US3901596A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser telemeter
Assignee: Alcatel Lucent SAS
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Filing: 1973-04-25
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1993-04-25
Abstract
Abstract Laser telemeter comprising an attenuator a portion of which is placed on the trajectory of the pulses emitted by the laser and partially absorbs the energy of these pulses. This attenuator comprises several zones which are substantially centred on an axis, the absorbed fraction of the energy of a pulse being different for the various zones of the attenuator. That telemeter comprises also means for shifting that portion on the attenuator and means for driving the attenuator in a rotating movement about its axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Vincent
- 👤 Pierre Trevoux
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/08; G01S17/10; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/483; G01S7/486; G01S7/4868
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
A laser telemeter for measuring the distance to a target, comprising: generator means for emitting a succession of light pulses along a first axis towards the said target, said light pulses travelling along a path at least a portion of which lies along said first axis; attenuator means, one portion of which is placed in the said path of said pulses, for absorbing partly the energy of the said pulses, said attenuator means comprising several zones such that the fraction of the energy of a pulse absorbed by the said portion is the same when that portion takes up various positions in one of these zones, said fraction being different for the various zones of said attenuator means, each of said zones being centered about an axis of said attenuator means; photosensitive receiver means for receiving the light pulses sent back by the said target; means, connected to the said generator and to the said photosensitive receiver, for measuring the interval of time between the leaving of each of said pulses and the reception thereof by said photosensitive receiver; servo-control means, controlled by said photosensitive receiver, for controlling the position of the portion on said attenuator means so as to be able to move said portion from one of said zones to another to keep the energy of said light pulses received by said photosensitive receiver substantially equal to the predetermined value; and means for rotating said attenuator about said attenuator axis for causing said portion to continuously move through a zone of constant attenuation, said zone being controlled by said servocontrol means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
A laser telemeter for measuring the distance to a target, comprising: generator means for emitting a succession of light pulses along a first axis towards the said target, said light pulses travelling along a path at least a portion of which lies along said first axis; attenuator means, one portion of which is placed in the said path of said pulses, for absorbing partly the energy of the said pulses, said attenuator means comprising several zones such that the fraction of the energy of a pulse absorbed by the said portion is the same when that portion takes up various positions in one of these zones, said fraction being different for the various zones of said attenuator means, each of said zones being centered about an axis of said attenuator means; photosensitive receiver means for receiving the light pulses sent back by the said target; means, connected to the said generator and to the said photosensitive receiver, for measuring the interval of time between the leaving of each of said pulses and the reception thereof by said photosensitive receiver; servo-control means, controlled by said photosensitive receiver, for controlling the position of the portion on said attenuator means so as to be able to move said portion from one of said zones to another to keep the energy of said light pulses received by said photosensitive receiver substantially equal to the predetermined value; and means for rotating said attenuator about said attenuator axis for causing said portion to continuously move through a zone of constant attenuation, said zone being controlled by said servocontrol means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said attenuator means comprises: a disk made of a transparent substance and centered on the said attenuator axis; and a metallic layer deposited on at least one surface of said disk, each of the said zones being limited by a circular crown taking up a part of the surface of said metallic layer, the thickness of said layer varying from one zone to the other, in the same direction, from the center to the edge of said disk.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
199 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said attenuator means comprises a first concave spherical reflector centered on said attenuator axis for reflecting a fraction of the power of said pulses, the reflected fraction of the energy of said pulses varying from one zone to another, in the same direction, from the center to the edge of said reflector; and wherein said servo-control means comprises: a first plane reflector and a second plane reflector placed on the said first axis and fast mechanically with one another, the said spherical reflector having a center of curvature situated on the said first axis between said first and second plane reflectors, the pulses of the said generator being reflected successively on said first plane reflector, said spherical reflector and said second plane reflector; a convergent optical system centered on the said first axis and situated on the side of the said second plane reflector opposite to the said first plane reflector, a focal point of said optical system along said trajectory being in coincidence with a point in the focal plane of said spherical reflector; and meanS for driving said first and second plane reflectors in a rotating movement about said first axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 2, wherein the said portion of said attenuator which is in the path of said light pulses lies in said first axis and wherein said servo-control means comprises means for moving said attenuator means to vary its position in relation to the said first axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 2, wherein said servo-control means comprises: means for deviating said light pulses away from and back to said first axis for a trajectory portion of said pulses, which trajectory portion intersects said portion of said attenuator, and means for causing said trajectory portion to be rotated about said first axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said means for deviating comprises: a first plane reflector and a second plane reflector placed on the said first axis and limiting the said deviated part of the said trajectory; a third plane reflector and a fourth plane reflector placed on a third axis different from the said first axis, the said portion of the said attenuator means being placed on said third axis between said third and fourth reflectors, said four plane reflectors being fast mechanically with respect to one another, said pulses emitted by the said generator being reflected successively on the first, third, fourth and second reflectors; and wherein said means for causing comprises means for rotating the combination of said four plane reflectors about said first axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
185 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said means for deviating comprises: a first plane reflector and a second plane reflector, fast mechanically with one another, placed on the said first axis and limiting the said deviated part of the said trajectory; a concave spherical reflector having a center of curvature situated on said first axis between the said first and second plane reflectors, the pulses of the said generator being reflected successively on said first plane reflector, said spherical reflector and said second plane reflector, the said portion of the said attenuator being placed between said spherical reflector on the one hand and said first and second plane reflectors, on the other hand; a convergent optical system centered on the said first axis and situated on the side of the said second plane reflector opposite to the said first plane reflector, a focal point of said optical system along said trajectory being in coincidence with a point in the focal plane of said spherical reflector; and wherein said means for causing comprises means for rotating said first and second plane reflectors about said first axis.
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) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |