Patent · US Active

Distance measuring apparatus

US8081299B2 · kind B2 · utility

17Cited by
4References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 9, 2009
Grant dateDec 20, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 24, 2030

Classification

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

Abstract

A distance measuring apparatus according to an aspect of the invention may include: a light source irradiating reference light to measure a distance; a lower reflective mirror reflecting the reference light to irradiate the reference light onto a peripheral obstacle, and reflecting reflected light, rebounded from an obstacle, so that the reflected light moves in an opposite direction along the same optical path as the reference light; a sensor lens arranged above the lower reflective mirror, converting the reference light into parallel light beams and focusing the reflected light; an upper reflective mirror arranged above the sensor lens and switching an optical path of the reflected light; and an optical sensor receiving the reflected light having the optical path thereof switched by the upper reflective mirror, wherein the upper reflective mirror reflects back the reflected light, focused after passing through the sensor lens, in an opposite direction to a moving direction thereof so that a focus of the reflected light is formed between the lower reflective mirror and the upper reflective mirror.

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