Device for determination of distances between close-range objects

Claim 1

A device for determining distances between two objects, the device comprising: a pulse generator on the first object; optical transmission means connected to said pulse generator, for transmitting light-pulses; decoupling means for decoupling high-frequency energy from said optical transmission means and radiating said high-frequency energy via a connected antenna, said antenna also receiving said high-frequency energy after said high frequency energy is backscattered by the second object; optical receiver means for receiving light-pulses reflected by the second object; and evaluating logic means connected to said decoupling means and said optical receiver means for determining a distance between the first object and the second object, said evaluating logic measuring a light pulse propagation delay time between said transmitted and received light pulse, said evaluating logic also measuring a high-frequency propagation delay time between said radiated and received high-frequency energy, said distance between the first object and the second object being calculated from said light pulse and high-frequency delay times and propagation times of said light pulse and high frequency energy.

Claim 2

A device for determining distances between two objects, the device comprising: a pulse generator on the first object; optical transmission means connected to said pulse generator, for transmitting light-pulses; decoupling means for decoupling high-frequency energy from said optical transmission means and radiating said high-frequency energy via a connected antenna, said antenna also receiving said high-frequency energy after said high frequency energy is backscattered by the second object; optical receiver means for receiving light-pulses reflected by the second object; and evaluating logic means connected to said decoupling means and said optical receiver means for determining a distance between the first object and the second object, said evaluating logic measuring a light pulse propagation delay time between said transmitted and received light pulse, said evaluating logic also measuring a high-frequency propagation delay time between said radiated and received high-frequency energy, said distance between the first object and the second object being calculated from said light pulse and high-frequency delay times and propagation times of said light pulse and high frequency energy.

Claim 10

A system for determining close-range distances (smaller than 100 m) between two objects such as a vehicle provided with the system and another object, comprising: light-pulsed transmitter means for transmitting a light-pulse; light-pulse receiving means for receiving a reflected light-pulse and delivering a received light-pulse signal representative of said reflected light-pulse; high-frequency pulse transmitter means for transmitting a high-frequency pulse; high-frequency pulse receiver means for receiving a back scattered high-frequency pulse and delivering a back scattered high-frequency pulse signal representative of said back scattered high-frequency pulse; and, processor controlled evaluating logic means for receiving said reflected light-pulse signal and receiving said back scattered high-frequency pulse signal for determining a light-pulse distance measurement signal based on propagation time of a transmitted light-pulse and determining a high-frequency pulse distance measurement signal based on a propagation time of the high-frequency pulse.

Claim 11

A system for determining close-range distances (smaller than 100 m) between two objects such as a vehicle provided with the system and another object, comprising: light-pulsed transmitter means for transmitting a light-pulse; light-pulse receiving means for receiving a reflected light-pulse and delivering a received light-pulse signal representative of said reflected light-pulse; high-frequency pulse transmitter means for transmitting a high-frequency pulse; high-frequency pulse receiver means for receiving a back scattered high-frequency pulse and delivering a back scattered high-frequency pulse signal representative of said back scattered high-frequency pulse; and, processor controlled evaluating logic means for receiving said reflected light-pulse signal and receiving said back scattered high-frequency pulse signal for determining a light-pulse distance measurement signal based on propagation time of a transmitted light-pulse and determining a high-frequency pulse distance measurement signal based on a propagation time of the high-frequency pulse.

Claim 13

A device for determining close-range distances between two objects, the device being provided in a first object, the device comprising: an optical transmitter on the first object; a transmitting pulse generator connected to said optical transmitter for supplying pulsed energy to said optical transmitter for transmitting light-pulses; a strip line circuit connected to said transmitting pulse generator and connected to an antenna, high-frequency energy from said optical transmitter being decoupled by said transmitting pulse generator via said strip line circuit and said high-frequency energy being radiated by said antenna, said antenna also receiving said high-frequency energy after said high frequency energy is backscattered by the second object; a directional coupler connected to said strip line circuit for distinguishing between radiated and received high-frequency energy; output control means connected with said transmitting pulse generator for supplying a control signal to said transmitting pulse generator; an optical receiver for receiving a light-pulse reflected by the second object and supplying a received light-pulse signal; delay line means for delaying said received high frequency energy; a dual gate stage for receiving said received light-pulse signal and said delayed high-frequency energy, said dual gate stage dividing said received light-pulse signal and said received high-frequency energy into two portions at a specific time corresponding to a predetermined distance; and evaluating logic means connected to said dual gate stage and said output control means for determining a distance between the first object and the second object based on propagation time and delay time between each of said transmitted light-pulse and said received light pulse and between said radiated high-frequency energy and said received high-frequency energy, said evaluating logic means integrating each of said two portions of said light pulse signal and said received high-frequency energy, comparing integrated values for both of said portions, and determining when the second object is at said predetermined distance by first noticing when said integrated value of a latter portion is higher and then substantially equal to said integrated value of an earlier portion.

Claim 14

A device for determining close-range distances between two objects, the device being provided in a first object, the device comprising: an optical transmitter on the first object; a transmitting pulse generator connected to said optical transmitter for supplying pulsed energy to said optical transmitter for transmitting light-pulses; a strip line circuit connected to said transmitting pulse generator and connected to an antenna, high-frequency energy from said optical transmitter being decoupled by said transmitting pulse generator via said strip line circuit and said high-frequency energy being radiated by said antenna, said antenna also receiving said high-frequency energy after said high frequency energy is backscattered by the second object; a directional coupler connected to said strip line circuit for distinguishing between radiated and received high-frequency energy; output control means connected with said transmitting pulse generator for supplying a control signal to said transmitting pulse generator; an optical receiver for receiving a light-pulse reflected by the second object and supplying a received light-pulse signal; delay line means for delaying said received high frequency energy; a dual gate stage for receiving said received light-pulse signal and said delayed high-frequency energy, said dual gate stage dividing said received light-pulse signal and said received high-frequency energy into two portions at a specific time corresponding to a predetermined distance; and evaluating logic means connected to said dual gate stage and said output control means for determining a distance between the first object and the second object based on propagation time and delay time between each of said transmitted light-pulse and said received light pulse and between said radiated high-frequency energy and said received high-frequency energy, said evaluating logic means integrating each of said two portions of said light pulse signal and said received high-frequency energy, comparing integrated values for both of said portions, and determining when the second object is at said predetermined distance by first noticing when said integrated value of a latter portion is higher and then substantially equal to said integrated value of an earlier portion.