Pulsed light optical rangefinder
US9417326B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 2010 |
| Grant date | Aug 16, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 18, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/773
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical rangefinder based on time-of-flight measurement, radiates pulsed light toward an object (70), and receives reflected light from the object, the receiver operating in a photon counting mode, so as to generate a pulse for a detected photon. There is a variable probability of a photon detection on the receiver, and a controller (370, 380, 390; 365, 470, 475, 380, 390; 570, 580, 590, 390) controls the photon detection probability of the receiver, based on a light level. By controlling the detection probability according to a light level, the receiver can have an increased dynamic range, and without the expense of using optical components. This can apply even while detecting very weak signals since the receiver can still be in a photon counting mode while the detection probability is controlled. The light level can be indicated by an output of the receiver itself, or by another detector external to the receiver.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.