Laser range finder having selectable target acquisition characteristics and range measuring precision
DCFirst Claim
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1. A laser range finder including an internal power supply unit for providing electrical power thereto comprising:
- a laser transmit section for generating a number of laser pulses for transmission to a target;
a laser receive section for receiving reflected laser pulses from said target;
a precision timing section coupled to said laser transmit section and said laser receive section for determining a flight time of said laser pulses and said reflected laser pulses;
an automatic noise threshold section coupled to said laser receive section and responsive to said central processor section for automatically determining a desired signal-to-noise ratio for said reflected laser pulses and providing a series of possible return pulse values to said central processor;
a central processor section coupled to said precision timing section for determining a range to said target derived from said flight time of said laser pulses and said flight time of said reflected laser pulses; and
a display coupled to said central processor section for visually displaying said range to said target.
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Abstract
A laser based range finder which may be inexpensively produced yet provides highly accurate precision range measurements has a number of user selectable target acquisition and enhanced precision measurement modes which may viewed on an in-sight display during aiming and operation of the instrument. Extremely efficient self-calibrating precision timing and automatic noise threshold circuits incorporated in the design provide a compact, low-cost, highly accurate and reliable ranging instrument for a multitude of uses and is adaptable for both recreational and laser based "tape measure" applications.
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12 Claims
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1. A laser range finder including an internal power supply unit for providing electrical power thereto comprising:
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a laser transmit section for generating a number of laser pulses for transmission to a target; a laser receive section for receiving reflected laser pulses from said target; a precision timing section coupled to said laser transmit section and said laser receive section for determining a flight time of said laser pulses and said reflected laser pulses; an automatic noise threshold section coupled to said laser receive section and responsive to said central processor section for automatically determining a desired signal-to-noise ratio for said reflected laser pulses and providing a series of possible return pulse values to said central processor; a central processor section coupled to said precision timing section for determining a range to said target derived from said flight time of said laser pulses and said flight time of said reflected laser pulses; and a display coupled to said central processor section for visually displaying said range to said target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification