초록

An object sensing apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting diodes for illuminating a region of space and a plurality of closely arranged light detectors for receiving light reflected from an object. The apparatus is particularly useful in connection with automatically operated doors.

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Obstacle detection apparatus, comprising: a transmitting array comprising a plurality of radiation emitting elements spaced along a first straight line, said elements being arranged within radiation beamwidth controlling means comprising a first opaque U-shaped cross-section channel for providing a

Obstacle detection apparatus, comprising: a transmitting array comprising a plurality of radiation emitting elements spaced along a first straight line, said elements being arranged within radiation beamwidth controlling means comprising a first opaque U-shaped cross-section channel for providing a selected diverging first radiation beamwidth in an angular coordinate transverse to said line, each of said emitting elements having a wide second radiation beamwidth in a plane including said line, each of said emitting elements having substantially the same beam direction, whereby the beams of said elements overlap in said plane to form diffuse illumination; a receiving array comprising a plurality of radiation detecting elements spaced along a second straight line, parallel to and spaced from said first straight line, said elements being arranged within beamwidth controlling means comprises a second opaque U-shaped cross section channel, parallel to said first channel for providing a selected diverging first receiving beamwidth in an angular coordinate transverse to said line said detecting elements having a wide second receiving beamwidth in a plane including said line, each of said detecting elements having substantially the same direction of sensitivity whereby the beams of said elements overlap and said elements collectively respond to diffuse radiation; means for simultaneously providing said emitters with electrical signals to be radiated; and means for receiving signals detected by said detecting elements thereby to determine the presence of a radiation reflecting object within a region of space corresponding to said first transmitting and first receiving beamwidths and the length of said arrays.