US 11,754,743 B2
Laser detection system
John Petrachek, Etobicoke (CA)
Assigned to ATLAS-APEX ROOFING INC, Ontario (CA)
Filed by Atlas-Apex Roofing Inc., Etobicoke (CA)
Filed on Mar. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/210,145.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/993,271, filed on Mar. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0302616 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. G01V 8/12 (2006.01); G01W 1/14 (2006.01); G08C 17/02 (2006.01)
CPC G01V 8/12 (2013.01) [G01W 1/14 (2013.01); G08C 17/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of monitoring snowfall accumulation on a roof, comprising:
a) mounting a transmitter of a monitoring system on the roof, the transmitter including:
i) a transmitter post having a base end for attaching to the roof and a distal end spaced from the base end by a transmitter post length,
ii) a laser transmitter assembly selectively securable to the transmitter post between a transmitter proximate position adjacent the base end and a transmitter distal position adjacent the distal end, the laser transmitter assembly including a laser source to generate a laser beam and a plurality of laser transmitters positioned to receive the laser beam from the laser source and split the laser beam into a plurality of spatially discrete laser subbeams and project the plurality of spatially discrete laser subbeams from the transmitter; and
b) mounting a receiver of the monitoring system on the roof, the receiver separated from the transmitter across the roof by a transmission distance, the receiver including:
i) a receiver post having a base end for attaching to the roof and a distal end spaced from the base end by a receiver post length,
ii) a laser receiver assembly selectively securable to the receiver post between a receiver proximate position adjacent the base end and a receiver distal position adjacent the distal end to be aligned with the laser transmitter assembly to receive the plurality of laser subbeams, the laser receiver assembly including a detector to detect the plurality of laser subbeams and generate a signal in response to a laser beam interruption event, wherein the laser beam interruption event is a coincident interruption of each of the plurality of laser subbeams, and
c) transmitting the plurality of laser subbeams between the laser transmitter assembly and the laser receiver assembly; and
d) detecting the laser beam interruption event.