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:
Sep. 14, 1993
Filed:
Jun. 21, 1991
Christopher A Ludden, Fairport, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
A low cost, reflectivity insensitive rangefinder for performing time-multiplexed multi-zone auto-ranging comprises a light projecting means energizable for projecting a beam of light to illuminate a spot on an object in a scene. A linear array of N photosensitive elements views the scene and produces N photosignals representing the brightness of the scene, wherein each photosensitive element corresponds to one of N discrete subject distance zones, in sequence, from a far zone to a near zone. A control signal generating means generates process control signals for initiating intermediate zone ranging operations. A selection signal supply means supplies selection signals for effectuating a time-multiplexed multi-zone ranging operation. An analog multiplexer means, responsive to the selection signals, inputs the N photosignals, in parallel, and outputs selected time-multiplexed pairs of photosignals. Each pair of photosignals represents, in sequence, the scene brightness of an intermediate FAR zone and an intermediate NEAR zone. Signal processing electronics responsive to the pairs of photosignals and responsive to the process control signals periodically energizes the light projecting means and produces N-1 intermediate FAR/NEAR zone determinations. A final subject distance selection means selects a final subject distance zone from the intermediate zone determinations.