Cubic-western Data

Douglas G Hill

Robert L Bruce

William W Busche

Richard Newell Jekel

James E Stufflebeam

A device for measuring distances to a target includes electronic circuits for generating a light which is amplitude modulated by three selectable frequencies. Also included are optics for focusing the amplitude modulated light onto the target, and for receiving reflection of the light therefrom. Additional circuits convert the received light to electrical signals representative thereof, and compute the phase angles between these signals and the amplitude modulating signals. The distance to the target is then calculated based on these phase angles and the wavelength of frequencies equal to the differences between the three selectable frequencies. Another circuit uses an accelerometer to measure vertical angle to the target, and further distance measurements are made based thereon. Still other circuits compensate for a variety of potential error causing conditions, such as signal waveform asymmetry and component tolerance. A subassembly of the device is mountable on a theodolite telescope and utilizes folded optics in order to be plungeable.

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Solana Beach, CA, United States of America

Douglas G Hill