RANGE SENSING SYSTEM

Abstract

An optical range sensing system that includes a source (80) for producing a pulse of light directed toward an object, and a receiver that comprises a photosensitive charge integrating device (90). The receiver receives a return pulse reflected by the object, and generates a first signal having a magnitude corresponding to the integrated intensity of the return pulse. A circuit (92, 94) coupled to the receiver produces a second signal having a magnitude corresponding to the time integral of the first signal. A processor (96) determines the range of the object by determining the quotient of the magnitude of the second signal divided by the magnitude of the first signal. The photosensitive charge integrating device may be realized using a CCD array element. By including imaging optics (124) and a plurality of photosensitive charge integrating devices (126), two- and three dimensional views of the object may be obtained.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1STEVEN J. WHITE

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