System and method for measuring distance
US3937574A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 29, 1973 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 29, 1993 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/08
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A pair of light intensity detectors are spaced apart in range and an arrangement is included for reflecting light from a target to the detectors. The system measures target range by dividing the output signal of one of the detectors by a signal which is a function of the difference between the output signals of the two detectors to produce a quotient signal. To avoid low signal instability problems, the difference signal is generated in one embodiment of the system by subtracting only a selected fraction of the output signal of the far detector from that of the near detector. A substantially linearized output signal representing target range is produced in this system embodiment by raising the quotient signal to a selected power. The light detectors are preferably incorporated in input circuits which are temperature compensated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.