Optics: measuring and testing – Range or remote distance finding – With photodetection
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-07
2004-02-24
Tarcza, Thomas H. (Department: 3662)
Optics: measuring and testing
Range or remote distance finding
With photodetection
C356S139030, C356S152200, C382S106000, C702S159000, C901S047000, C348S140000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06697147
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 2002-37604, filed Jun. 29, 2002, in the Korean Industrial Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to position measurement, and more particularly to the position measurement of a mobile object relative to a surrounding structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in order to measure a precise distance, supersonic wave distance measurement apparatuses using electronic devices, distance measurement apparatuses using reflection waves of laser, etc., have been commercialized and used. The supersonic wave distance measurement apparatus uses an electromagnetic induction phenomenon or a piezoelectric phenomenon, and includes a wave transmitter and a wave receiver. If the wave transmitter emits supersonic waves, the wave receiver receives the supersonic waves that collide with a target to be measured and are reflected therefrom. In this case, a distance between the target and a mobile object is measured using a velocity of the supersonic waves, and a time taken to receive the supersonic waves from emission. The time taken to receive the supersonic waves from the emission is measured using a flip-flop. If the flip-flop is set when the wave transmitter emits the supersonic waves, and is reset when the wave receiver detects the reflected supersonic waves, a pulse having a width of time for supersonic waves to be returned after being emitted is generated. By measuring this pulse, the time is obtained. However, the accuracy of the supersonic wave distance measurement apparatus is greatly decreased due to a diffused reflection at a bending surface. Furthermore, the supersonic wave distance measurement apparatus is problematic in that it is weak in a noisy environment, and real time measurement of precise distances is difficult.
The laser distance measurement apparatuses are classified into various types, which use phase variation of reflection waves, pulses, and received light from reflection waves by triangulation. The type using the pulses emits a single pulse or a series of pulses, which are coherent light, toward a target. These pulses are scarcely dispersed to such an extent that a diameter of the pulses expands to only about 1 m after the light travels a distance of several kilometers. Once the light reaches the target, it is dispersed in many directions. However, some energy is returned to the laser distance measurement apparatus and detected. The laser distance measurement apparatus determines a distance between a mobile object and the target by measuring a time taken for the pulses to be reflected and returned.
The laser distance measurement type using triangulation is an apparatus that emits laser beams, detects light reflected from a target with a laser light receiving sensor, detects a laser emission angle, and measures a distance between a mobile object and the target via triangulation. However, the laser distance measurement type using the triangulation is problematic in that a laser output must be great, a sensitivity of the light receiving sensor must be excellent, and a circuit construction of the light receiving sensor is extremely complicated, thus increasing cost of products. Further, the type using the triangulation is problematic in that it requires extreme caution in handling of the laser distance measurement apparatus, thus it is not practical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a position measurement apparatus and method using laser, which measures a distance and an angle with relatively high precision using inexpensive equipment.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a position measurement apparatus using laser including a laser generating device to generate three or more laser beams progressing in parallel with each other at regular intervals, an image device to obtain a picture for three or more points formed on a target by the laser beams, and a control unit to calculate a position relative to the target using numbers of pixels between pairs of neighboring ones of the three or more points in the picture.
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a method including generating three or more laser beams progressing in parallel with each other at regular intervals, obtaining a picture for three or more points formed on a target by the laser beams, and calculating an angle between each of the laser beams and the target, and a distance between an image device to obtain the picture and the target using numbers of pixels between pairs of neighboring ones of the three or more points in the picture.
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Ko Won-Jun
Yang Soo-Sang
Andrea Brian K
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Tarcza Thomas H.
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