Method and device for measuring distance optically
First Claim
1. Optical process for measurement of a distance between a hunter and a target, comprising the steps of:
- (a) sending substantially monochromatic light pulses from the hunter toward the target;
(b) collecting light echoed by the target on a matrix detector having photosensitive sites distributed in lines and columns with line-by-line transfer read-out(c) carrying out said transfer read-out in the direction of the columns at a first predetermined frequency during the time of flight between sending and return of the reflected echo from said target;
(d) repeating the sequence of steps (a), (b) and (c) with another predetermined transfer frequency, different from the first frequency; and
(e) deriving the distance from the distance between lines of the matrix having received the echo for the two different frequencies.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
For optical measurement of a distance between a hunter and a target, for instance between satellites, back-reflecting means are provided on the target. The hunter carries a source of substantially monochromatic light pulses and a solid state detector having a matrix of sensors. The matrix is read-out by transferring the contents of the sensors line per line or point per point at a predetermined frequency to an output memory. A time base triggers one pulse at a predetermined time selected for causing return of an echo from the target during read-out. The distance is derived from a determination of that line or that point which receives the echo, for two different transfer frequencies.
-
Citations
8 Claims
-
1. Optical process for measurement of a distance between a hunter and a target, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) sending substantially monochromatic light pulses from the hunter toward the target; (b) collecting light echoed by the target on a matrix detector having photosensitive sites distributed in lines and columns with line-by-line transfer read-out (c) carrying out said transfer read-out in the direction of the columns at a first predetermined frequency during the time of flight between sending and return of the reflected echo from said target; (d) repeating the sequence of steps (a), (b) and (c) with another predetermined transfer frequency, different from the first frequency; and (e) deriving the distance from the distance between lines of the matrix having received the echo for the two different frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (8)
-
-
2. A device for the optical measurement of a distance between a hunter and a target, comprising back reflecting means on the target and, on the hunter:
-
a source of substantially monochromatic light pulses; a solid state detector having a matrix of sensors distributed into lines and columns; optical means for forming an image of light echoed by said reflecting means as a spot on one of said sensors; means for reading out said matrix of sensors by transferring the output of said sensors line per line or point per point in the direction of said columns, at a predetermined frequency to a detector output means; timing means for triggering one said light pulse at a predetermined time selected with respect to the beginning of said transfer for causing return of an echo from said target during transfer by the read-out means; and computing means for deriving said distance from an identification of those lines or those points which received echos associated with two different transfer frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification