Patents by Inventor David A Orchard

David A Orchard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Proximity sensor based on projection of structured light
    Patent number: 7459670
    Abstract: This invention relates to a proximity sensor. An illumination means (2) projects an array of spots (40) towards a scene. Detector (8) looks towards the scene through a mask (6). The mask (6) is arranged such that light from a target at a certain range, for instance far object (14) is not transmitted to the detector. Light reflected from a close object (16) however passes through the mask (6) and is incident on the detector (8). A rise in the intensity of incident light at the detector (8) is determined by threshold detector (10) and used to operate an alarm (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: QinetiQ Limited
    Inventors: Andrew C Lewin, David A Orchard