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. 24, 2009
Filed:
Sep. 18, 2007
Stefano Bernard, Orbassano, IT;
Nereo Pallaro, Orbassano, IT;
Piermario Repetto, Orbassano, IT;
C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni, Orbassano (Torino), IT;
Abstract
An optical device to measure the distance between the device itself and an obstacle/object comprising a unit to emit radiation including an aligned series of sources of radiation coupled to a series of arrangements of lenses to guide the radiation emitted by the sources. An optical acquisition unit comprising a matrix of photodetectors has a field of view including the scene in front of the optical device and including the obstacle. The signals leaving the acquisition unit are sent to a control and processing unit for calculation of the distance from the obstacle. The unit for the emission and conformation of the radiation emits a beam having a transverse section of a form elongated along an axis that is progressively rotated for transverse sections of the beam progressively more distant from the emission unit. In this manner, the distance of the obstacle may be calculated on the basis of the angular position of the section of the beam intercepted by the obstacle, as acquired by said acquisition unit.