Optical range finder

US7859651B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SICK AG · DE

Inventors

• Andreas Gunther · Cologne, DE
• Helmut Themel · Waldkirch, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 6, 2008
• Grant date: Dec 28, 2010
• Expiry date: Mar 20, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/08
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical range finder comprising a light transmitter for the transmission of measurement light into a monitored space, a light receiver for the reception of measurement light reflected or remitted by an object in the monitored space, and an evaluation circuit to determine the time of flight of the measurement light from the output signal and to determine the distance of the object therefrom. In accordance with the invention, a PIN diode circuit is provided between the light receiver and the evaluation circuit and is electrically connected to them, with the PIN diode circuit damping the current output signal of the light receiver. The invention furthermore relates to an optical range finding method which can be carried out with the optical range finder in accordance with the invention.