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:
Nov. 25, 1997
Filed:
Jul. 31, 1995
Charles E Nourrcier, Jr, Lakewood, CA (US);
Robert Kuehn, El Segundo, CA (US);
Hughes Electronics, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A laser range finder receiver for detecting a return pulse and providing an output signal indicative thereof and a single-chip microcontroller for controlling receiver operation and, in particular, for automatically recalibrating the receiver. The receiver is responsive to up and down current control signals from the microcontroller to adjust the bias of an APD photodetector. An offset voltage and receiver false alarm rate are monitored with no light on the photodetector while a calibration voltage is adjusted to recalibrate the receiver. The microcontroller further monitors photodetector temperature via a temperature sensor, and can perform APD bias adjustment and receiver recalibration in response to temperature changes, providing operation over a wide temperature range.