Laser scanner

US7589826B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SICK AG · DE

Inventors

• Stefan Mack · Berlin, DE
• Sebastian Pastor · Glückstadt, DE
• Hans-Werner Pierenkemper · Emmendingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 12, 2007
• Grant date: Sep 15, 2009
• Expiry date: Dec 12, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/42
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A laser scanner which operates pursuant to the elapsed time principle and which has a pulsed laser that directs successive light pulses into a monitored region. The laser scanner further has a light receiving arrangement for receiving light pulses reflected by an object in the monitored region and that generates electric received signals which are fed to an evaluation unit for determining a distance between the object and the laser scanner based on the elapsed time between the emission of the light pulse and the receipt of the reflected pulse and the speed of light from which a distance signal is formed that is representative of the distance between the object and the scanner. There is a light diverter unit between the pulsed laser and the monitored region which continuously directs light pulses along different directions into the monitored region. A light source is provided which emits a light measuring signal of reduced strength which is also continuously directed into the monitored region in continuously changing directions. The light receiving arrangement is configured to receive the light measuring signal reflected by the object in the monitored region and to generate a reflec…