Patent · US Expired

Rangefinder

US4457621A · kind A · utility

25Cited by
5References
31Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 16, 1980
Grant dateJul 3, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 16, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S17/42
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A laser rangefinder including a reflector carried by a rotatable support and arranged to repetitively nod in elevation for deflecting the beam from a laser generator at an instant elevational angle dependent on the instant elevational position of the reflector so that the elevational nod of the reflector and rotation of the support produce a helical scan pattern. A deflector positioned between the beam generator and reflector additionally deflects the beam before it impinges on the reflector to direct the beam toward a target regardless of the instantaneous elevational position of the nodding reflector. A beam receiver receives via the reflector any beam reflected back from a target hit by an outgoing beam. The rangefinder is combined with a surveillance scanner to form a surveillance system.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.