Patent · US Expired

Optical ranging camera

US6057909A · kind A · utility

335Cited by
36References
78Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 19, 1997
Grant dateMay 2, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 19, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S17/933
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Apparatus for creating an image indicating distances to objects in a scene, comprising: a modulated source of radiation, having a first modulation function, which directs radiation toward a scene; a detector, which detects radiation reflected from the scene, modulated by a second modulation function, and generates, responsive to said detected modulated radiation, signals responsive to the distance to regions of the scene; a processor, which receives signals from the detector and forms an image, based on the signals, having an intensity value distribution indicative of the distance of objects from the apparatus; and a controller, which varies at least one of the first and second modulation functions, responsive to the intensity value distribution of the image formed by the processor.

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