Infrared localization device having a multiple sensor apparatus

• US 8,546,759 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Skultety-Betz, Uwe, Haase, Bjoern, Mahler, Michael, Hoffmann, Ulli, Krapf, Reiner, Wieland, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Igyarto, Carolyn
• Application Number:
  US10/587,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20070296955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,212 Days
• Field of Search: 250/336.1, 250/339.05, 250/358.1
• US Class Current: 250/339.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/00 Prospecting or detecting by optical means

Abstract

A measuring device, in particular a handheld measuring device, for the localization of objects enclosed in a medium, including at least one photometric sensor that obtains by way of the at least one photometric sensor a first measurement signal of the object to be examined, so that by evaluation of that measurement signal, information about an object enclosed in the medium is obtained, and at least one further sensor, for generating at least one further second measurement signal for obtaining information about the object enclosed in the medium. A method for the localization, by way of a photometric sensor, of objects enclosed in a medium.

Claims

1. A handheld measuring device for localizing at least one object enclosed in a medium, comprising:

at least one photometric sensor that obtains a first measurement signal of the at least one object to be examined; and

at least one further sensor for generating at least one further second measurement signal for obtaining information about the at least one object enclosed in the medium,

wherein the at least one further sensor includes a radar sensor,

wherein at least one antenna of the radar sensor is configured to be used as a capacitive sensor.

2. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the at least one photometric sensor includes an infrared sensor.

3. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the radar sensor includes a broadband sensor of a pulsed radar.

4. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the at least one further sensor includes an inductive sensor.

5. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the at least one further sensor includes a capacitive sensor.

6. The measuring device of claim 5, wherein the at least one further capacitive sensor includes a high-frequency capacitive sensor that, by measuring an impedance of its electrodes, obtains information about objects enclosed in the medium.

7. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the sensors are integrated into a common housing of the measuring device.

8. The measuring device of claim 7, wherein at least two of the sensors are disposed on a common circuit board.

9. The measuring device of claim 1, further comprising a circuit that activates a predefined search routine.

10. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein antenna panels of the radar sensor are configured to be used as electrodes of the capacitive sensor.