초록 ▼

A distance-measurement system and method for its use. The system includes a transmitter located at one location and a receiver, at least portions of which are located at the second location. The transmitter produces a scanning beam of laser light that is narrow in its scanned direction and broad in

A distance-measurement system and method for its use. The system includes a transmitter located at one location and a receiver, at least portions of which are located at the second location. The transmitter produces a scanning beam of laser light that is narrow in its scanned direction and broad in the orthogonal direction. The beam is scanned at a substantially constant angular velocity. The receiver has at least a pair of apertures and associated photodiodes held in a predetermined configuration. The receiver measures the time interval between the times at which the apertures are illuminated by the scanning beam. Based on these time intervals, the receiver can calculate the distance from the first location to the second location. The scanned beam can also be polarized and the receiver can include polarization detection and a lateral effect cell to account for relative rotation and tilt of the transmitter and receiver.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for measuring the distance D between a first location and a second location, comprising: a transmitter located at the first location for producing and directing a scanning beam of electromagnetic energy toward the second location; and a receiver, comprising a plurality of signal-producing m

A system for measuring the distance D between a first location and a second location, comprising: a transmitter located at the first location for producing and directing a scanning beam of electromagnetic energy toward the second location; and a receiver, comprising a plurality of signal-producing means placed in a predetermined spaced-apart configuration at the second location, each signal-producing means producing a signal when scanned by the scanning beam, means for measuring the time interval between the signals produced by the signal-producing means in response to the scanning beam, means for measuring the rotation of the transmitter relative to the configuration of the signal-producing means, and means for calculating the distance D based on the time interval between signals produced by the signal-producing means and correcting the calculated distance for the measured rotation of the transmitter relative to the configuration of the signal-producing means.