Patent · US Expired

Object detection system

US5877849A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
16References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 12, 1997
Grant dateMar 2, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 12, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S7/486
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention provides for a detection system for detecting an object, comprising optical elements including a radiation source of an electromagnetic nature and at least one detector detecting radiation reflected off the object from the radiation source. The system is configured so that trigonometric relationships are established between all or selected of the optical elements and the object. Using the angle of radiation from the radiation source and the angle of reflection into the detector, the system determines the range or distance, and/or velocity of the object relative to the system. While the use of one detector is sufficient to provide an angle measurement for the system to determine the object range and/or velocity, an additional detector may be used to increase accuracy and flexibility. The detectors of the system may have be normal-looking, or side-looking detectors, either of which detects intensity variations. Each detector uses a mask and a baffle in accordance with the concept of constructive occlusion, which improves the response characteristics of the detector. The mask occupies a predetermined position within the detector to enable the detector to provide …

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