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Patent US4387988A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4387988A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic distance measuring device
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1981-07-23
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Granted: 1983-06-14
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Expires: 2001-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A distance measuring device comprises a light emitter, a light receiver including a plurality of photo-responsive elements for sensing the pulsating light beam emitted by the light emitter and subsequently reflected from a target object relative to which the distance from the device is to be measured, and a signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit includes a logic circuit so designed as to determine the applicability of an output signal from one of light measuring circuits connected to the respective photoresponsive elements in relation to output signals from the other of the light measuring circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Motonobu Matsuda
- 👤 Yoshihiro Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/46; G01S17/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A distance measuring device which comprises: means for directing a beam of light towards a target object; means for receiving the beam of light reflected by the target object, said receiving means having a plurality of at least three light sensing portions, the optical axes of which intersect the path of travel of said beam of light in different ranges of distance from said directing means; means responsive to said receiving means for signaling whether conditions of the respective light sensing portions are light sensing or non-light sensing; means for determining a target object distance in response to said signaling means; first means responsive to said signaling means for detecting when the light sensing portions, the optical axes of which intersect the path of travel of the beam of light in non-neighboring ranges of distance, are in the light receiving condition; and means connected to said first means for producing an output in response to the detection by said first detecting means for indicating that the distance measurement is in an abnormal condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A distance measuring device which comprises: means for directing a beam of light towards a target object; means for receiving the beam of light reflected by the target object, said receiving means having a plurality of at least three light sensing portions, the optical axes of which intersect the path of travel of said beam of light in different ranges of distance from said directing means; means responsive to said receiving means for signaling whether conditions of the respective light sensing portions are light sensing or non-light sensing; means for determining a target object distance in response to said signaling means; first means responsive to said signaling means for detecting when the light sensing portions, the optical axes of which intersect the path of travel of the beam of light in non-neighboring ranges of distance, are in the light receiving condition; and means connected to said first means for producing an output in response to the detection by said first detecting means for indicating that the distance measurement is in an abnormal condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising second means responsive to said signaling measn for detecting when all of the light sensing portions are in the light receiving condition, said output producing means further being connected to said second detecting means for producing an output in response to the detection by said second means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said output producing means comprises means for emitting a sensible warning signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said emitting means is a visual signal generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
191 words
A distance measuring device which comprises: means for directing a beam of light towards a target object; means for receiving the beam of light reflected by the target object, said receiving means having a plurality of at least three light sensing portions, the optical axes of which intersect the path of travel of said beam of light in different ranges of distance from said directing means; means responsive to said receiving means for signaling whether conditions of the respective light sensing portions are light sensing or non-light sensing; and logic circuit means having means for logically processing the outputs from said signaling means for each of all relationships of any of said sensing portion's condition with all other sensing portions' conditions to generate an output for each of such relationships, said relationships including a group of relationships where the light sensing portions, the optical axes of which intersect the path of travel of beam of light in non-neighboring ranges of distance, are in the light receiving condition, and further having means connected to said processing means for generating an output which is identical for all of the relationships in said group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
191 words
A distance measuring device which comprises: means for directing a beam of light towards a target object; means for receiving the beam of light reflected by the target object, said receiving means having a plurality of at least three light sensing portions, the optical axes of which intersect the path of travel of said beam of light in different ranges of distance from said directing means; means responsive to said receiving means for signaling whether conditions of the respective light sensing portions are light sensing or non-light sensing; and logic circuit means having means for logically processing the outputs from said signaling means for each of all relationships of any of said sensing portion's condition with all other sensing portions' conditions to generate an output for each of such relationships, said relationships including a group of relationships where the light sensing portions, the optical axes of which intersect the path of travel of beam of light in non-neighboring ranges of distance, are in the light receiving condition, and further having means connected to said processing means for generating an output which is identical for all of the relationships in said group.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means connected to said logic circuit means for determining a target object distance in response to the outputs of said logic circuit means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as claimed in claim 5 further comprising warning means connected to said output generating means for warning that the distance measurement is in an abnormal condition in response to said identical signal for the relationships in said first group.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said relationships in said first group further include a relationship where all of the light sensing portions are in the light receiving condition, and said logic circuit means comprises means responsive to said lastmentioned relationship for generating an output which is identical with that for the other relationships in said group.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said warning means includes means for emitting a sensible warning signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said emitting means is a visual signal generator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising means for indicating a predetermined object distance in response to said identical signal.
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) | 1986-06-13 | 1986-12-13 | 1987-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-13 | 1990-12-13 | 1991-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-13 | 1994-12-13 | 1995-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |