Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for detecting three-dimensional image data from a monitored zone is provided that has an illumination unit for illuminating the monitored zone with modulated transmitted light, a light receiver for a simultaneous light reception of the transmitted light remitted by objects in the monitored zone at at least two locations at a mutual distance corresponding to a first resolution pattern, and a control and illumination unit that is configured to determine times of flight from properties of the modulated and remitted transmitted light and to detect three-dimensional data in a second resolution pattern finer than the first resolution pattern by at least one measurement repetition with a light reception from at least two other locations shifted with respect to the first resolution pattern.

Abstract: A light receiver (22) is provided having a plurality of avalanche photodiode elements (24) that can each be biased above a breakdown voltage by a bias voltage and can thus be operated in a Geiger mode, wherein the avalanche photodiode elements (24) form a plurality of groups, and having a control unit (30) to change the sensitivity of the avalanche photodiode elements (24) of a respective group. In this respect, the control unit (30) is configured to respectively change the sensitivity of the avalanche photodiode elements (24) of a group at at least one point in time assigned to the group, with different points in time being assigned to the groups.

Abstract: A distance-measuring optoelectronic sensor (10) for detecting and determining a distance of an object (16) in a monitoring area (14), the sensor (10) having a light transmitter (12) for transmitting a transmission signal, a light receiver (18) for generating a reception signal and a control and evaluation unit (24) configured to determine a light time of flight from the reception signal and, from that, the distance of the object (16), wherein the control and evaluation unit (24) is further configured to transmit at least one periodically modulated pulse as a transmission signal, to determine a reception time of the pulse in the reception signal and a phase offset of the modulation between transmission signal and reception signal in a neighborhood of the reception time and to determine the distance of the object (16) from the reception time and the phase offset.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided that has a reception unit (22) having a reception optics (24), a light receiver (28), and a diaphragm (26) therebetween, wherein the diaphragm (26) is arranged in a focal plane of the reception optics (24) so that a received light beam (20) generated by the reception optics is incident through the diaphragm aperture (42) of the diaphragm (26) at the point of smallest constriction. The diaphragm (26) is manufactured as an individual diaphragm using the reception optics (24).

Abstract: An automated image capturing and processing system and method may allow a field user to operate a UAV via a mobile computing device to capture images of a structure area of interest (AOI). The mobile computing device receives user and/or third party data and creates UAV control data and a flight plan. The mobile computing device executes a flight plan by issuing commands to the UAV's flight and camera controller that allows for complete coverage of the structure AOI. After data acquisition, the mobile computing device then transmits the UAV output data to a server for further processing. At the server, the UAV output data can be used for a three-dimensional reconstruction process. The server then generates a vector model from the images that precisely represents the dimensions of the structure. The server can then generate a report for inspection and construction estimation.

Abstract: A light receiver (22) is provided having a plurality of avalanche photodiode elements (24) that can each be biased above a breakdown voltage by a bias voltage and can thus be operated in a Geiger mode, wherein the avalanche photodiode elements (24) form a plurality of groups, and having a control unit (30) to change the sensitivity of the avalanche photodiode elements (24) of a respective group. In this respect, the control unit (30) is configured to respectively change the sensitivity of the avalanche photodiode elements (24) of a group at at least one point in time assigned to the group, with different points in time being assigned to the groups.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for detecting three-dimensional image data from a monitored zone is provided that has an illumination unit for illuminating the monitored zone with modulated transmitted light, a light receiver for a simultaneous light reception of the transmitted light remitted by objects in the monitored zone at at least two locations at a mutual distance corresponding to a first resolution pattern, and a control and illumination unit that is configured to determine times of flight from properties of the modulated and remitted transmitted light and to detect three-dimensional data in a second resolution pattern finer than the first resolution pattern by at least one measurement repetition with a light reception from at least two other locations shifted with respect to the first resolution pattern.

Abstract: An automated image capturing and processing system and method may allow a field user to operate a UAV via a mobile computing device to capture images of a structure area of interest (AOI). The mobile computing device receives user and/or third party data and creates UAV control data and a flight plan. The mobile computing device executes a flight plan by issuing commands to the UAV's flight and camera controller that allows for complete coverage of the structure AOI. After data acquisition, the mobile computing device then transmits the UAV output data to a server for further processing. At the server, the UAV output data can be used for a three-dimensional reconstruction process. The server then generates a vector model from the images that precisely represents the dimensions of the structure. The server can then generate a report for inspection and construction estimation.

Abstract: A distance-measuring optoelectronic sensor (10) for detecting and determining a distance of an object (16) in a monitoring area (14), the sensor (10) having a light transmitter (12) for transmitting a transmission signal, a light receiver (18) for generating a reception signal and a control and evaluation unit (24) configured to determine a light time of flight from the reception signal and, from that, the distance of the object (16), wherein the control and evaluation unit (24) is further configured to transmit at least one periodically modulated pulse as a transmission signal, to determine a reception time of the pulse in the reception signal and a phase offset of the modulation between transmission signal and reception signal in a neighborhood of the reception time and to determine the distance of the object (16) from the reception time and the phase offset.

