The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 23, 1984
Filed:
Mar. 11, 1981
Alan R Johnston, La Canada, CA (US);
Abstract
An optical proximity sensor for optically detecting an object within a predetermined detection volume. More specifically, an optical proximity sensor is disclosed having an illuminator assembly including an illuminator lens (55) and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (53) located at first predetermined positions along the focal plane (54) of the illuminator lens (55). A detector assembly including a detector lens (65) and a plurality of photodiodes (60) located at second predetermined positions along the focal plane of the detector lens (65) is also provided. The two lenses are spaced apart a predetermined distance in accordance with the configuration of the light-emitting diodes (53) and the photodiodes (60) in order to define a predetermined detection volume. Each light-emitting diode has a corresponding photodiode, and their relative positions on their respective focal planes determine the detection volume defined by their overlapping fields of view. Thus by correctly positioning one light-emitting diode/photodiode pair with respect to each other, all the other pairs will be correctly positioned due to their predetermined locations on their respective focal planes. Additionally, a combination of optical proximity sensors, according to the invention, is disclosed wherein the sensors can be used in conjunction with a vehicle to provide a safety system for warning an operator when an object is within a volume defined by the proximity sensor combination.