US3899251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for measuring the relative distance and optionally the relative velocity of an object
Assignee: Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH
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Filing: 1974-02-25
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Granted: 1975-08-12
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Expires: 1994-02-25
Abstract
Abstract In an apparatus for measuring the relative distance and optionally the relative velocity of an object with respect to a reference system, the improvement comprising, using two optical correlator systems with differing distances from the object, forming an auxiliary signal by mixing the electric output signals of the correlator systems, wherein the auxiliary signal has the difference frequency of these output signals; and then counting the number of signal cycles of one of the correlator output signals obtained during the duration of a cycle of the auxiliary signal and indicating the number of signal cycles as a value proportional to the distance.
Inventors
- 👤 Helmuth Frenk
- 👤 Ludwig Leitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P3/00; G01P3/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for measuring the distance and velocity of an object relative to a reference system, comprising: a. an object; b. two optical correlator systems each of which has a different distance from said object and an optical axis thereon, said correlator systems generating electrical output signals having a given frequency; c. means connected to said electrical output signals for mixing said electrical output signals and generating an auxiliary signal having a given auxiliary frequency comprising the difference in frequency of said electrical output signals; and d. means for counting the number of signal cycles of one of said electrical output signals during the period of time necessary for one cycle of said auxiliary frequency and indicating the number of signal cycles as a value proportional to the distance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for measuring the distance and velocity of an object relative to a reference system, comprising: a. an object; b. two optical correlator systems each of which has a different distance from said object and an optical axis thereon, said correlator systems generating electrical output signals having a given frequency; c. means connected to said electrical output signals for mixing said electrical output signals and generating an auxiliary signal having a given auxiliary frequency comprising the difference in frequency of said electrical output signals; and d. means for counting the number of signal cycles of one of said electrical output signals during the period of time necessary for one cycle of said auxiliary frequency and indicating the number of signal cycles as a value proportional to the distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for generating a second auxiliary signal having a constant timing frequency dependent on the optical characteristic values of said correlator systems; means for generating a third auxiliary signal from said second auxiliary signal after a given number of cycles as indicated by said means for indicating; and second means for counting and indicating the number of the signal cycles of one of said electrical output signals during the period of time necessary for said third auxiliary signal as a value proportional to the velocity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising, for the elimination of measuring errors due to self-rotation of the optical correlator systems relative to the reference system, means for determining the angular velocity of self-rotation comprising two auxiliary correlator systems (23, 24) oriented at right angles to the optical axes of said optical correlator systems (1,2) and in mutually opposed relationship generating correcting signals for correcting the frequency of said electrical output.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 3, fUrther comprising means for determining said velocity with the correct arithmetic sign, and correcting the frequency of said electrical output signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said optical correlator systems (1, 2) have photoelectric receivers which are connected, via saturated amplifiers (3, 4), to a mixing stage (5); a one-shot multivibrator (7) is connected after said mixing stage via a smoothing stage (6); a distance indicating device coupled with a storage unit (9) having an input gate is connected to one of said amplifiers (3) via a counting stage (8) having a resetting input, wherein said one-shot multivibrator (7) is connected to said input gate of said storage unit (9) and, via a delay member (20), with said resetting input of said counting stage (8).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said mixing stage (5) comprises a resistor network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a comparison stage (11) having a counter controlled by an oscillator (14) having a constant timing frequency; a second storage unit (13) having an input gate coupled with an indicator for the velocity indication connected after one of said amplifiers (3) via a second counting stage (12), wherein said comparison stage (11) is connected to said input gate of said second storage unit (13) and, via a delay member (21), to said resetting input of said second counting stage (12).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the outputs of said saturated amplifiers (3, 4) are connected to the inputs of an AND gate (15); a first flip-flop (16) is connected after this gate, and a second flip-flop (17) is connected after one of the amplifiers (3); the outputs of these flip-flops are connected to the forward counting input and the backward counting input, respectively, of a two-bit counter (18); the output of this counter is connected with the input of said one-shot multivibrator (7), the output signals of which comprise control signals for said counter (8) and said storage unit (9), and as resetting signals for said two-bit counter (18).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an electric logic circuit for actuating the measuring device only if the signals of the auxiliary correlator systems have the same frequency.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising 45* reflectors connected to partial apertures of said correlator systems (1, 2) thus replacing said auxiliary correlator systems (23, 24).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising means for determining said velocity without regard to the arithmetic sign and reducing the frequency of said electrical output signals in dependence on said velocity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said reflectors are reflecting prisms.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3689157A
Cited
US3815994A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |