Distance sensor system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A distance sensing system comprising:
- a source providing collimated light output;
a source providing diffuse light output;
a sensor operative to detect the outputs incident on a stationary object;
a movable rotating mount to which said sources and said sensor are attached;
said movable rotating mount being rotatable through an arbitrary number of uni-directional rotations; and
an electronics package attached to said movable rotating mount and coupled to said sources and said sensor;
said electronics package executing digital processing to process data acquired by said sensor from collimated and diffuse light hitting said stationary object as said movable mount rotates to generate distance data, said distance data related to a position of the distance sensing system relative to a stationary object in the operating environment.
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Abstract
A distance measuring system and method employing a laser distance sensor may have utility in various applications. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a laser distance sensor may acquire accurate distance measurements with a short baseline.
104 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A distance sensing system comprising:
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a source providing collimated light output; a source providing diffuse light output; a sensor operative to detect the outputs incident on a stationary object; a movable rotating mount to which said sources and said sensor are attached;
said movable rotating mount being rotatable through an arbitrary number of uni-directional rotations; andan electronics package attached to said movable rotating mount and coupled to said sources and said sensor;
said electronics package executing digital processing to process data acquired by said sensor from collimated and diffuse light hitting said stationary object as said movable mount rotates to generate distance data, said distance data related to a position of the distance sensing system relative to a stationary object in the operating environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A robotic device comprising:
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a drive mechanism to move said robotic device; an electronics module disposed on said robotic device to provide instructions to said drive mechanism to position the robotic device in an operating environment; an optical assembly disposed on said robotic device to provide distance data to said electronics module, said distance data related to a position of the robotic device relative to a stationary object in the operating environment and influencing the instructions provided to said drive mechanism;
said optical assembly comprising;a source providing collimated light output; a source providing diffuse light output; a sensor operative to detect the outputs incident on the stationary object in the operating environment; a rotating mount to which said sources and said sensor are attached;
said rotating mount being rotatable through an arbitrary number of uni-directional rotations; andan electronics package attached to said rotating mount and coupled to said sources and said sensor;
said electronics package executing digital processing to process data acquired by said sensor from collimated and diffuse light hitting said stationary objectas said mount rotates to generate the distance data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vehicle comprising:
a distance sensing system operative to generate distance data associated with a distance to a stationary object within a range of the vehicle;
said distance sensing system comprising;a source providing collimated light output; a source providing diffuse light output; a sensor operative to detect the outputs incident on the object; a rotating mount to which said sources and said sensor are attached;
said rotating mount being rotatable through an arbitrary number of uni-directional rotations; andan electronics package attached to said rotating mount and coupled to said sources and said sensor;
said electronics package executing digital processing to process data acquired by said sensor from collimated and diffuse light hitting said stationary object as said mount rotates to generate the distance data; andan electronics module to receive the distance data from said distance sensing system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification