Device for determining a distance from an object, and corresponding method

US11016184B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. · DE

Inventors

• Maik Beer · Duisburg, DE
• Olaf Schrey · Ratingen, DE
• Werner Brockherde · Duisburg, DE
• Alexander Schwinger · Essen, DE
• Bedrich Hosticka · Rübhausen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 2, 2018
• Grant date: May 25, 2021
• Expiry date: May 8, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/10
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for determining a distance from an object, including a transmission device for emitting several light pulses including a pulse duration, including a reception device for receiving signals and for generating detection signals, and including an evaluation device for evaluating the detection signals. The evaluation device determines, on the basis of a number of the light pulses emitted and on the basis of the detection signals, probability values of several time windows which each have a respective time period equaling the pulse duration which relate to probabilities for reception of a signal within one of the time windows, respectively. In addition, the evaluation device determines, in accordance with the time-of-flight method, a measure of the distance of the object on the basis of the probability values determined. In addition, the invention relates to a corresponding method.