Method and apparatus for using optical signal time-of-flight information to facilitate obstacle detection
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- sourcing a plurality of optical signals, wherein;
at least some of the plurality of optical signals are at different angles of travel from one another;
at least some of the plurality of optical signals are directed towards an area comprising a movable barrier-controlled point of passage;
detecting reflections of at least some of the plurality of optical signals;
determining a time of flight for at least some of the optical signals;
using the time of flight to detect a likely presence of an obstacle in a pathway of the movable barrier.
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Abstract
One or more optical signals (wherein at least some of a plurality of optical signals are at different angles of travel with respect to one another and are directed towards an area comprising a movable barrier-controlled point of passage) create reflections when striking passageway boundaries as correspond to a given movable barrier. Obstacles in the pathway also give rise to reflections. By determining a time-of-flight for such reflections, one can detect a likely presence of an obstacle in such a pathway. Pursuant to one approach, such time-of-flight information can further provide information regarding a likely size of such an obstacle.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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sourcing a plurality of optical signals, wherein; at least some of the plurality of optical signals are at different angles of travel from one another; at least some of the plurality of optical signals are directed towards an area comprising a movable barrier-controlled point of passage; detecting reflections of at least some of the plurality of optical signals; determining a time of flight for at least some of the optical signals; using the time of flight to detect a likely presence of an obstacle in a pathway of the movable barrier. - 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, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for use with a movable barrier operator that controls a movable barrier with respect to a position of the movable barrier within a passageway, wherein the passageway has at least one physical boundary, comprising:
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sourcing a plurality of optical beams, wherein; at least some of the plurality of optical beams are non-coaxial with respect to one another; at least some of the plurality of optical beams are directed towards the at least one physical boundary; detecting paths of travel for corresponding ones of at least some of the optical beams, which paths of travel each comprise an original optical beam and at least one reflection thereof determining a time of flight for at least some of the paths of travel; using the time of flight to detect a likely presence of an obstacle in the passageway. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A movable barrier operator obstacle detector comprising:
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an optical beam emitter having an output providing a plurality of non-c oaxially aligned optical beams; an optical beam receiver positioned to receive reflections of the non-coaxially aligned optical beams; a time-of-flight calculator that is operably coupled to the optical beam emitter and the optical beam receiver and having an optical beam pathway time of flight value output as corresponds to individual ones of the optical beams and their corresponding reflections; an obstacle detector having an input operably coupled to the optical beam pathway time of flight value output. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification