Optics: measuring and testing – Range or remote distance finding
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-23
2002-06-25
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Optics: measuring and testing
Range or remote distance finding
Reexamination Certificate
active
06411370
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to optical systems for use in distance measurement or range-finding devices. More particularly, this invention relates to single beam optical systems in range-finding and measurement devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Dual beam range-finders are commonly used to determine distances. In current applications of range-finders, the size, weight and cost of the range-finding system may typically be ignored. Conventional range-finding systems are used to determine distances for agriculture, aviation and nautical applications.
Although these dual beam systems are adequate for current uses, simultaneous reductions in all four dimensions of size, weight, complexity and cost could enhance distance measuring or range-finding systems for broader or mass market uses. Furthermore, existing dual beam systems also exhibit dead zones, which it would be desirable to eliminate.
As shown in
FIG. 4
, a typical dual beam range-finding system
300
includes one beam path
318
for a transmit system
310
(comprising one transmit source
312
transmitting one beam
314
through one lens
316
) and another beam path
328
for a receiving system
320
(comprising a reflected beam
324
passing through a second lens
326
and being received by a receiver
322
).
In the dual beam system
300
of
FIG. 4
, the transmit source
312
of transmit system
310
emits light that travels through the lens
316
. This light becomes the collimated outbound beam
314
. The outbound beam
314
hits a target (an object in space such as, for example, a building, a bar code on the building or an identification unit mounted on the building). The outbound beam is reflected from the target and returns to the receiving system
320
of the dual beam system
300
via beam path
328
. As this reflected beam
324
passes through lens
326
, it is refracted so that it comes to a focus at receiver
322
. The angle between the outbound beam path
318
and return beam path
328
may be zero or some small angle. The area A within the angle formed between the beam paths
318
and
328
is considered a dead zone, in which no target can reflect a return beam
324
that will be caught and returned by lens
326
to receiver
322
.
The techniques of optical beam combination have been used in other optical systems—such as microscopes that incorporate laser based micro-machining systems. However, the application of these techniques to distance measuring or range-finding systems for the purposes of reducing the overall system size, weight, complexity and cost would be desirable.
Multiple technologies may also be integrated into a given range-finding or distance measurement system. Such integration of multiple technologies into one range-finding system would also make it desirable to render each component of the range-finding system, particularly the optical system, as compact as possible.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4199226 (1980-04-01), Weber et al.
patent: 4973153 (1990-11-01), Yokokura et al.
patent: 5267016 (1993-11-01), Meinzer et al.
patent: 5793784 (1998-08-01), Wagshul et al.
patent: 6100965 (2000-08-01), Nerin
patent: 6181430 (2001-01-01), Meyer et al.
Rajchel Suzanne K.
Ressl Michael G.
Cardinal Law Group
Font Frank G.
Stafira Michael P.
VantagePort, Inc.
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