Patent attributes
In one embodiment of the present invention, a distance measuring device for use with a power tool having an alignment area for receiving a work piece, comprises a measuring sensor proximate to said alignment area that produces a first signal corresponding to longitudinal motion of the work piece within the alignment area; a processor that receives the first signal, determines a longitudinal distance traveled by the work piece within the alignment area from the first signal, and outputs a second signal corresponding to the longitudinal distance traveled by said work piece within said alignment area; and a display receiving the second signal from the processor and providing an alpha-numeric representation of the distance traveled by the work piece within the alignment area.