System and method for determining range in 3D imaging systems
US7453553B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 2007 |
| Grant date | Nov 18, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S7/497
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method of imaging an object. An array of detectors is mounted in an image plane. Each detector in the array of detectors is connected to a timing circuit having an interpolator, wherein the interpolator includes a first circuit which charges a first capacitor at a different rate than it discharges. An optical pulse is transmitted toward an object so that a portion of the optical pulse is reflected from the object as a reflected pulse and a first value representative of when the optical pulse was transmitted toward the object is recorded. The reflected pulse is detected at one or more detectors and a pulse characteristic of the pulse and a second value representative of when the reflected pulse arrived at the detector are recorded. Range to the object is then calculated as a function of the first and second values and the reflected pulse characteristic.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.