Apparatus, method and computer program for determining a distance to an object using a determined peak width of a self-mixing interference (SMI) signal
US9677873B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jun 13, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/46
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus, method and computer program for measuring a distance using a self-mixing interference (SMI) unit that generates an SMI signal. The SMI unit comprises a laser emitting a first laser beam directed to an object and wherein the SMI signal depends on an interference of the first laser beam and a second laser beam reflected by the object. A peak width determination unit determines a peak width of the SMI signal, and a distance determination unit determines a distance between the object and the SMI unit depending on the determined peak width of the SMI signal. Since the distance is determined depending on the peak width of the SMI signal, without requiring a laser driving current modulation, advanced electronics for modulating the driving current of the laser are not needed. This reduces the technical efforts needed for determining the distance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.