Abstract: An automated image capturing and processing system and method may allow a field user to operate a UAV via a mobile computing device to capture images of a structure area of interest (AOI). The mobile computing device receives user and/or third party data and creates UAV control data and a flight plan. The mobile computing device executes a flight plan by issuing commands to the UAV's flight and camera controller that allows for complete coverage of the structure AOI. After data acquisition, the mobile computing device then transmits the UAV output data to a server for further processing. At the server, the UAV output data can be used for a three-dimensional reconstruction process. The server then generates a vector model from the images that precisely represents the dimensions of the structure. The server can then generate a report for inspection and construction estimation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided that has a reception unit (22) having a reception optics (24), a light receiver (28), and a diaphragm (26) therebetween, wherein the diaphragm (26) is arranged in a focal plane of the reception optics (24) so that a received light beam (20) generated by the reception optics is incident through the diaphragm aperture (42) of the diaphragm (26) at the point of smallest constriction. The diaphragm (26) is manufactured as an individual diaphragm using the reception optics (24).

Abstract: A light receiver (22) comprising a plurality of avalanche photodiode elements (24), a first terminal (40) and a second terminal (42) for supplying a bias voltage so that the avalanche photodiode elements (24) are biased with a bias voltage above a breakdown voltage and thus operated in a Geiger mode, at least one temperature measuring element (44) for measuring an operating temperature of the avalanche photodiode elements (24) and a voltage compensation unit (46) for adapting the bias voltage to the operating temperature.

Abstract: An automated image capturing and processing system and method may allow a field user to operate a UAV via a mobile computing device to capture images of a structure area of interest (AOI). The mobile computing device receives user and/or third party data and creates UAV control data and a flight plan. The mobile computing device executes a flight plan by issuing commands to the UAV's flight and camera controller that allows for complete coverage of the structure AOI. After data acquisition, the mobile computing device then transmits the UAV output data to a server for further processing. At the server, the UAV output data can be used for a three-dimensional reconstruction process. The server then generates a vector model from the images that precisely represents the dimensions of the structure. The server can then generate a report for inspection and construction estimation.

Abstract: A sensor (10) for determining a distance of an object (18), the sensor (10) transmitting a plurality of transmission pulses via a transmitter (12), accumulating reflected reception pulses (102) in a histogram (110), and determining therefrom a time of flight to the object (18). The sensor (10) has a control (24) for processing and outputting measurement values. Measuring unit (22) and control (24) are mutually connected to pass measurement values and to set a timing for the control (24) via a clocked synchronizing signal in that the control (24) executes a control cycle each time when receiving the synchronizing signal. An output rate of measurement values is programmable by the measuring unit (22) setting a smallest base clock and passing an updated measurement value to the control (24) after a multiple of the base clock corresponding to the programmed output rate.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) for the measurement of distances in accordance with the light transit time principle is provided having a light transmitter (12) for the transmission of a light signal, having a light receiver (16) for the reception of a remitted or reflected received signal and having an evaluation unit (18) which is made to satisfy a transition condition for the received signal by systematic selection of a transmission delay time for the transmission of the light signal at an observation time and to calculate the light transit time from the transmission delay time required for this. In this respect, a regulator (44) is provided which is made to adjust the transmission delay time such that the transition condition is satisfied at the observation time.

Abstract: A sensor (10) for determining a distance of an object (18), the sensor (10) transmitting a plurality of transmission pulses via a transmitter (12), accumulating reflected reception pulses (102) in a histogram (110), and determining therefrom a time of flight to the object (18). The sensor (10) has a control (24) for processing and outputting measurement values. Measuring unit (22) and control (24) are mutually connected to pass measurement values and to set a timing for the control (24) via a clocked synchronizing signal in that the control (24) executes a control cycle each time when receiving the synchronizing signal. An output rate of measurement values is programmable by the measuring unit (22) setting a smallest base clock and passing an updated measurement value to the control (24) after a multiple of the base clock corresponding to the programmed output rate.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) for the measurement of distances or distance changes in accordance with the light transit time principle is provided having a light transmitter (12) for the transmission of a light signal and having a light receiver (16) for the reception of the remitted or reflected light signal, wherein an evaluation unit (18) is provided which is made to trigger the transmission of a light signal at a transmission time in a respective measurement period (100) and to sample the received light signal as well as to accumulate a histogram (110) of such received light signals over a plurality of measurement periods (100) and to determine the reception time from the histogram (110) and the light transient time from this.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) for the measurement of distances or distance changes in accordance with the light transit time principle is provided having a light transmitter (12) for the transmission of a light signal and having a light receiver (16) for the reception of the remitted or reflected light signal, wherein an evaluation unit (18) is provided which is made to fix the transmission time for the light signal relative to a reference time and to digitize the received light signal on a sampling pattern (108) having a sampling period to determine the reception time of the light signal, and wherein a time base unit (38) is provided by means of which the transmission time can be shifted relative to the sampling pattern (108) with a time precision below the sampling period.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) for the measurement of distances or distance changes in accordance with the light transit time principle is provided having a light transmitter (12) for the transmission of a light signal and having a light receiver (16) for the reception of the remitted or reflected light signal, wherein an evaluation unit (18) is provided which is made to trigger the transmission of a light signal at a transmission time in a respective measurement period (100) and to sample the received light signal as well as to accumulate a histogram (110) of such received light signals over a plurality of measurement periods (100) and to determine the reception time from the histogram (110) and the light transient time from this.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) for the measurement of distances or distance changes in accordance with the light transit time principle is provided having a light transmitter (12) for the transmission of a light signal and having a light receiver (16) for the reception of the remitted or reflected light signal, wherein an evaluation unit (18) is provided which is made to fix the transmission time for the light signal relative to a reference time and to digitize the received light signal on a sampling pattern (108) having a sampling period to determine the reception time of the light signal, and wherein a time base unit (38) is provided by means of which the transmission time can be shifted relative to the sampling pattern (108) with a time precision below the sampling period.