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.

Date of Patent:
Jun. 12, 2001

Filed:

Nov. 30, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:

Tohru Okada, Aichi-ken, JP;

Munehiro Takayama, Aichi-ken, JP;

Toshihiko Yoshikawa, Aichi-ken, JP;

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 2/608 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 2/608 ;
Abstract

An optical scanning apparatus RD scans a laser beam and detects a foregoing vehicle FC present in a forward direction by a reflected beam derived from the laser beam. The apparatus includes a first mode for emitting a narrowed laser beam and a widened laser beam and a second mode for emitting the widened laser beam and the two modes are switched to thereby provide an apparatus for emitting a beam capable of detecting an object in a wide range, causing no detection failure and in compliance with a situation of surrounding objects.


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