Patent · US Expired

Method for improving the received signal to noise ratio of a laser rangefinder

US7184130B1 · kind B1 · utility

12Cited by
1References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 15, 2004
Grant dateFeb 27, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 11, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S7/4873
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An improved technique for a laser rangefinder includes a pulsed laser sending out a repetition of light pulses and the received signal (light pulse and noise components combined) being analyzed by continuous averaging of successive received signal discrete time sequences, each sequence beginning with the onset of transmitted laser light. Also, a circuit generates high potentials for the laser diode driving circuitry that simultaneously drives the laser diode, having at least one of several beneficial characteristics: It is conveniently synchronous with the light pulse send/receive process to reduce the effects of noise on the receive section. It is energy efficient in converting low battery potentials to higher voltages. Finally, it utilizes a minimized number of components, leading to high product economy.

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