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. 08, 1998
Filed:
May. 07, 1996
Frank Blohbaum, Freiburg, DE;
Erwin Sick GmbH Optik-Elektronik, Waldkirch/Breisgau, DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for determining the light transit time along a measurement path arranged between a measuring apparatus and a reflecting object, wherein a light transmitter contained in the measuring apparatus sends a modulated light signal s(t) along the measurement path, which is received by a light receiver contained in the measuring apparatus, is converted into a received signal e(t), and is evaluated in the measuring apparatus, wherein the light signal s(t) to be transmitted is stored in the form of digital values in a transmitter memory; wherein the stored digital values are sequentially read out and supplied to a digital/analog converter acted on by a clock signal and controlling the light transmitter; wherein the received signal e(t) is supplied to an analog/digital converter acted on with the identical clock signal; wherein the values delivered by the analog/digital converter are deposited in a receiver memory; wherein a correlation function k(t) is formed between the signals s(t) and e(t) stored in the transmitter memory and in the receiver memory; and wherein the maximum K.sub.max =k(t.sub.max) of the correlation function k(t) is found, with t.sub.max corresponding to the transit time to be determined, and also to an apparatus for carrying out this method.