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A scaling device projects a known optical pattern into the field of view of a camera, which can be employed as a reference scale in a resulting photograph of a remote object, for example. The device comprises an optical beam projector that projects two or more spaced, parallel optical beams onto a s

A scaling device projects a known optical pattern into the field of view of a camera, which can be employed as a reference scale in a resulting photograph of a remote object, for example. The device comprises an optical beam projector that projects two or more spaced, parallel optical beams onto a surface of a remotely located object to be photographed. The resulting beam spots or lines on the object are spaced from one another by a known, predetermined distance. As a result, the size of other objects or features in the photograph can be determined through comparison of their size to the known distance between the beam spots. Preferably, the device is a small, battery-powered device that can be attached to a camera and employs one or more laser light sources and associated optics to generate the parallel light beams. In a first embodiment of the invention, a single laser light source is employed, but multiple parallel beams are generated thereby through use of beam splitting optics. In another embodiment, multiple individual laser light sources are employed that are mounted in the device parallel to one another to generate the multiple parallel beams.

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1. A scaling device for projecting an optical scale reference pattern in a linear direction extending substantially parallel to an imaginary line extending between a camera's lens and an object of interest, for providing a scale reference pattern in a resulting photograph of said object of interest,

1. A scaling device for projecting an optical scale reference pattern in a linear direction extending substantially parallel to an imaginary line extending between a camera's lens and an object of interest, for providing a scale reference pattern in a resulting photograph of said object of interest, comprising:a) a housing; and b) means disposed in said housing for generating a plurality of equally spaced, parallel output light beams extending from said housing toward said object of interest; whereby, said device provides parallel output beams extending substantially parallel to the imaginary line extending between said camera's lens and said object of interest to form a pattern of equally spaced light spots thereon. 2. The scaling device of claim 1, further including a means on said housing for attaching said device to a camera.3. The scaling device of claim 1, wherein said means disposed in said housing for generating a plurality of equally spaced, parallel output light beams comprises:1) a light source disposed in said housing for generating a first light beam; 2) a power source disposed in said housing for powering said light source; and 3) a collection of optical elements disposed in said housing and positioned to receive said light beam and form said plurality of equally spaced, parallel output beams. 4. The scaling device of claim 3, wherein said light source comprises a laser diode.5. The scaling device of claim 3, wherein said optical elements include a plurality of beam splitters and a plurality of mirrors that arranged to divide said light beam into said plurality of output beams.6. The scaling device of claim 5, wherein said optical elements are arranged so that said output beams have equal intensities.7. The scaling device of claim 5, wherein said collection of optical elements includes a plurality of equal size spacers that are assembled with said plurality of beam splitters and plurality of mirrors so that the spacing between each pair of adjacent beams in said plurality of output beams is equal.8. The scaling device of claim 1, wherein said means disposed in said housing for generating said plurality of equally spaced, parallel output light beams comprises:1) a plurality of light sources disposed parallel to one another, with each light source generating a corresponding one of said plurality of equally spaced, parallel output beams; and 2) a power source disposed in said housing for powering said light sources. 9. The scaling device of claim 8, wherein each of said light sources comprises a laser diode.10. The scaling device of claim 8, further including adjustment means for adjusting the position of each of said light sources to insure that said output beams are parallel to one another.11. The scaling device of claim 8, wherein said power source comprises a battery power supply disposed in said housing for powering said light sources.12. A method for providing a scale reference pattern on an object in a photographic image comprising the steps ofa) providing a housing and means disposed in said housing for generating a plurality of equally spaced, parallel output light beams, each of said beams being spaced from one another by a predetermined distance; b) positioning said housing so that said parallel output beams extend in a direction substantially parallel to an imaginary line extending between a camera's lens and said object to form an optical pattern on said object; c) photographing said object with said camera to obtain an image having said optical pattern therein; and d) examining said image to determine scale attributes of said object from said optical pattern. 13. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of positioning said housing further comprises the step of mounting said housing on said camera.14. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of providing means disposed in said housing for generating a plurality of equally spaced, parallel output light beams comprises providing: a light source disposed in said housing for generating a first light beam; a power source disposed in said housing for powering said light source; and a collection of optical elements disposed in said housing and positioned to receive said light beam and form said a plurality of equally spaced, parallel output beams.15. The method of claim 14, wherein said light source is selected to a be a laser diode.16. The method of claim 14, wherein said optical elements are selected to include a plurality of beam splitters and plurality of mirrors that are arranged to divide said light beam into said plurality of output beams.17. The method of claim 16, wherein said optical elements are selected to be arranged so that said output beams have equal intensities.18. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of providing means disposed in said housing for generating a plurality of equally spaced, parallel output light beams comprises providing: a plurality of light sources disposed parallel to one another in said housing, each for generating a corresponding one of said plurality of equally spaced, parallel output beams; and a power source disposed in said housing for powering said light sources.19. The method of claim 18, wherein said step of providing a plurality of light sources disposed parallel to one another in said housing further comprises providing adjustment means for adjusting positioning of each of said light sources, and adjusting positioning of each of said light sources until said output beams are parallel to one another.20. The method of claim 18, wherein said light source is selected to be a laser diode.21. A scaling device adaptable for projecting a plurality of parallel light beams in a direction substantially parallel to an imaginary line extending between a camera's lens and an object of interest, for creating a scale reference pattern in a photographic image of said object of interest taken by said camera, comprising:a) a housing; b) at least one light source disposed in said housing; c) means for generating a plurality of spaced apart, parallel output beams extending between said housing and said object of interest in a direction substantially parallel to the imaginary line extending between the camera's lens and the object of interest; d) at least one power source disposed in said housing for powering said at least one light source; and e) adjustment means for assuring said equally spaced output beams extend substantially parallel to one another between said housing and said object of interest. 22. A method of utilizing at least one light source and at least one power source for creating a scale reference pattern in a photographic image of an object of interest, comprising the steps of:a) generating a plurality of spaced-apart, substantially parallel extending output beams spaced a predetermined distance apart from said at least one light source and said at least one power source; b) substantially aligning said beams with an imaginary line extending between a camera's lens and said object of interest; c) providing at least one adjustment assembly for adjusting said at least one light source to assure said beams extend substantially parallel to one another; and d) photographing said object of interest with said scale reference pattern projected thereon.