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:
Feb. 06, 1996
Filed:
Apr. 01, 1994
Masahira Akasu, Himeji, JP;
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An optical distance measurement apparatus for measuring the distance to an object 7 on the basis of the round-trip time of the light to and from the object. 7 includes an object detector means 32 and a smear detector means 33. The smear detector means 33 detects a smear when the ratio of unsuccessful measurements (i.e., the measurements by which no object is detected) is greater than or equal to a predetermined level. Alternatively, the number of successive measurements of a distance less than a predetermined threshold level (e.g., 50 meters) is stored in a counter, and the smear is detected when the content of the counter becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined number.