Using Stanley TLM30 laser distance meter via arduino

Other Hardware Device Hacking
1

Hi Everyone,
I have a pocket laser distance meter made by Stanley (Model STHT77425). I am wondering it there is any way to operate/control that meter by arduino. arduino operates the button to throw laser beam and get the reading from that device.

Laser distance meter

2

Probably.
Easy way? Probably not.
To press the button, no problem. To get the readings things are getting harder.
Usually these devices are hacked by using serial communication. But if you don't have the protocol, there is a LOT of work to be done. And that's IF there is serial port available on the device...

3

The manual shows an USB cable, definitely for power as described in the manual.
So one might try an USB sniffer or so to see if there is also a "data port" on the USB

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4

Thanks for your view..not sure but the information which is shared by device to the display can that be read by some means??

5

Thanks for your idea. do you have any information to check if usb port has data port as well?

6

Only thing I can think of is if you plug it into a laptop/pc/raspberry there might pop up an extra com port..
Would be an easy test.

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7

Google usb bus analyzer or usb sniffer

There seems to be several (expensive) hw solutions. No experience,

you might ask an usb forum?

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8

Sure.
But that can be even more difficult than serial port hack. That's why we are rarely able to repurpose displays from old devices. There are some projects available online if you want to learn. First open your device and see what you find there.

For inspiration, you can find some laser meters hacked:

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