Distance measuring device

• US 6,137,564 A
• Filed: 02/02/1999
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schmidt, Dirk, Wolf, Peter, Stierle, Joerg, Flinspach, Gunter, Luginsland, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Buczinski, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US09/243,088
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 356/4.01, 356/3.01, 367/99, 342/118
• US Class Current: 356/4.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4811 common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

A distance measuring device having a housing, a transmitting and receiving unit for measuring signal arranged in the housing, an evaluated element for determining a distance to an object by a travel time measurement, at least one reference point fixed on the housing to which a measured distance is referred, the at least one reference point being a part of a reference plane, such that an abutment surface which faces an object and an abutment surface which faces away from the object are arranged in the reference plane and fixed to the housing.

Claims

1. A distance measuring device, comprising a housing;

transmitting and receiving means for a measuring signal arranged in said housing;

evaluating means for determining a distance to an object by a travel time measurement;

at least one reference point fixed on said housing to which a measured distance is referred, said at least one reference point being a part of a reference plane, such that an abutment surface which faces an object and an abutment surface which faces away in a substantially opposing direction from the object are arranged in said reference plane and fixed to said housing.

2. A distance measuring device as defined in claim 1, wherein said abutment surfaces extend substantially perpendicular to an outlet axis of a measuring signal.

3. A distance measuring device as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing has a front side which faces an entry and an exit of the measuring signal and which is curved.

4. A distance measuring device as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing has at least one end side provided with a reference mark located in a plane which extends through a perpendicular line from an outlet axis of the measuring signal to a housing-side abutment surface.

5. A distance measuring device, comprising a housing;

transmitting and receiving means for a measuring signal arranged in said housing;

evaluating means for determining a distance to an object by a travel time measurement;

at least one reference point fixed on said housing to which a measured distance is referred, said at least one reference point being a part of a reference plane, such that an abutment surface which faces an object and an abutment surface which faces away in a substantially opposing direction from the object are arranged in said reference plane and fixed to said housing, said abutment surface facing the object extending outwardly beyond a housing-side abutment surface.

6. A distance measuring device as defined in claim 5, wherein said housing-said abutment surface is formed by a projecting cam formed on a lower side of said housing.

7. A distance measuring device as defined in claim 5, wherein said abutment surface which faces the object is lowered relative to said housing-side abutment surface.

8. A distance measuring device, comprising a housing;

transmitting and receiving means for a measuring signal arranged in said housing;

evaluating means for determining a distance to an object by a travel time measurement;

at least one reference point fixed on said housing to which a measured distance is referred, said at least one reference point being a part of a reference plane, such that an abutment surface which faces an object and an abutment surface which faces away in a substantially opposing direction from the object are arranged in said reference plane and fixed to said housing, said abutment surface which facing the object is formed as a flap which is turnably supported relative to a housing in a hinge.

9. A distance measuring device as defined in claim 8, wherein said flap has an inner side which in a turned-out position forms said abutment surface which faces the object.