US5754280A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Two-dimensional rangefinding sensor
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1996-05-21
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Granted: 1998-05-19
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Expires: 2016-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A two-dimensional rangefinding sensor of the present invention consisting of an illuminating device for projecting light beams, which undergoes luminance modulation at a predetermined frequency for a predetermined duration with a predetermined cycle time, onto an object, an image-formation optical system for forming an image of the object illuminated with light beams which have undergone the luminance modulation and which have been projected from the illuminating device, a two-dimensional image sensor mounted on an image-formation plane of the image-formation optical system, a driving means for performing a modulation driving operation on an electrode terminal, which is operative to determine the sensitivity of the two-dimensional image sensor at the frequency, and a reading means for reading a signal corresponding to a signal charge generated in each of picture elements of the image sensors. Thereby, a range-data image of a three-dimensional object can be obtained by using a two-dimensional image sensor without mechanically scanning with illumination light.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiko Kato
- 👤 Hiroshi Matsuzaki
- 👤 Tadashi Morokuma
- 👤 Tsutomu Nakamura
- 👤 Kazuya Matsumoto
- 👤 Tetsuo Nomoto
- 👤 Toyokazu Mizoguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/08; G01S17/32; G01S17/88; G01S17/89; G01S17/894
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A two-dimensional rangefinding sensor, comprising: an illuminating device for projecting light beams which undergoes luminance modulation at a predetermined frequency for a predetermined duration with a predetermined cycle time, onto an object; an image-formation optical system for forming an image of the object illuminated with light beams which have undergone the luminance modulation and have been projected from the illuminating device; a two-dimensional image sensor mounted on an image-formation plane of the image-formation optical system, said two-dimensional image sensor including an electrode terminal for applying a signal for controlling the sensitivity of said two-dimensional image sensor; a driving means for performing a modulation driving operation on the electrode terminal of the two-dimensional image sensor at said predetermined frequency; and a reading means for extracting a signal corresponding to a signal charge generated in each of picture elements of the two-dimensional image sensor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A two-dimensional rangefinding sensor, comprising: an illuminating device for projecting light beams which undergoes luminance modulation at a predetermined frequency for a predetermined duration with a predetermined cycle time, onto an object; an image-formation optical system for forming an image of the object illuminated with light beams which have undergone the luminance modulation and have been projected from the illuminating device; a two-dimensional image sensor mounted on an image-formation plane of the image-formation optical system, said two-dimensional image sensor including an electrode terminal for applying a signal for controlling the sensitivity of said two-dimensional image sensor; a driving means for performing a modulation driving operation on the electrode terminal of the two-dimensional image sensor at said predetermined frequency; and a reading means for extracting a signal corresponding to a signal charge generated in each of picture elements of the two-dimensional image sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The two-dimensional rangefinding sensor according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional image sensor comprises a CMD image sensor and further uses one of a gate electrode and a substrate electrode of the CMD image sensor as an electrode terminal for modulation of the sensitivity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The two-dimensional rangefinding sensor according to claim 2, wherein the two-dimensional CMD image sensor comprises a p--channel layer and an n - -channel layer that are formed on a p-type substrate of a CMD image sensor by performing an epitaxial growth method, wherein an impurity concentration of the p-type substrate is set in such a way as to be greater than an impurity concentration of the p - -channel layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The two-dimensional rangefinding sensor according to claim 2, wherein the two-dimensional CMD image sensor including a thin substrate having a back surface portion is partially removed by lapping.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The two-dimensional rangefinding sensor according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional image sensor comprises a cooling unit provided in a back surface portion thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The two-dimensional rangefinding sensor according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional image sensor comprises an electron-bombarded AMI image sensor and uses an electron-accelerating voltage application terminal of the AMI image sensor as an electrode terminal for modulation of the sensitivity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The two-dimensional rangefinding sensor according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional image sensor comprises a laminated two-dimensional AMI image sensor and uses a transparent electrode terminal of the AMI image sensor as an electrode terminal for modulation of the sensitivity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
A two-dimensional rangefinding sensor, comprising: an illuminating device for projecting light beams which undergoes luminance modulation at a predetermined frequency for a predetermined duration with a predetermined cycle time, onto an object; an image-formation optical system for forming an image of the object illuminated with light beams which have undergone the luminance modulation and have been projected from the illuminating device; first and second two-dimensional image sensors for receiving a light beam representing an image of an object; a beam splitter for splitting an image-formation light beam obtained through image-formation optical system into light beams to be respectively sent to the first and second two-dimensional image sensors; a driving means for performing a modulation driving operation on an electrode terminal, which is operative to determine sensitivity of the first two-dimensional image sensor, at said predetermined frequency; and a reading means for taking out a signal corresponding to a signal charge generated by each of picture elements of the first and second two-dimensional image sensors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
164 words
A two-dimensional rangefinding sensor, comprising: an illuminating device for projecting light beams which undergoes luminance modulation at a predetermined frequency for a predetermined duration with a predetermined cycle time, onto an object; an image-formation optical system for forming an image of the object illuminated with light beams which have undergone the luminance modulation and have been projected from the illuminating device; first and second two-dimensional image sensors for receiving a light beam representing an image of an object; a beam splitter for splitting an image-formation light beam obtained through image-formation optical system into light beams to be respectively sent to the first and second two-dimensional image sensors; a driving means for performing a modulation driving operation on an electrode terminal, which is operative to determine sensitivity of the first two-dimensional image sensor, at said predetermined frequency; and a reading means for taking out a signal corresponding to a signal charge generated by each of picture elements of the first and second two-dimensional image sensors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
A two-dimensional rangefinding sensor, comprising: an illuminating device for projecting light beams, which undergoes luminance modulation at a predetermined frequency for predetermined duration with a predetermined cycle time, onto an object; an image-formation optical system for forming an image of the object illuminated with light beams which have undergone the luminance modulation and have been projected from the illuminating device; a two-dimensional CMD image sensor mounted on an image-formation plane of the image-formation optical system; a driving means for performing a modulation driving operation on a gate electrode terminal corresponding to each of a part of picture elements of the two-dimensional CMD image sensor at the frequency, among gate electrode terminals, which are operative to determine sensitivity of the picture elements of the two-dimensional CMD image sensor; and a reading means for taking out a signal corresponding to a signal charge generated by each of the picture elements of the two-dimensional CMD image sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
154 words
A two-dimensional rangefinding sensor, comprising: an illuminating device for projecting light beams, which undergoes luminance modulation at a predetermined frequency for predetermined duration with a predetermined cycle time, onto an object; an image-formation optical system for forming an image of the object illuminated with light beams which have undergone the luminance modulation and have been projected from the illuminating device; a two-dimensional CMD image sensor mounted on an image-formation plane of the image-formation optical system; a driving means for performing a modulation driving operation on a gate electrode terminal corresponding to each of a part of picture elements of the two-dimensional CMD image sensor at the frequency, among gate electrode terminals, which are operative to determine sensitivity of the picture elements of the two-dimensional CMD image sensor; and a reading means for taking out a signal corresponding to a signal charge generated by each of the picture elements of the two-dimensional CMD image sensor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4935616A
Cited
US5579103A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-18 | 2001-11-17 | 2002-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-18 | 2005-11-17 | 2006-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-18 | 2009-11-17 | 2010-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |