Patent · US Active

Laser rangefinder and method of measuring distance and direction

US9958546B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
0References
15Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 2, 2015
Grant dateMay 1, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 21, 2036

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S7/4915
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A laser rangefinder includes: a MEMS mirror that changes a traveling direction of laser light; a first photodetector that reflects a portion of the laser light directed in a predetermined direction by the MEMS mirror and receives another portion of the laser light; a second photodetector that receives first reflected light that is reflection of the laser light from a target object outside an enclosure and second reflected light that is reflection of the portion of the laser light from the first photodetector; and a signal processor that calculates a distance from the laser rangefinder to the target object by subtracting, from a first distance from the laser diode to the target object calculated using the first reflected light, a second distance from the laser diode to the first photodetector calculated using the second reflected light, and calculates a direction of the target object with respect to the laser rangefinder.

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