Method and apparatus for detecting the presence and location of an object in a field
AssigneeLaserscore, Inc.
InventorDavid F. Welch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical system and method for detecting the presence and location of at least one stationary or moving object in a field. The optical system has at least one light source to generate a beam, which beam is scanned by at least one first reflecting surface to generate a plurality of beams. The beams are overlapped across the field by at least one second reflecting surface and their intensity is measured by at least one detection means.
Claims18
An optical system having minimum shadowing effects for detecting the presence and location of multiple objects in a field comprising:
- (i) at least one light source to generate a beam;
- (ii) at least one first reflecting surface to generate a plurality of beams;
- (iii) at least one second reflecting surface to cause said beams to overlap said field;
- (iv) imaging optics for imaging at least a portion of said beams prior to overlapping said field comprising two Fresnel lenses positioned orthogonal to one another, wherein said imaging optics are located between said second reflecting surface and said field;
- and
- (v) at least one detection means for detecting the intensity of said beams.
An optical system having minimum shadowing effects for detecting the presence and location of multiple objects in a field comprising:
- (i) a light source to generate a beam;
- (ii) a first reflecting surface to generate a plurality of beams;
- (iii) second reflecting surfaces to cause said beams to overlap said field;
- (iv) imaging optics to collimate said beams prior to overlapping the field comprising two orthogonally positioned Fresnel lenses, wherein said imaging optics are located between said second reflecting surfaces and said field;
- and
- (v) detection means for detecting the intensity of said beams.
A method for detecting the presence and location of multiple objects in a field and having minimum shadowing effects comprising the steps of:
- (i) generating at least one beam;
- (ii) reflecting said beam to generate a plurality of beams with at least one first reflective surface;
- (iii) causing at least a portion of said beams to overlap said field with at least one second reflective surface;
- (iv) imaging said beams prior to overlapping the field with two orthogonally positioned Fresnel lenses;
- and
- (v) measuring the intensity of said beams after they overlap said field with at least one detection means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.