Scanning optical rangefinder
First Claim
1. A scanning rangefinder, comprising:
- a radiation source;
a scanning element;
means for directing radiation from said radiation source towards said scanning element;
means for directing radiation reflected from said scanning element towards a target;
means for directing radiation from said target towards said scanning element along a plurality of channels;
a detector adapted to receive radiation reflected from said scanning element along each of said channels; and
means for error correction for parallax data from said detector;
wherein radiation is directed along a channel laterally displaced from a channel receiving radiation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A scanning optical rangefinder including an optical scanner and a light source. The optical scanner includes a rotating scan disc with a circular array of concave reflectors thereon. Mirrors are provided for directing light from the light source towards the concave reflectors on the rotating scan disc and then to direct light from the concave reflectors on the scan disc towards a target. Light received from the target is directed towards the concave reflectors on the scan disc by mirrors along a plurality of channels. A detector adapted to receive light reflected from the concave reflectors is provided for each channel, along with error correction for parallax data from the detector. The light is directed towards the target along a channel laterally displaced from a channel for light received from the target.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. A scanning rangefinder, comprising:
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a radiation source; a scanning element; means for directing radiation from said radiation source towards said scanning element; means for directing radiation reflected from said scanning element towards a target; means for directing radiation from said target towards said scanning element along a plurality of channels; a detector adapted to receive radiation reflected from said scanning element along each of said channels; and means for error correction for parallax data from said detector; wherein radiation is directed along a channel laterally displaced from a channel receiving radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 42)
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24. An optical scanner, comprising:
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a light source; a rotating scan disc including a circular array of scanning element on a planar surface thereof; means for directing light from said light source towards said scanning element; means for directing light reflected from said scanning element towards a target; means for directing light from said target towards said scanning element along a plurality of channels; a detector adapted to receive light reflected from said scanning element along each of said channels; and means for error correction for parallax data from said detector; wherein radiation is directed along a channel laterally displaced from a channel receiving radiation. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43)
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44. A collision avoidance system, comprising:
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light source; a rotating scan disc including a circular array of scanning element on a planar surface thereof; means for directing radiation from said radiation source towards said scanning element; means for directing radiation reflected from said scanning element towards a target; means for directing radiation from said target towards said scanning element along a plurality of channels; a detector adapted to receive radiation reflected from said scanning element along each of said channels; and means for error correction for parallax data from said detector; wherein said light source, said rotating scan disc, said means for directing light from said light source, said means for directing light reflected from said concave reflectors, said means for directing light from said target and said detector are mounted in a vehicle; and wherein radiation is directed along a channel laterally displaced from a channel receiving radiation. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A method of optical scanning, comprising the steps of:
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directing light from a light source towards a concave reflector on a rotating scan disc; directing light reflected from said concave reflector towards a target; directing light from said target towards scanning element on said scan disc along a plurality of channels; detecting light reflected from said scanning element along each of said channels; and correcting errors in parallax data from detected light; wherein radiation is directed along a channel laterally displaced from a channel receiving radiation. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification