Active near-field object sensor and method employing object classification techniques
US5321490A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 23, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 23, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/18
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The sensor includes a range finder having means for emitting a directional output of pulsed energy toward a fixed area, and includes a transmitter section which divides pulsed energy into divergent beams, which are then received as reflective energy in a receiver section. The receiver alternately selects between outputs of two detectors receiving reflections from the beam and provide inputs for purposes of determining time of flight, and for measuring the time interval between interceptions of the two divergent beams for a given object. The sensor also receives inputs indicating the time that each pulse is emitted and the selected outputs from the detector to indicate when returning energy is received from the corresponding pulse to determine the elapsed time between the two.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.