repositioning after detecting the return of the vertical scanning field to the aligned state.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein:
 emitting the vertical scanning field includes emitting the vertical scanning field using a first light emitter of the light-emitting device; 
 emitting the indicator light beam includes emitting the indicator light beam using a second light emitter of the light-emitting device, the first and second light emitters being operably connected to a base of a housing of the light-emitting device; and 
 the method further comprises automatically leveling the first and second light emitters. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 emitting a planar light region having a vertical orientation from a light-emitting device;   adjusting an alignment of the planar light region to move the planar light region to a selected alignment;   emitting an intersecting planar light region from the light-emitting device;   adjusting a slope of the intersecting planar light region to move the intersecting planar light region to a selected slope;   projecting an intersection of the planar light region and the intersecting planar light region onto a surface to indicate the selected alignment and the selected slope;   detecting a misaligned state of the planar light region using a detector after the planar light region moves to the selected alignment;   automatically rotationally repositioning the planar light region about a vertical axis after detecting the misaligned state;   detecting a return of the planar light region to the selected alignment; and   automatically ceasing the rotational repositioning after detecting the return of the planar light region to the selected alignment.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein:
 emitting the planar light region includes emitting the planar light region using a first light emitter of the light-emitting device; 
 emitting the intersecting planar light region includes emitting the intersecting planar light region using a second light emitter of the light-emitting device, the first and second light emitters being operably connected to a base of a housing of the light-emitting device; and 
 the method further comprises automatically leveling the first and second light emitters. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam includes adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam within a vertical adjustment field overlapping the planar light region. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16  wherein adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam includes adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam within a vertical adjustment field circumferentially offset relative to the planar light region by a non-zero fixed angle within a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising emitting a plummet light beam using a third light emitter of the light-emitting device, the plummet light beam having a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17  wherein adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam includes adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam within a vertical adjustment field extending from an uppermost radial direction away from the base to a lowermost radial direction away from the base, the uppermost radial direction having an angle within a range from about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees off a horizontal plane, the lowermost radial direction having an angle within a range from about −5 degrees to about −90 degrees off the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17  wherein:
 adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam includes adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam within a vertical adjustment field at least partially overlapping a first vertical arc area extending from a first horizontal direction away from the base to an upward vertical direction away from the base; and 
 emitting the planar light region includes emitting the planar light region such that the planar light region at least partially overlaps a second vertical arc area extending from a second horizontal direction away from the base to the upward vertical direction, the second horizontal direction being opposite to the first horizontal direction. 
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18  wherein adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam includes adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam within a vertical adjustment field overlapping the vertical scanning field. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18  wherein adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam includes adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam within a vertical adjustment field circumferentially offset relative to the vertical scanning field by a non-zero fixed angle within a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising emitting a plummet light beam using a third light emitter of the light-emitting device, the plummet light beam having a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 19  wherein adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam includes adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam within a vertical adjustment field extending from an uppermost radial direction away from the base to a lowermost radial direction away from the base, the uppermost radial direction having an angle within a range from about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees off a horizontal plane, the lowermost radial direction having an angle within a range from about −5 degrees to about −90 degrees off the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 19  wherein:
 adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam includes adjusting the slope of the indicator light beam within a vertical adjustment field at least partially overlapping a first vertical arc area extending from a first horizontal direction away from the base to an upward vertical direction away from the base; and 
 emitting the vertical scanning field includes emitting the vertical scanning field such that the vertical scanning field at least partially overlaps a second vertical arc area extending from a second horizontal direction away from the base to the upward vertical direction, the second horizontal direction being opposite to the first horizontal direction. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising emitting a plummet light beam using a third light emitter of the light-emitting device, the plummet light beam having a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21  wherein adjusting the slope of the intersecting planar light region includes adjusting the slope of the intersecting planar light region within a range from an uppermost radial direction away from the base to a lowermost radial direction away from the base, the uppermost radial direction having an angle within a range from about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees off a horizontal plane, the lowermost radial direction having an angle within a range from about −5 degrees to about −90 degrees off the horizontal plane.