Digital laser measuring instrument

In 2016, there was a carpentry company in the USA that always received house renovation projects during peak seasons. The carpenter always hates measuring the length of the wooden beam between the front and back walls by using the original roller tape measure. It requires the head end to be stuck to the head end of the wooden beam to be measured and stretched to the end without falling off to complete the length measurement. And if the tape measure is not straight, it will greatly affect the test results. Smart carpentry wants to develop a tool with a laser measuring function to fix this problem.

To provide more convenience, he also thinks about putting the angle measurement, flatness measurement, depth/thickness measurement, marking/positioning tools into one portable handle tool, which saves much space for the needed tools that they carry.

He started to establish a team and opened an account in Kickstarter to raise funds. The first product was published successfully.

Then he wants to develop the second generation of this digital laser tool. According to the first batch of customers’ advice, it is a higher request for the battery this time. They need a higher capacity and a higher voltage 3.85V to make the usage time as long as possible, and mentioned the charging time is less than 1 hour to making it easier to use than traditional tools.

We provide a LiPO battery proposal that can meet all of their requirements, and since this is a start-up project, we have also reduced the minimum order quantity.

The prototype was successfully published, a small batch of the products received many good reviews, and they are now selling more than 50k pieces of products in one year.

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Case Study: Lithium Battery Solution for Digital Laser Measuring Instrument

Project Background

In 2016, a carpentry business in the USA frequently received house renovation projects during peak seasons. Traditional tape measures caused inefficiency and inaccuracy:

1. The tape had to be fixed at one end and stretched to the other without slipping.
2. If not kept straight, measurement errors occur.
3. Carrying multiple tools (angle gauge, level, depth gauge, marking tools) was inconvenient.

To improve efficiency, the team decided to develop a multi-functional digital laser measuring tool, integrating laser distance measurement, angle measurement, flatness detection, depth/thickness measurement, and marking/positioning into a single portable device. The first-generation product was successfully launched via Kickstarter crowdfunding.

Based on customer feedback, the second generation required a higher-performance battery solution to support extended usage and fast charging.

Key Challenges

• Longer runtime: Higher capacity required for longer measurement sessions;
• Higher voltage: Need for 85V high-voltage LiPO cells a ensure stable performance;
• Fast charging: Charging time must be reduced to less than 1 hour.
• Startup flexibility: Customer requested a low minimum order quantity (MOQ)to support early-stage production.

 

Our Solution

Cell Configuration

• Adopted high-energy-density LiPO cells with a nominal voltage of 85V;
• Customized capacity configuration for extended runtime.
• High discharge capability to ensure a stable supply during multi-sensor operation.

BMS Design

• Integrated protection against overcharge, over-discharge, overcurrent, and short circuit;
• Battery level indicator for real-time monitoring.
• Fast charging compatibility, enabling full charge in <1 hour.

Structural & Integration Design

• Slim battery structure optimized for handheld device space constraints.
• Housing materials compliant with flame-retardant and portable device safety standards.
• Efficient thermal management to control temperature rise during fast charging and long use.

Production & Support

• Offered low MOQ a meet the needs of a startup project;
• Strict cell selection and assembly process for consistency and reliability;
• Small-batch trial production and accelerated validation to support fast time-to-market.

 

Results & Value

• Extended runtime: Fully met the demand for longer operating hours.
• Fast charging: Reduced charging time to within 1 hour.
• Market success: Second-generation prototype launched successfully, small-batch products received excellent feedback.
• Sales growth: Annual sales exceeded 50,000 units, significantly enhancing competitiveness.

 

Customer Feedback

 

Next Steps

We continue to support the customer with optimized battery solutions and are collaborating on the development of the third generation of digital laser measuring instruments, focusing on higher energy density and smarter battery management.