Device for determining a distance to an object and corresponding method

US11067674B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

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

Inventors

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

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 14, 2018
• Grant date: Jul 20, 2021
• Expiry date: Aug 15, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/89
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Described are a device for determining a distance to an object, having a transmitting device for emitting signals, a receiving device for receiving signals and for generating detection signals, an evaluating device for evaluating the detection signals of the receiving device, and a control device for controlling the evaluation of the detection signals, and a corresponding method. The receiving device has a plurality of receiving elements which generate, in case they receive a signal, a detection signal each. The evaluating device determines the distance to the object in accordance with the time-of-flight method and while considering coincidence events and uses that case in which a number of detection signals generated within a presettable coincidence time at least equals a presettable coincidence depth, as a coincidence events. The control device is configured to determine, starting from a background radiation measurement, a new value for the coincidence time and/or, if applicable, the coincidence depth and preset same for the evaluating device, wherein, in a background radiation measurement, the receiving device receives signals and generates background radiation detection signals…