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US 4,705,395 AGranted
Triangulation data integrity
AssigneeDiffracto Ltd.
InventorOmer L. Hageniers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is an improved electro-optical triangulation distance sensing method and apparatus incorporating a reference detector to detect light returned from an object surface and so control light power, integration time (or other characteristic) of the primary image sensing photodetector. Ideally the reference detector is the same size as the primary photodetector and positioned effectively to see the same image of a zone of light projected on the object surface. Also disclosed are useful calibration methods for such sensors.
Claims13
An electro-optical system for determining distance to a surface, said system comprising:
- (a) an electro-optical triangulation sensor comprising:
- (i) a light source for projecting a light beam onto the surface;
- (ii) a light detector means for receiving the light reflected from the surface when the light beam is projected thereon and for producing an output in accordance therewith;
- and
- (iii) means responsive to the output of said light detector for determining the distance to the surface;
- (b) a reference detector means for independently sensing the light reflected from said surface when the light beam is projected thereon and for producing an output in accordance therewith;
- and
- (c) control means, responsive to the output of said reference detector means, for controlling an operating characteristic of said triangulation sensor based exclusively on the output of said reference sensor.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.