Patent · US Expired

Flagpole reflectors for laser range finders

US7215412B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
12References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 1, 2004
Grant dateMay 8, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 17, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01C3/08
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system and method are provided for determining a distance to a target. The method includes sending light, at a first time, to a light reflector mounted in a reflector device, receiving light reflected from the light reflector at a second time, and determining the distance to the reflector device using the difference between the first time and the second time. The reflector device has a first lateral surface, a second lateral surface parallel to the first lateral surface, and a rod surface extending from the first lateral surface to the second lateral surface. The reflector device includes sockets arranged in the rod surface with a light reflector mounted in each socket. The sockets may be arranged in a plurality of rows with possibly a plurality of sockets in each row. The reflector device may be mounted as an insert to or at the top of a target to determine the distance to the target.

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