US3759616A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-optical distance measuring instrument
Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
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Filing: 1971-07-14
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1991-07-14
Abstract
Abstract An electro-optical distance measuring instrument embodying a non-coherent light emitting diode, the light beam of which is directly amplitude-modulated by an oscillator and delivered to a receiver through the agency of means for mixing the modulation phases, a transmitting objective, and a reflector arranged at the remote end of the measuring path. The aforementioned means for mixing the modulation phases is arranged with respect to the transmitting objective such that the transmitting objective is fully illuminated and the transmitting objective produces an image of the aforementioned means at an infinite distance.
Inventors
No inventors recorded.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/08; G01S17/32; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/481; G01S7/4811; G01S7/4813; G01S7/497
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
In a method of measuring distances using electro-optical instrumentation which includes a non-coherent light emitting diode, oscillator means for directly amplitude modulating the light beam emitted by said non-coherent light emitting diode, said light emitting diode emitting uneven modulation phases from its surface, a transmitting objective for the light beam located forwardly of said non-coherent light emitting diode in the direction of transmission of the light beam, a reflector arranged at the remote end of the distance to be measured, a receiving objective and a receiver located at the opposite end of the distance to be measured, the improvement comprising the step of providing means for mixing said uneven modulation phases in cooperating relationship with said light emitting diode, transmitting said light emitted from said diode through said phase mixing means, said transmitter objective, said reflector and said receiving objective to said receiver, whereby said transmitting objective is fully illuminated and said transmitting objective produces an image of said mixing mEans at an infinite distance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a method of measuring distances using electro-optical instrumentation which includes a non-coherent light emitting diode, oscillator means for directly amplitude modulating the light beam emitted by said non-coherent light emitting diode, said light emitting diode emitting uneven modulation phases from its surface, a transmitting objective for the light beam located forwardly of said non-coherent light emitting diode in the direction of transmission of the light beam, a reflector arranged at the remote end of the distance to be measured, a receiving objective and a receiver located at the opposite end of the distance to be measured, the improvement comprising the step of providing means for mixing said uneven modulation phases in cooperating relationship with said light emitting diode, transmitting said light emitted from said diode through said phase mixing means, said transmitter objective, said reflector and said receiving objective to said receiver, whereby said transmitting objective is fully illuminated and said transmitting objective produces an image of said mixing mEans at an infinite distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of electro-optical distance measuring as defined in claim 1, wherein said non-coherent light emitting diode has a light emitting surface, and wherein said means for mixing the modulation phases comprises a phase mixing lense which possesses approximately the same spatial dimensions as said light emitting surface of said non-coherent light emitting diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of electro-optical distance measuring device as defined in claim 2, wherein said phase mixing lense comprises a plano-convex lense cemented directly to said light emitting surface of said non-coherent light emitting diode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
135 words
The method of electro-optical distance measuring as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitting objective comprises three lense members (L2,L3,L4) possessing the following data: n r3 - 68.5 L2 d2 10.0 1.598 r4 - 47.0 l4 0.2 r5 -203.0 L3 d3 8.5 1.598 l5 0.2 r7 - 730.0 L4 d4 8.0 1.598 r8 - 120.0 phi 8 70 focal length F 76.6, wherein n is the index of refraction of the respective lenses, r is the respective radii of curvature of the opposite surfaces of the respective successive lenses, d is the respective thicknesses of the lenses, l is the respective air gaps between the lenses, and phi 8 is the diameter of the outlet pupil of the last lense L4, all measurements being in millimeters, with the exception of the indices of refraction n.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of electro-optical distance measuring as defined in claim 2, wherein said phase mixing lense comprises a lense member (L1) possessing the following data: n r1 + 0.52 L1 d1 0.31 1.6804 r2 - 0.52 phi 0.6, wherein r is the respective radii of curvature of opposite surfaces of such lense member, d1 is the thickness of such lense member, n is the index of refraction, and phi is the diameter of such lense member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of electro-optical distance measuring as defined in claim 1, wherein said non-coherent light emitting diode possesses a light emitting surface having a diameter less than 0.4 millimeters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of electro-optical distance measuring as defined in claim 1, wherein said non-coherent light emitting diode comprises a gallium-arsenide-diode having a light emitting surface capable of emitting incoherent radiation in the near infra-red region between 0.7 to 0.94 Mu m.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |