Optical radar system with an array of photoelectric sensors
First Claim
1. A system for measuring a distance to an object, comprising:
- a. first means responsive to a predetermined drive signal for transmitting a coherent pulsating light to a detection region of predetermined dimensions and orientation with respect to the system;
b. second means including means for collecting a portion of the coherent pulsating light reflected by the object in the detection region and a plurality of arrayed photo-sensitive elements each monitoring a distinct light receiving area of said detection region and receiving the collected coherent light reflected from objects therein; and
c. third means for generating and outputting the drive signal to said first means and determining the distance to the object in the detection region on the basis of the difference in time between an output timing of the drive signal and timing of reception of a received electric signal derived from each said light receiving area of said plurality of arrayed photo-sensitive elements,said third means comprising means for sequentially processing the received electric signals from each of said plurality of photo-sensitive elements within a sequence of predetermined time periods andmeans for measuring a time within each of said predetermined time periods for reception of reflected light by the photo-sensitive elements,thereby determining a time for transit of said light pulse to an object in said light receiving area monitored by the photo-sensitive elements.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical radar system includes an optical transmitter which responds to a drive signal to radiate a search light pulse into detection fields arranged in the direction in which the vehicle is moving. An optical receiver includes a plurality of arrayed photoelectric sensitive elements which receive any search light pulses reflected by objects in the detection fields. A distance measuring device determines the respective distances from the system to the objects and the corresponding directions in which the objects lie in accordance with the delay between the drive signal and the reception of the corresponding reflected search light pulses by the individual photoelectric elements.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A system for measuring a distance to an object, comprising:
-
a. first means responsive to a predetermined drive signal for transmitting a coherent pulsating light to a detection region of predetermined dimensions and orientation with respect to the system; b. second means including means for collecting a portion of the coherent pulsating light reflected by the object in the detection region and a plurality of arrayed photo-sensitive elements each monitoring a distinct light receiving area of said detection region and receiving the collected coherent light reflected from objects therein; and c. third means for generating and outputting the drive signal to said first means and determining the distance to the object in the detection region on the basis of the difference in time between an output timing of the drive signal and timing of reception of a received electric signal derived from each said light receiving area of said plurality of arrayed photo-sensitive elements, said third means comprising means for sequentially processing the received electric signals from each of said plurality of photo-sensitive elements within a sequence of predetermined time periods and means for measuring a time within each of said predetermined time periods for reception of reflected light by the photo-sensitive elements, thereby determining a time for transit of said light pulse to an object in said light receiving area monitored by the photo-sensitive elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An optical radar system for a vehicle comprising:
-
a. an optical transmitter responsive to the pulses of a drive signal to emit corresponding pulses of light; b. means for directing the propagation of each pulse so as to cover a predetermined detection region; c. a plurality of photo-sensitive elements, each responsive to incident pulses of light to produce sensor pulse signals; d. means for focussing light reflected from said emitted light pulses by objects within said detection region onto said photo-sensitive elements such that said detection region is subdivided into a plurality of detection fields, the reflected light from each of said fields being focussed onto exactly one of said photo-sensitive elements; and e. a processing unit responsive to said drive signal and said sensor signals for sequentially determining whether or not objects capable of reflecting light exist in any of said fields of said detection region and further for sequentially determining the distance and direction to detected objects on the basis of a time delay between pulses of said drive signal and corresponding pulses of said sensor signals. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. Apparatus for determining longitudinal distances to objects in a plurality of transverse detection areas in a zone, comprising:
-
transmitter means for transmiting a coherent light pulse longitudinally to said zone, a plurality of detecting means each operable for detecting presence of an object in a corresponding one of said transverse direction areas, each of said plurality of detecting means comprising photo-sensitive means; and distance measuring means for determining respective longitudinal distances to objects detected in corresponding detection areas, said distance measuring means comprising means for sequentially processing the reflected signals detected by said plurality of photo-sensitive means within a sequence of predetermined corresponding time periods and means for measuring a time within each of said predetermined time periods for reception of reflected light by the photo-sensitive means, thereby determining a time for transit of said light pulse to an object in said detection area monitored by the photo-sensitive means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A system for measuring a distance to an object, comprising:
-
a. first means responsive to a predetermined drive signal for transmitting a sequence of timed coherent light pulses to a detection region of predetermined dimensions and orientation with respect to the system; b. second means including means for collecting a portion of the coherent light pulses reflected by the object in the detection region and a plurality of arrayed photo-sensitive elements each respectively monitoring a distinct light receiving area of said detection region and receiving the collected coherent light reflected by said object; c. third means for generating and outputting the drive signal to said first means and determining the distance to the object in the monitored areas of said detection region on the basis of the difference in time between timing of the drive signal and timing of reception of a received electric signal derived from each of said respective arrayed photo-sensitive elements monitoring said respective light receiving areas, and d. synchronizing means for gating each of said arrayed photo-sensitive elements for a predetermined time period in respective synchronization with said timed light pulses and for measuring a time duration within each predetermined time period, said time duration indicative of a time between transmission of said light pulse and collection of said portion of said light pulse from an object in said respective light receiving areas monitored thereby.
-
Specification