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:
Oct. 29, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 09, 1999
John T. Reedy, Dunlap, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc, Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring the distance to a reflective surface. A first light source transmits a first light onto the reflective surface, the first light source being located on a first side of an axis. The reflective surface reflects at least a portion of the light onto a first light-detecting device having a first region operable to receive the reflected first light from the reflective surface. The first light-detecting device transmits a first and second signals as a function of the location of the received first light within the first region. A second light source transmits a second light onto the reflective surface, the second light source being located on a second side of the axis. The reflective surface reflects at least a portion of the second light onto a second light-detecting device having a second region operable to receive the reflected second light from the reflective surface. The second light-detecting device transmits a third and fourth signals as a function of the location of the received light within the second region. A processing device is coupled with the first and second light-detecting devices to respectively receive the first, second, third, and fourth signals. The processing device transmits a position signal indicative of the distance to the reflected surface as a function of the first, second, third, and fourth signals.