Light detecting system
First Claim
1. Optical detector comprising:
- means for transmitting light to create a field of view;
means for detecting said transmitted light following reflection from at least one object located in said field of view, said detecting means further including;
a range channel having a first detector for sensing reflected light from said at least one object to determine a distance to said at least one object; and
,an angle channel having a second detector for sensing reflected light from said at least one object to determine an angle of said reflected light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a light detecting system for accurately determining the lateral position of a moving object, such as a vehicle, relative to a point or points in advance of the object'"'"'s current position along a desired path. In a preferred embodiment, no moving parts are required to illuminate a field of view in advance of the object'"'"'s travel. Further, by providing separate range and angle detection channels, relatively compact overall size is actually achieved. Separation of these two channels permits integrating charge-coupled devices (CCD'"'"'s) to be used in the relatively slow angle detection channel, while a single detector (e.g., single photodiode) is used in the relatively fast, range detection channel.
58 Citations
27 Claims
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1. Optical detector comprising:
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means for transmitting light to create a field of view; means for detecting said transmitted light following reflection from at least one object located in said field of view, said detecting means further including; a range channel having a first detector for sensing reflected light from said at least one object to determine a distance to said at least one object; and
,an angle channel having a second detector for sensing reflected light from said at least one object to determine an angle of said reflected light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for detecting the position of an object relative to a moving vehicle comprising:
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means for transmitting a source of light to create a stationary field of view in a direction forward of vehicle movement; means for detecting said transmitted light following reflection from at least one object located in said field of view, said detecting means further including; a range channel having a first detector for sensing reflecting light from said at least one object to determine a distance from said vehicle to said at least one object; and
,an angle channel having a second detector for sensing reflected light from said at least one object to determine an angle of said reflected light, said distance and angle being used to determine orientation of the vehicle relative to the at least one object. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Method for detecting the position of an object relative to a moving vehicle comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a source of light to create a stationary field of view in a direction forward of vehicle movement; detecting said transmitted light following reflection from at least one object located in said field of view, said step of detecting including; sensing reflecting light from said at least one object to determine a range from said vehicle to said at least one object; and
,sensing reflected light from said at least one object to determine an angle of said reflected light, said range and angle being used to determine orientation of the vehicle relative to the at least one object.
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20. A vehicle guidance system for optically guiding a moving vehicle along a path using an optical detector comprising:
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means for transmitting light from a moving vehicle to create a field of view fixed relative to the moving vehicle; means for detecting said transmitted light following reflection from at least one stationary object located in said field of view to automatically steer the vehicle along said path, said detecting means further including; a range channel having a first detector for sensing reflected light from said at least one object to determine a distance from said moving vehicle to said at least one object; and
,an angle channel having a second detector for sensing reflected light from said at least one object to determine an angle of said reflected light. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification