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Distance measurement system

  • US 6,323,940 B1
  • Filed: 09/24/1999
  • Issued: 11/27/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An active distance measurement system comprising:

  • a light source for emitting a series of light pulses toward an object at a distance to be measured;

    a position sensitive detector for detecting light pulses emitted by said light source and reflected from the object and outputting signals, each signal corresponding to a position where a light pulse reflected from the object is detected;

    an arithmetic unit for outputting signals, each signal corresponding to the distance to the object, in response to the signals output from said position sensitive detector;

    an integrating unit including an integrating capacitor, and a comparator comparing a voltage on said capacitor with a reference voltage and outputting a compared signal representing a result of comparing, said integrating unit performing a first integration during which said integrating capacitor is discharged or charged in response to the signals output from said arithmetic unit, and a second integration during which said integrating capacitor is charged or discharged at a fixed speed, until the earlier of (i) the voltage on said integrating capacitor reaching a reference voltage and (ii) elapsing of a maximum time period; and

    a distance detecting unit for detecting a measured distance to the object based on elapsed time of the second integration only when the elapsed time of the second integration does not exceed the maximum time period.

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