Patent EP0619502A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0619502A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Scanning optical rangefinder
Assignee: Kollmorgen Corp
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Filing: 1994-04-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A scanning optical rangefinder is claimed including an optical scanner and a light source (10). The optical scanner includes a rotating disc (20) with a circular array of concave reflectors (18) thereon. Mirrors are provided for directing light from the light source towards the concave reflectors (18) on the scan disc (20) towards a target. Light received from the target is directed towards the concave reflectors (18) on the scan disc (20) by mirrors along a plurality of channels. A detector adapted to receive light reflected from the concave reflectors is provided for each channel.
Inventors
- 👤 William H. Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/481; G01S7/4811; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/42; G01S17/46; G01S17/48; G01S17/88; G01S17/89; G01S17/93; G01S17/931; G01S7/4817; G01S7/497; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A scanning rangefinder comprising a radiation source; a scanning element; means for directing radiation from said radiation source towards said scanning element; means for directing radiation reflected from said scanning element towards a target; means for directing radiation from said target towards said scanning element along a plurality of channels; and a detector adapted to receive radiation reflected from said scanning element along each of said channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
The scanning rangefinder of claim 1, wherein said scanning element is a rotating scan disc including a circular array of scanning elements on a planar surface thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The scanning rangefinder of claim 1, wherein said scanning element is a polygon scanner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scanning rangefinder of claim 1, wherein said scanning element is a plurality of oscillating mirrors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
An optical scanner comprising a radiation source; a rotating scan disc including a circular array of scanning elements on a planar surface thereof; means for directing radiation from said light source towards said scanning element; means for directing radiation reflected from said scanning element towards a target; means for directing radiation from said target towards said scanning element along a plurality of channels; and a detector adapted to receive radiation reflected from said scanning element along each of said channels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The optical scanner of claim 5 for use in a collision avoidance system wherein said source of radiation, said rotating scan disc, said means for directing radiation form said radiation source, said means for directing radiation reflected from said concave reflectors, said means for directing radiation from said target and said detector are mounted in a vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The scanning device of claim 1, 5 or 6 further comprising means for vertically scanning a field of view.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The scanning device of claim 7, wherein said means for vertically scanning further comprises at least one rotatable mirror.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scanning device of claim 7, wherein said means for vertically scanning further comprises means for translating a housing of the scanning device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scanning device of claim 1, 5 or 6, wherein said radiation source is a laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The scanning device of claim 10, wherein said laser is a GaAlAs laser diode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The scanning device of claim 1, 5 or 6, wherein said radiation source illuminates each pixel in a field of view.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The scanning device of claim 1, 5 or 6, wherein the scanning rangefinder has at least two optical levels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scanning device of claim 1, 5 or 6, wherein said means for directing radiation from said target directs radiation along two channels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The scanning device of claim 14, wherein radiation directed from said radiation source to said target travels along one of the same channels as radiation directed from said target to said detector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The scanning device of claim 1, 5 or 6, wherein said detector adapted to receive radiation reflected from said scanning element along each of said channels further comprises a single element detector and a detector array.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The scanning device of claim 1, 5 or 6, wherein said means for directing radiation from said radiation source further comprises at least one mirror.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The scanning device of claim 1, 5 or 6, wherein said means for directing radiation reflected from said scanning element further comprises at least on mirror.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The scanning device of claim 1, 5 or 6, wherein said means for directing radiation from said target further comprises at least one mirror.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The scanning device of any one of claims 17, 18 or 17, wherein said at least one mirror is integrally formed with a housing of the scanning device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The scanning device of claim 1, 5 or 6, further comprising a signal processor for determining target range and lateral position from a signal from said detector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The scanning device of claim 21, further comprising a signal processor for determining target reflectivity from a signal from said detector.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The scanning device of claim 21, further comprising a signal processor for target imaging.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The scanning device of claim 1, 5 or 6, further comprising a signal processor for establishing a signal threshold for signals from said detector and for rejection of extraneous signals from said detector.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The scanning device of claim 1, 5 or 6, further comprising a signal processor for centroid location on said detector.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The scanning device of claim 6 and any one of claims 22, 23, 24 or 25 wherein information from said detector is processed by a computer in said vehicle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The scanning device of claim 6, wherein said means for directing radiation towards a target and said means for directing light from said target are mounted on the centerline of said vehicle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A collision avoidance system comprising the optical scanning device of one or more of claims 1 to 27.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of optical scanning, comprising the steps of directing radiation from a radiation source towards a concave reflector on a rotating scan disc; directing light reflected from said concave reflector towards a target; directing light from said target towards scanning element on said scan disc along a plurality of channels; and detecting light reflected from said scanning element along each of said channels.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of optical scanning of claim 29, further comprising the step of vertically scanning a field of view.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of optical scanning of claim 29, further comprising the step of providing a laser as said radiation source.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of optical scanning of claim 29, further comprising the step of directing radiation from said target along at least two optical levels.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of optical scanning of claim 29, further comprising the step of directing radiation from said target along two channels.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of optical scanning of claim 33, further comprising the step of directing light from said light source to said target and at least some light from said target along the same channel.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of optical scanning of claim 29, further comprising the step of using mirrors integrally formed with a housing to direct light.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of optical scanning of claim 29, further comprising the step of determining the range and lateral position of said target.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of optical scanning of claim 36, further comprising the step of determining the reflectivity of said target.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of optical scanning of claim 36, further comprising the step of imaging said target.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of optical scanning of claim 29, further comprising the step of locating the centroid of radiation reflected from said target.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
33 words
The method of optical scanning according to any one of claims 36, 37, 38 or 39, further comprising the step of processing information from said detected radiation by a computer in a vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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