A tool such as a tape measure, including a lighting system is shown. The lighting system includes a light source configured to direct light forward and strong enough to act as a flashlight. The tape measure further includes a housing designed to be compact and rugged enough to protect the internal components related to the lighting system from coming loose or suffering damage due to an impact or vibrations.

A tape measure having a light emitting device includes a housing, a reel received in the housing, and a blade wound on the reel to be extended or retracted through an inlet of the housing, and further includes a first case, a second case coupled with the first case to form the housing, a light emitting portion positioned in front of the center of the reel around the inlet of the housing, and a light emitting circuit portion positioned in the rear side of the center of the reel by facing the light emitting portion, wherein the light emitting circuit portion includes a circuit board disposed on a rear lower side of the housing, and the first case and the second case provide circuit receiving spaces for receiving the circuit board, respectively.

An apparatus is configured to employ with a retractable tape measure including a flexible measuring tape. The apparatus includes an electronic system including a laser receiver and a body configured to house the electronic system therein. The laser receiver is configured to detect a laser projected in at least one of a red wavelength and a green wavelength. The body includes an arcuate-shaped cavity configured to receive the flexible measuring tape in a sliding engagement, and a top surface oriented to face in a direction from which the flexible measuring tape is read with the flexible measuring tape received in the cavity. The top surface includes a port configured to align with the laser receiver.

An apparatus is configured to employ with a retractable tape measure including a flexible measuring tape. The apparatus includes an electronic system including a laser receiver and a body configured to house the electronic system therein. The laser receiver is configured to detect a laser projected in at least one of a red wavelength and a green wavelength. The body includes an arcuate-shaped cavity configured to receive the flexible measuring tape in a sliding engagement, and a top surface oriented to face in a direction from which the flexible measuring tape is read with the flexible measuring tape received in the cavity. The top surface includes a port configured to align with the laser receiver.

A method for forming an assembly of a plurality of components. The method includes receiving, by a controller, one or more assembly identification parameters and controlling, by the controller, a light array disposed along an assembly jig based on the one or more assembly identification parameters.

An example distance measuring apparatus is provided. The example apparatus may include a measuring tape with distance measurement indicia, a camera, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be configured to cause the camera to capture an image of the measuring tape, and determine a measurement by analyzing the captured image. The measurement may be determined based on the distance measurement indicia of the measuring tape within the image at a measurement position. The processing circuitry may be further configured to store the measurement in a memory device.

A tape measure to be reeled on a spool rotatably mounted within a housing defining an opening for paying out and for retrieval by rotation of the spool within in the housing. The tape measure includes a tape having a first end and a second end. The first end connected to the spool and the second end movable through the opening between a retracted position and an extended position. The tape includes a steel blade with length markings on the obverse. The blade extends along its length from the first end to the second end having a window. The window includes a pane of polymer. The polymer includes pigments to selectively transmit laser emitted from a laser level. The pane in held within the window in a manner allowing the reel to pay out and retract the blade in use.

A tape measure to be reeled on a spool rotatably mounted within a housing defining an opening for paying out and for retrieval by rotation of the spool within in the housing. The tape measure includes a tape having a first end and a second end. The first end connected to the spool and the second end movable through the opening between a retracted position and an extended position. The tape includes a steel blade with length markings on the obverse. The blade extends along its length from the first end to the second end having a window. The window includes a pane of polymer. The polymer includes pigments to selectively transmit laser emitted from a laser level. The pane in held within the window in a manner allowing the reel to pay out and retract the blade in use.

A tape rule assembly includes a linear optical encoder for sensing human-readable graduations of length disposed on a surface of a tape, without requiring any other machine-readable indicia to be present on the tape. The optical encoder includes two optical sensors disposed in a sensor holder pivotably disposed in the tape rule housing and configured to be displaced relative to one another in the housing along both the x axis and the z axis, a set of intersecting x, y and z axes being defined relative to a tape exit in the tape rule housing.

A ruler surface structure for clear marks display in a dim light mainly comprises a ruler surface and a brightening layer. The ruler surface is marked with marks which are characters or lines. The brightening layer is laid on the marks to enhance the display and identification effect of the marks. By using the different light sensitivities formed by the brightening layer on the marks and the other regions of the ruler surface, including the functions of light reflection or luminescence, the marks can be clearly displayed and identified in the dim light.