Strobe light and laser beam detection for laser receiver
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for detecting a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light, and distinguishing between such a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light and an omni-directional pulse of light, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a plurality of photo-detectors in a generally vertical row, each of said photo-detector elements providing an electrical output when illuminated,positioning an additional photo-detector at a point remote from said plurality of photo-detectors,providing a portion of the electrical output of each photo-detector in the row as a first reference signal related to the spacing of the photo-detector from a first end of the row, and providing a portion of the electrical output of each photo-detector in the row as a second reference signal related to the spacing of the photo-detector from the second end of said row,providing the electrical output of said additional photo-detector as a third reference signal, andinterpreting a third reference signal of sufficiently low amplitude as indicating simultaneous illumination of one or more of said photo-detectors in said row as illumination by a thin beam of laser light, and interpreting a third reference signal of sufficiently high amplitude as indicating simultaneous illumination of one or more of said photo-detectors in said row as illumination by an omni-directional pulse of light.
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Abstract
A laser receiver detects a thin beam of laser light and distinguishes between the beam of laser light and an omni-directional pulse of light from a strobe by the use of an additional photo-detector. The device takes into account the possibility that the additional photo-detector could be illuminated simultaneously with the main photo-detectors at the end of the main photo-detectors closest to the additional photo-detector.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light, and distinguishing between such a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light and an omni-directional pulse of light, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a plurality of photo-detectors in a generally vertical row, each of said photo-detector elements providing an electrical output when illuminated, positioning an additional photo-detector at a point remote from said plurality of photo-detectors, providing a portion of the electrical output of each photo-detector in the row as a first reference signal related to the spacing of the photo-detector from a first end of the row, and providing a portion of the electrical output of each photo-detector in the row as a second reference signal related to the spacing of the photo-detector from the second end of said row, providing the electrical output of said additional photo-detector as a third reference signal, and interpreting a third reference signal of sufficiently low amplitude as indicating simultaneous illumination of one or more of said photo-detectors in said row as illumination by a thin beam of laser light, and interpreting a third reference signal of sufficiently high amplitude as indicating simultaneous illumination of one or more of said photo-detectors in said row as illumination by an omni-directional pulse of light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for detecting a moving, thin beam of laser light, and distinguishing between such a moving, thin beam of laser light and an omni-directional pulse of light, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of photo-detectors which produce first and second reference signals indicative of the vertical position of the thin beam of laser light with respect to the upper and lower limits of detection of said plurality of photo-detectors, positioning an additional photo-detector at a point remote from said plurality of photo-detectors, providing a first reference signal related to the spacing of the thin beam of laser light from the upper limit of detection of said plurality of photo-detectors, and providing a second reference signal related to the spacing of the thin beam of laser light from the lower limit of detection of said plurality of photo-detectors, providing the electrical output of said additional photo-detector as a third reference signal, and interpreting a third reference signal of sufficiently low amplitude as indicating simultaneous illumination of said plurality of photo-detectors as illumination by a thin beam of laser light, and interpreting a third reference signal of sufficiently high amplitude as indicating simultaneous illumination of said plurality of photo-detectors as illumination by an omni-directional pulse of light. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for detecting a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light, and distinguishing between illumination of photo-detectors by such a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light, and illumination of photo-detectors by an omni-directional pulse of light, comprising:
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a plurality of photo-detectors arranged in a generally vertical row, each of said photo-detector elements providing an electrical output when illuminated, a weighting circuit associated with said plurality of photo-detectors, said weighting circuit providing a portion of the electrical output of each photo-detector as a first reference signal related to the spacing of the photo-detector from a first end of said row, and providing a portion of the electrical output of each photo-detector as a second reference signal related to the spacing of the photo-detector from a second end of said row, an additional photo-detector, positioned at a point remote from said plurality of photo-detectors, for providing an electrical output as a third reference signal, circuitry, responsive to the reference signals, for interpreting a third reference signal of sufficiently low amplitude as indicating simultaneous illumination of one or more of said photo-detectors in said row as illumination by a thin beam of laser light, and interpreting a third reference signal of sufficiently high amplitude as indicating simultaneous illumination of one or more of said photo-detectors in said row as illumination by an omni-directional pulse of light. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A device for detecting a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light, and distinguishing between illumination of photo-detectors by such a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light, and illumination of photo-detectors by an omni-directional pulse of light, comprising:
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first and second photo-detectors which extend vertically between the upper and lower limits of detection, said first photo-detector being wider adjacent said upper limit of detection and narrower adjacent said lower limit of detection, and said second photo-detector being wider adjacent said lower limit of detection and narrower adjacent said upper limit of detection, said first and second photo-detectors providing first and second reference signals indicative of the vertical position of the thin beam of laser light with respect to the upper and lower limits of detection, an additional photo-detector, positioned at a point remote from said first and second photo-detectors, for providing an electrical output as a third reference signal, circuitry, responsive to the reference signals, for interpreting a third reference signal of sufficiently low amplitude as indicating simultaneous illumination of one or more of said photo-detectors in said row as illumination by a thin beam of laser light, and interpreting a third reference signal of sufficiently high amplitude as indicating simultaneous illumination of one or more of said photo-detectors in said row as illumination by an omni-directional pulse of light. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A device for detecting a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light, and distinguishing between illumination of photo-detectors by such a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light, and illumination of photo-detectors by an omni-directional pulse of light, said device comprising:
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a plurality of photo-detectors generally arranged in a row, said plurality of photo-detector elements providing a plurality of electrical outputs when illuminated; an additional photo-detector, positioned at a point remote from said plurality of photo-detectors, for providing an additional electrical output when illuminated; a plurality of amplifier circuits associated with said plurality of photo-detectors, said plurality of amplifier circuits receiving said plurality of electrical outputs and generating a plurality of reference signals that are indicative of a position where a relatively thin beam of laser light strikes said plurality of photo-detectors; an additional amplifier circuit associated with said additional photo-detector, said additional amplifier circuit receiving said additional electrical output and generating an additional reference signal; and circuitry, responsive to said plurality of reference signals and said additional reference signal, which;
(a) determines if an amplitude of said additional reference signal indicates a simultaneous illumination of said plurality of photo-detectors in said row by a relatively thin beam of laser light, and (b) determines if an amplitude of said additional reference signal indicates a simultaneous illumination of said plurality of photo-detectors in said row by an omni-directional pulse of light. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A device for detecting a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light, and distinguishing between illumination of photo-detectors by such a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light, and illumination of photo-detectors by an omni-directional pulse of light, said device comprising:
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a plurality of photo-detectors generally arranged in a row, said plurality of photo-detector elements providing a plurality of electrical outputs when illuminated; an additional photo-detector, positioned at a point remote from said plurality of photo-detectors, for providing an additional electrical output when illuminated; a plurality of amplifier circuits associated with said plurality of photo-detectors, said plurality of amplifier circuits receiving said plurality of electrical outputs and generating a plurality of reference signals that are indicative of a position where a relatively thin beam of laser light strikes said plurality of photo-detectors; an additional amplifier circuit associated with said additional photo-detector, said additional amplifier circuit receiving said additional electrical output and generating an additional reference signal; and circuitry, responsive to said plurality of reference signals and said additional reference signal, which;
(a) interprets an additional reference signal of sufficiently low amplitude as indicating simultaneous illumination of said plurality of photo-detectors in said row as illumination by a relatively thin beam of laser light, and (b) interprets an additional reference signal of sufficiently high amplitude as indicating simultaneous illumination of said plurality of photo-detectors in said row as illumination by an omni-directional pulse of light. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification