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:
Jan. 22, 1985
Filed:
Aug. 18, 1982
David N Lambeth, Webster, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
An improved automatic rangefinder device of the type having means for projecting a beam of light to illuminate a spot on a distant object, and an image sensor for viewing the object and determining the distance thereto by the observed position of the illuminated spot is disclosed. The rangefinder includes improved means for forming the beam of light comprising an elongated light source and projection optics for forming a real image of the light source, thereby defining an elongated beam region in space corresponding to the image of the light source, extending generally away from the rangefinder, whereby an object located in said beam region will be illuminated by a spot of light having an in-focus component. The image sensor detects the position of the in-focus component of the light. The rangefinder device includes imaging optics for imaging the spot on the image sensor. The imaging optics and the image sensor are arranged so that a real image of the image sensor formed by the imaging optics substantially coincides with the real image of the light source in the beam region of space.